<p>Application time is almost here. I’m both happy to be finally submitting and moving on with my life, but I’m also apprehensive of the five months of waiting ahead. Since I’m doing a UC-UC transfer I don’t know what to expect. It’s a crapshoot by any extension of the imagination. </p>
<p>What’s even worse is that I’m only applying to Cal. Its about as “all or nothing” as it can get.</p>
<p>Here’s what’s keeping me sane:</p>
<p>I’ll be done with the UC-UC reciprocity agreement (GE’s) by the end of this year, most likely by the end of next quarter.</p>
<p>My GPA’s holding at between 3.93~3.96 from last year and I’ll hopefully be keeping it that way this quarter. </p>
<p>I feel that my essays are strong and that I make both a compelling cases for reasons to transfer (they have the major I want, almost no one else does, in the College of Letters and Science) and I’ve even included a supplemental essay about their disability program and my interest in volunteering within it as a mentor/counselor for other disabled students.</p>
<p>I think that my extra curricular activities are my weak point compared to what some people are putting up here. I worked 40 hours/week over this summer, I’ve been a Bonsai artist for the past 7 years, I’m an avid hiker and taught myself Tuvan Throat singing over the past year and a half, but I’m not really into the whole “club/group/team” kind of thing. I’m also on both the Deans and Chancellor’s lists.</p>
<p>You guys out there helped me with my last thread, giving me great ideas about what to write about for my essays. </p>
<p>Now I guess I’m looking for some reassurance about this whole process. I’ve never gotten into anything the first go before. Waitlisted from my HS, rejected from Cal the first time (absolutely zero surprise there though), rejected from my current UC (had to appeal) and now I’m wondering if I can afford to rest easy during these upcoming months, focus on school and the LSAT's and whatnot.</p>
<p>Why not apply to some other UCs and see what happens? Although since Cal offers a major that your UC doesn't offer it might not be offered anywhere but Cal which would explain things...</p>
<p>Basically, yeah, it's a crapshoot but you should at least take comfort in the fact that you did everything you could- good essay, great gpa, interesting extracurriculars ect. Cal does admit a good number of UC students and you're in good shape so just chill out.</p>
<p>On a side note, if you're applying to law schools why aren't you staying at your UC? Your major really doesn't matter- it's all about GPA and LSAT. Your GPA is very good and I can't see your LSAT improving just because you transferred to Cal.</p>
<p>If by rest easy you mean stop obsessing then yes, do that. If you mean stop working really hard then no, don't do that.</p>
<p>The only other UC with a Near Eastern Studies program is LA, but they have multiple foreign languages (French and German as prereqs, in addition to a mandatory year of Cuneiform/Semitic languages) for the degree. Additionally they lack the EXACT major that I want. I looked up the UCSC-UCLA transfer stats and I'm pretty sure that I would be admitted if I got the prereqs done, but I'm not about to deprive someone of a spot for something that I wouldn't be committed to fully, that's horrible karma. </p>
<p>I have been doing my homework and am aware about how they don't look at what major you have, just LSAT and GPA. In some ways that's a huge relief, because I know that even if I don't get into Cal, I will have access to some great grad programs and law schools upon graduation, hopefully Boalt hall and beyond. </p>
<p>My ideal goal would be getting a PHD or MA in Mesopotamian Archaeology/JD from Yale or Cal, which makes it necessary for me to switch majors. I know that the odds of that happening are very slim but that's not an excuse to stop trying. </p>
<p>The coursework and material that I'll get from Cal's NES courses will not only be stimulating (it's something I love to learn about) but they will help me hit the ground running in regards to Grad/Law school because I'd have to be constantly sharp. Additionally inter campus GPA's don't get reset, so I feel like I'll have a buffer. </p>
<p>This past year and a half I've felt the Sword of Damocles hanging above my head for sure, almost twice the stress because of transfer admissions AND law school apps which are a lot closer to me than most. </p>
<p>I came into my current UC a year ahead in terms of credits, so I'm really hoping to get more out of my college experience by getting to spend 4 years total in college if I transfer. If I don't, I'll be a 1L before I'm old enough to legally drink which will be quite a trip. </p>
<p>I'll be sleeping a lot easier when I send this app out, because that means I'll only have one more set of applications to fill out for the rest of my (academic) life.</p>
<p>Well, I think that's probably the most compelling reason for transfer that I've seen. I'm guessing that Near Eastern Studies doesn't have very many transfer students and I can't see how you wouldn't be at the top or, at the worst, near the top. So yeah, rest easier. Sounds like you've got a good plan a and a good plan b.</p>
<p>And uggh, the LSAT, don't even want to think about it.</p>
<p>Definitely. Some of my friends got some disappointing scores back today and it looks like they are going to be going to Cornell instead of Harvard. </p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback, I feel much more confidant now after just talking through this.</p>