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I’m not sure if this applies to Berkeley specifically, but I believe that the UC system sets aside a certain number of transfer spots for those coming from the California community college system. Some other public universities in other states may do this as well.</p>
<p>I don’t think he was referring to the public school system in California.</p>
<p>^^^I think gkc4 is referring to my post about the transfer students admitted to S this year. It got that info from your (Bourne) post on the Transfer forum. My assumption is that S is searching for a different type of “diversity” in transfers than they get from freshman admissions. This is only conjecture on my part.</p>
<p>Yeah I know what he’s saying. I just wanted to hear him say it in full.</p>
<p>While I do think that having a less than traditional background is helpful…</p>
<p>Let’s just say, that I would guess that the applicants who come from top 20 schools aren’t very definite about their reasons for transferring. I think it’s just inherently easier to be a CC transfer and to write abstractly about the process of moving on, than to have better reasons for leaving four year colleges.</p>
<p>What’s funnier is that when I was talking to the transfer coordinator, she gave me the number of a 50 year old UG student. </p>
<p>When I call her do I say ma’am? </p>
<p>Obviously that’s not common at all, but it emphasizes that different type of “diversity” that ento-mom is referring to.</p>
<p>Anyways, I just think it’s easier to frame your application coming from a CC sometimes. Although they usually lack the stats to be at top colleges so it’s obviously somewhat of a paradox.</p>
<p>Princeton hasn’t had a transfer option for years. It looks like Harvard may never admit transfers again–it has already announced that it won’t admit transfers next year, as it didn’t this year. </p>
<p>I recall seeing your stats way back when you first started posting, and I think the basic problem you’ve experienced in this year’s admission round is that you thought (perhaps because your high school encouraged you to think that way) that having high grades in your high school would be enough to get you in anywhere. You were a busy high school student, but your high school classes didn’t challenge you at the level that a lot of high school students are challenged at if they end up being admitted to Brown or to Princeton. (I know this because of what I know about what local young people who go to Brown and Princeton have done in high school, and because of what you told us about your standardized test scores in public posts.) It takes a lot of preparation to be ready to thrive at Princeton or at Brown. A lot of Californians with good grades have a lock on getting into Berkeley, which is quite a fine college itself, but valedictorians are too numerous, worldwide, for high school class standing to have much impact in Ivy League admission. Ivy League admission committees are looking for applicants who go well beyond the narrow world of high school while of high school age, and who have demonstrably national level achievements in something. </p>
<p>Sure, apply for transfer admission at a college that offers transfer admission if you like. Berkeley is a fine college, but it’s legitimate to take a second chance at getting into some other college. Just be aware that Berkeley offers fine opportunities, and if you don’t gain transfer admission somewhere else you can still be proud of going there.</p>
<p>Bourne,
Please don’t call her ma’am. From a 50+, believe me it stings! Just use her name, no titles necessary ;).</p>
<p>It’s true that most Californians have their minds set on going to Berkeley.</p>
<p>Unlike most Californians, I saw Berkeley as a safety net, no offense (as it is a good school), because I have seen previous graduates of my high school getting accepted to the campus.</p>
<p>I just wanted to attend a university, which no one else from my school would want to attend (the vast majority of students in my high school want to stay local, which is too simple). I wanted to study somewhere new (and a university with great programs).</p>