Ask me anything transfer/career/success related

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Dear all,
I was a college confidential user by a different username for several years, active user while I was in high school and then community college. After transferring to UC Berkeley (I only applied to UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCD, was accepted to all) I stopped using the forums. I graduated and work in the SF Financial District (won't go into detail about what firm I am at) and can answer almost anything you could want to know about the transfer process, what you need to do to get accepted, quirks of the essay, adjusting to UC after transferring, succeeding as a transfer, selecting majors, getting internships, jobs, interviewing... etc.</p>

<p>I have friends who majored across the board, because I am along the lines of finance my expertise as far as careers go are vast in the consulting, accounting, investment banking, corporate finance etc space, but I will do my best to field answers to questions in all career paths... </p>

<p>College confidential was a big help to me in getting to where I am today and I'm looking to give back now that I am in a position to do so.. feel free to post a question here, if things get too dense and your questions get lost, or you have several questions that require some dialog/back and forth feel free to email me. </p>

<p>Cheers,
csteep</p>

2

<p>How was the transition from your community college experience to a UC? How much difference was there in the time allocated to projects, homework, and papers? Do you have any advice to make the transition more comfortable for future transfers?</p>

3

<p>what gpa range do you suggest</p>

4

<p>4.0 durr,
but 3.8+ for competitive majors
and 3.5+ for non impacted majors should be fine.</p>

5

<p>csteep, do you do "chance me's?"</p>

6

<p>Q: "How was the transition from your community college experience to a UC? How much difference was there in the time allocated to projects, homework, and papers? Do you have any advice to make the transition more comfortable for future transfers?"</p>

<p>A: From my personal experience and those of several other transfer students I met at UCB I can say the transition requires some effort. Most people have made their friends during the first semester of their freshman year from dorms, extra curricular activities etc.. by their junior year most people have their cliques in order, are living in a fraternity/sorority or are sharing an apartment with their closest friends. I was fortunate to know several friends from HS that went to Berkeley and I roomed with them... because you are entering directly into upper division courses things are a bit more intense, but the good thing is most of your classes/discussion sections are going to be with people of the same major. College is different from high school, don't hesitate to introduce yourself to people, exchange numbers, get a study group going etc. Definitely join the gym (campus rec center), its 10 bucks a semester... you'll meet people there and you can sign up for intramural sports... most sports are co-ed, and super chill so you'll meet some people who share a similar interest. Clubs are key too, especially at Berkeley where they have a club for everything... join something interesting to you and there's a good chance you will click with the members of the club. Consider living in the transfer dorm too... that way you can meet a bunch of new people..... </p>

<p>As far as coursework goes.. definitely more rigorous than community college. I was working 30 hours a week and very active on campus and smoked through community college with a 4.0, Berkeley was a little different. You will have to keep up, make good use of your discussion sections and make friends with your GSI (graduate student instructor), GSI's have office hours where you can ask any question you want, they are effectively free tutors. Tests and problem sets are different too, a lot more intense. Study hard for your first midterms until you are able to gauge how hard you need to study. Remember everything is curved at UC, that means you are directly competing with your classmates for a grade.</p>

<p>Piece of advice to new transfers, take a light course load your first semester, don't worry about getting behind if you are light on units, you can make it up in the summer or during your senior year when you get acclimated to the climate. Also, never convince yourself you are inferior to the students who started as freshman, you will quickly realize they are no better than you... and don't let anyone give you flack for being a transfer, some of the brightest people I came across were transfers. Often transfers will work even harder because they feel they need to compensate for something.. as a result they kick butt while the freshman entrants start getting burned out by the time they are juniors.</p>

<p>Oh and get a facebook account if you don't already and start adding friends/networking.. it will be a valuable asset when you least suspect.</p>

7

<p>With regard to the GPA, I feel KingInc has it right. Remember though GPA is one part of the formula. Make sure you have some extra curriculars down and a solid essay (Depending on my schedule I may be able to help you guys craft/edit your essays, email me about this if interested). Remember, Berkeley is looking for well rounded people, people who are going to be the movers and shakers of the next generation, show them you can be that person.</p>

8

<p>beardy: I don't mind doing "chance me's" although I feel most people doing the asking already know the answer and are looking for a 3rd party to confirm what they already know.</p>

<p>The reality is that admissions is a formula consisting of 3-4 variables. These include grades/academic preparedness (this includes have you completed your major prereqs, IGETC if it applies, GPA), extra curricular activities (do you work, are you an athlete, do you have some leadership experience, are you active in a club, do you have some talent, ie dancing, singing, do you volunteer) it really doesn't matter what it is, no single activity is valued more than another, it's merely important to be doing something you are passionate about, something that makes you unique and an asset to the academic community you are applying. Essay's are another variable, here you can talk about circumstances you have overcome, skills you have and why you should be accepted.</p>

<p>Knowing the variables figure if you have a lower GPA you better make it up with one of the other factors, likewise, if you are weaker on the extra curriculars then beef it up with GPA... </p>

<p>If you still feel you'd like to be "chanced" shoot me an email so we don't clutter the message board.</p>

9

<p>csteep, I feel like I'm screwed because I didn't do much extra curricular activities while at a CC. I didn't do well my first year and had to bust my butt to bring up my GPA and didn't think twice about EC'S. I applied to cal, la, sb, sc, r, and davis. I really wouldn't mind going to berkeley because it's a great school, has an awesome campus, and my sister went there. ahh!! I'm scared i won't get in now!</p>

