<p>Hi everyone. Yesterday, April 26th, UCLA and UC Berkeley released their admission decisions for Community College Transfer Applicants. I attended Las Positas College in California for three years, and my major was Computer Engineering (Berkeley calls it Electrical Engineering & Computer Science). I am a white male, and had a 3.98 GPA. I only got one B my entire CC career. The one B I got was in Linear Algebra which I took over the summer at Ohlone College because it was not offered anywhere else. Everyone I showed my essays to was highly impressed, and I remember my counselor telling me "If you don't get in, no one is getting in." I also had a part time job which I worked 25 hours per week, and was part of the Math Honors Society and the Physics Club. Despite my high GPA, adequate essays, and stellar extracurricular devotion, I was not admitted to UCLA or UC Berkeley this year. I am quite puzzled as to why I did not get in. I have fulfilled every requirement they have asked of me, and I don't know a single person with a higher GPA than me. I don't know what more I could have done to secure admission. My questions are as follows: Should I appeal? Did anyone else get in as a transfer student? Does anyone have any idea why I could have possibly been denied?</p>
<p>The links below are screenshots of my Academic Transcript for Las Positas College. My one B is not listed there because it was taken at a different school, and as such, does not show up on the transcript for Las Positas.</p>
<p>What were your extracurriculars? Did you complete all major pre-reqs? Though your gpa is high, which you should most definitely be proud of, gpa alone is not enough to get in. With that in mind, I’m wondering what your extracurriculars were and how complete your major pre-reqs were. I know you wrote that you completed every requirement they asked of you, but want to make sure you have completed major pre-reqs and also IGETC. I was admitted as a UC Intercampus transfer applicant from UCSC to both UCB and UCLA, with the same gpa as you, so I’m not as familiar as many others on here with the specifics of a CCC-UC transfer, but would be happy to take a look at your essays if you want.</p>
<p>I’d recommend contacting the admissions offices at each school to inquire about your rejection; though gpa alone is not enough to get in, I’m surprised you were rejected, given what you have said about your extracurriculars, personal statements, and the comments people have given you.</p>
<p>Universities have their reasons for not admitting even the most qualified of applicants, and most of us will never know those reasons. One of my teachers even said that he will never fully understand UC Berkeley’s admission decisions; he has seen a good number of “qualified” applicants (similar GPAs to yours, hundreds of hours of community service, fantastic essays) get rejected or waitlisted. </p>
<p>I think that it’s worth a try to appeal but remember that most appeals that are not a result of a legitimate mistake (e.g. incorrect transcript sent) will not get you accepted.</p>
<p>I know that it is disappointing that you did not get into UC Berkeley or UCLA, but I think that it is best to just move on. Remember that the decision was not in your control and that the only that is in control is how you respond to this.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone. As far as IGETC goes, assist.org specifically says that “The College of Engineering does NOT accept IGETC.” So I did not complete it. I have taken every single articulated class that is required for admission to Berkeley, even a couple that do not articulate but should be equivalent. I wish that I could just move on, but after all of the sacrifices I have made the last 3 years, it is extremely difficult to pretend that this didn’t happen. I put school before everything including work, friends, family, mental and physical health, sleep, exercise, eating, fun, etc… Now I feel like my sacrifices were all in vain. The assist page for my major as a transfer to Berkeley is here</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I cannot send PM’s because I have under 15 posts. If you would like to see my essays, PM me your email address and I will paste the text into an email for you</p>
<p>That is devastating. Transfer admissions are NOT like freshmen admissions meaning your extra-curricular/essays do not matter as much. If you fulfilled all pre-requisites and had a 3.98 GPA, you should have been admitted. You need to call UCB and UCLA admissions and ask for a SPECIFIC reason why you got denied. People have reported that these admission officers will give you a reason, maybe not with the first call but after going through a few people you should get one. They do take notes on applications and can read you exactly why you got denied. In this case, they probably overlooked something or you made a mistake, which you can fix on the on the phone (and possible get it reversed right there if it is a big mistake…it has happened) or you will go through the appeals process. This isn’t a time to be soft, you have to be aggressive if you really want this. Engineering is not easy, and getting a 3.98 is definitely an accomplishment. You shouldn’t settle. good luck bro.</p>
<p>edit: i’m going to go get something to eat, ill check your links after that.</p>
