<p>I was talking to one of my friends the other day, and she told me that our class's salutatorian had flunked out of UCLA.This really surprised me and gave me second thoughts on attending UCLA. The salutatorian was very smart, and she still couldn't succeed at UCLA. I am far less talented, which really worries me since I am also a STEM major. Granted granted she was a microbiology major, but I still think this shows the difficulty of the competition at UCLA. </p>
<p>Hmm, without jumping to conclusions, I want to say that it’s possible that this salutatorian may have chosen a field of study for which he/she was inadequately prepared or not very good at in the first place. His/her experience is highly atypical of what transfers experience upon going to UCLA, as they tend do just as well as their freshman counterparts.</p>
<p>UCLA also runs on the quarter system. It’s not wise to procrastinate on the quarter system as time flies by very quickly. It’s possible that this person did that…</p>
<p>I’d also like to state that I have faith in the UC system’s agreement with California’s various community colleges regarding they believe to be the adequate preparation of CC students for transfer. If this problem that this salutatorian had was common, articulation agreements across the state would have to be extensively reevaluated because they wouldn’t be preparing transfer students for upper-division coursework to the satisfaction of UC articulation officers if transfer adjustment to upper-division work was so difficult and problematic.</p>
<p>My recommendation to you and all of those who are transferring or wish to transfer(Myself included, of course) is to study your discipline extensively, even outside of class and the school session if you feel you aren’t being adequately prepared for the demands of higher-level coursework. I myself have purchased three books that extensively discuss the history of philosophy in great detail and with clarity. I want to hit the ground running when I transfer to UCLA’s philosophy program this fall.</p>
<p>Also, take a look at the syllabi that are posted for upper-division classes in your major at the school you’ll want to transfer to, if you wish. They’re usually available to the public and will give you a good idea of what to expect and how to prepare for it.</p>
<p>Lastly, upon transferring, make extensive use of university resources that are there to help students succeed, such as tutoring centers, professors’ office hours, and teaching assistants’ office hours. Heed this advice, and I think you will do well.</p>
<p>I’m confident that UCLA wouldn’t have accepted us if they didn’t think our grades and coursework at our CC weren’t up to par compared to UCLA classes. </p>
<p>Indeed, @k4201505.</p>
<p>It’s not in the UC’s best interest to accept underprepared students into their schools.</p>
<p>@Cayton, She got a 5 on the AP Biology exam and a 3 on the AP Chemistry exam. So she was good at biology, at least in high school.</p>
<p>Isn’t UCLA’s graduation rate for the admitted somewhere in the mid 90’?. There is nothing to be scared about. As long you do the work, study and keep focus, you will not fail. </p>
<p>@CollegeDropout1 </p>
<p>Hmm. I suppose it’s possible that she really was inadequately prepared for higher-level coursework at UCLA. I’ll definitely concede that that is a possibility.</p>
<p>But we don’t know the full story of how and why she failed. I do wish her the best of luck in getting back in at UCLA or at least picking back up her studies in microbiology, though.</p>
<p>There are many, many reasons why she may have flunked out. Maybe she had personal problems with herself, a friend, a family member, etc. that caused her unnecessary stress. Maybe she realized she hated school in general because she found her life calling and decided not to give about her classes. Who knows.</p>
<p>@Cayton @k4201505 She was actually admitted as a freshman. I been told that she found the lower division classes really difficult. She also had a really hard time making friends and she was really depressed. Maybe that is why she did so poorly. Aren’t the lower division classes hard since that is where the school tries to weed people out?</p>
<p>@CollegeDropout1 </p>
<p>Ah, I see. Those lower-division STEM classes at UCLA can be a killer and they’re intended to flunk a lot of people. It’s something transfers don’t have to deal with. Whether or not it’s fair is something I can’t really determine, but it’s unfortunate that she was one of those people who got weeded out.</p>
<p>On the social side of things, I thought UCLA would be more welcoming. Why do you think she had so much trouble making friends?</p>
<p>@Cayton </p>
<p>Just curious, what is this lower division STEM you are talking about? I got in as a History major, but will need to complete 3 lower division courses before I can petition to get in. Transfer Student as well. </p>
<p>STEM is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics so you don’t have to worry about those.</p>
<p>@Tik1127 </p>
<p>STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.</p>
<p>You don’t have to worry about the STEM classes I was talking about because you’re a history major.</p>
<p>@Cayton I’m not sure, she had a lot of friends in high school. I’m been told that she is really lonely now. My friend tells me that she gets calls from her and the conversations are really bad. It almost seems as if she just calls my friend because she doesn’t want to be alone.</p>
<p>@CollegeDropout1 </p>
<p>Yikes. She needs help.</p>