<p>It looks like you took the wrong second semester of writing. Both UCLA and UCB require either La Positas’ English 4 or English 7 course. Your transcript says you took English 3 instead. Based on the information I’ve gather from this forum over the years, the UC’s are very strict about their Math/Writing requirement and this might have led to an automatic rejection. I would call both schools and ask why they denied you, because I do as well think your grade portfolio is rather flawless.</p>
<p>I’m so sorry to hear that. You could try calling them to ask why you were rejected, but I know computer science is an extremely competitive major. You’ll succeed wherever you go, and your transcripts clearly show you’re a stellar applicant.</p>
<p>I wonder if being in CC for more than two years hurt you? I’m not sure. I’m just wondering out loud. Also you got into some great places. Do the glass half full thing. GL</p>
<p>Yea I took English 3 because the requirement that year was English 3 AND English 7. Then I later decided that I didnt want to take English 7 the next semester because it was not worth it just for Berkeley. However, this last semester, the requirements changed from English 3 AND English 7, to English 4 OR English 7. So I decided to take English 4 to satisfy that English requirement, and am currently taking it in my last semester. Furthermore, UCLA required English 3 OR English 7 the year I took English 3, the requirements have since changed. I called the university asking them if it was necessary to take another English class as a result of the new requirement, and UCLA said that I was fine. But, I am taking English 4 this semester nonetheless, so the English requirement should not be a hindrance.</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s it. I’ve been at my CC for three years and I was accepted to both Cal and UCLA for Fall 2013. I’m an English major though, and I’m told English isn’t nearly as competitive as the Berkeley EECS major.</p>
<p>OP, I’m truly sorry that you didn’t get in. EECS at Cal is an extremely competitive major, so chances are many qualified applicants with 4.0s also applied with stellar ECs, essays, prerequisites completed, etc.</p>
<p>I second suaixuan’s advice. Appeal, but if that doesn’t go through, UCSD, UCSB, and UCD are equally amazing schools to attend. Ultimately it’s your desire for an education that matters, not the school you get it from.</p>
<p>It seems like the Linear Algebra course you took at Ohlone College made you lose your chance of being admitted to UCB. Because on assist.org, it says you need to take Math 5 & Math 7 at your college to fulfill the “Linear Algebra and Differential Equations–MATH 54” course at UCB. Each CCC has different articulation agreements with UC/CSU, and if you want to use your Ohlone College course to fulfill UCB’s MATH 54, you should take both 103 & 104 at Ohlone, not only one and use the other one from your college. For the required core course, you must be careful!</p>
<p>@karduz
This makes sense for Berkeley. They have the two classes grouped together, implying that they want you to take them at the same college. Furthermore, Berkeley specifically states that they want everything taken at the same college. However, this is not the case for UCLA. On the UCLA assist articulation, the classes are separate. Furthermore, it says no where that they require you to take classes at the same college. So I should have still gotten in to UCLA. </p>
<p>Also, it doesnt really seem fair that they don’t accept classes from other community colleges. With all of the budget cuts and scarce availability of classes, how can they expect students to complete everything at one college? Such a feat is nearly impossible for most students these days.</p>
<p>I hope UCB used the computerized system to “filter” ineligible students, and ,somehow, it didn’t understand your situation and automatically put you onto rejected piles. Now you may know what you did wrong, so you definitely have something to write on your appeal letter.</p>
<p>Moreover, one of the requirements for transfer applicant is to complete one course in Java, C Programming, or C++. It seems like your school doesn’t offer the articulated courses, but it doesn’t mean the other colleges don’t have it.</p>
<p>I completed 3 courses in C++
CS1, CS2, and CS20. CS20 is the highest C++ course that is offered. Thanks again for your help karduz I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Hi rybridges16, Sorry for not looking at your transcript carefully! Although UCLA doesn’t require IGETC, they encourage you to take up to 4 courses from the area 3 & 4, plus one natural science course. Right now, you have PSY1 and ANTH 3 for Area 4. Do you think if you take more, it will increase your chance of getting admitted? </p>
<p>I am sure more couldnt hurt. Seems kind of lame that I didn’t get accepted because I didn’t take enough irrelevant and tedious General Education courses. I hope that isnt the case</p>
<p>Also, I am pretty sure that chemistry 31 counts as a social science, and chemistry 1A is a life science. I could have it reversed. So all I would be missing is an Art. Laughable not getting accepted because I neglected to waste my time with music or some similar Art course.</p>