10

<p>freshhhh87: I don't have a problem with you venting your frustration, but do you have a question?</p>

11

<p>csteep I'm assuming your a Haas graduate? What kind of recruiting did you see on campus? I'm not really interested in finance, what kinds of companies did you see recruiting for non-finance business management careers?</p>

<p>Unrelated.. can family members join the gym too or only students?</p>

12

<p>First, don't assume anything, that's how rumors begin. </p>

<p>On to your question... "non-finance business management"</p>

<p>If you actually mean management, I would say nothing... companies don't hire 22 year olds with bachelors degrees to be management. </p>

<p>The recruiting at Cal is top, every major accounting firm, investment bank, consulting firm, corporate america-type firm shows up. </p>

<p>ebay, clorox, proctor and gamble, mercer, goldman sachs, bain, pricewaterhousecooper, sony... I can go on... We get the same recruiters that go to the ivy's, stanford, etc.... and I have personally, along with many people I know taken jobs at firms where our competition was people from MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford and Yale. </p>

<p>The UC Berkeley career center website has full listings of firms that recruit at Berkeley, I recommend checking that out.. if you have a specific firm in mind, or a sector I can address those. </p>

<p>The gym, yes, UC Berkeley is a public school, anyone can join the gym.. in fact there are many Berkeley residents and alums who are members. The membership fee is much higher for non-students though...</p>

13

<p>What was the worst part of your transfer experience?
Were you in any transfer programs with Cal?
Did the amount of homework increase or just the amount of studying on your own?
How much interaction did you have with your profs both for large and small sized classes?
Is it normal for a transfer student to stay for more than 2 years to graduate?
What did you do between summers?
How often could you sit down with a counselor?
What was one thing that you wish you could have gone back and changed that was related to your academics?</p>

<p>And the all important chance:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.75 (one B and one C in first semester and all A's after)
Major: Psych
Special Transfer Programs: UC Berkeley's Starting Point Mentorship Program, UC Berkeley's Transfer Alliance Project, TAG Davis
Applied: B, LA </p>

<p>thnx</p>

14

<p>Do all the firms you mention only take students from HAAS or do they recruit econ majors too? I just feel if I get into CAL as a econ major all be at a disadvantage competing with HAAS students for jobs.</p>

15

<p>can you please chance me for UCSD? thanks!</p>

<p>Currently attending: De Anza/Foothill
GPA: 3.347
Major: Human Biology
ECs: part time job as a secretary, PTK, kickboxing, note-taker for disabled students
Essay: pretty good. i would say 8 or 9/10</p>

16

<p>Good questions..</p>

<p>What was the worst part of your transfer experience?
"Missing out" on the dorm life, that would really be it... everything else was awesome, got to skip out on the weeder lower division classes, saved 2 years of tuition. </p>

<p>Were you in any transfer programs with Cal?
No</p>

<p>Did the amount of homework increase or just the amount of studying on your own?
There isn't "homework" like there is at community college, there are problem sets, labs, and midterms. I'd say the rigor increased requiring some actual thought... no longer could I just cram in a bunch of nonsense and regurgitate it. What I found was that it's not that you get more stuff to do, it's that the stuff you get takes time to understand and internalize. </p>

<p>How much interaction did you have with your profs both for large and small sized classes?
I got as much as I wanted, meaning if I wanted access to a professor I never had problems getting it. Whether by email, office hours or simply making a private appointment to meet... the professors were always available, even in my 200+ courses. </p>

<p>Is it normal for a transfer student to stay for more than 2 years to graduate?
Umm, I would say it isn't 'normal' but certainly not unheard of. </p>

<p>What did you do between summers?
Summer before I traveled abroad for a month, had a blast. Following summer, summer school, which was ridiculously fun/chill</p>

<p>How often could you sit down with a counselor?
Every day if I wanted to, they are always there for you... multiple ones at that. There were times I would have a quick question, didn't even bother going to their offices, sent an email got a response within the minute. </p>

<p>What was one thing that you wish you could have gone back and changed that was related to your academics?
Taken advantage of GSI's more... they are awesome, you have to remember these are the smartest, the top tier, Berkeley grad school... the future professors, researchers and leaders of the world... you have this tremendous access to pick their brains, make friends with them and most importantly get all your questions answered so you can ace your classes... don't ever forget, it's the GSI that gives you your grade at the end of the semester. </p>

<p>And the all important chance:</p>

<p>I'd say your chances are strong, people in Berkeley TAP almost always get in.. I take it you are an under represented minority or have overcome hardship. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.75 (one B and one C in first semester and all A's after)</p>

<p>Grades are strong, I like that the B and C were in the first semester, shows you figured out your mistakes and made changes... clearly demonstrates improvement and the ability to adapt.</p>

<p>Major: Psych
Special Transfer Programs: UC Berkeley's Starting Point Mentorship Program, UC Berkeley's Transfer Alliance Project, TAG Davis
Applied: B, LA </p>

<p>thnx</p>

17

<p>"Do all the firms you mention only take students from HAAS or do they recruit econ majors too? I just feel if I get into CAL as a econ major all be at a disadvantage competing with HAAS students for jobs."</p>

<p>The firms take people from all majors. People always say they are at a disadvantage to Haas students, but that isn't the case. If you want a business related job you can get it with an English degree, the reason Haas students get a lot of the good jobs is because they generally have their act together with respect to recruiting, resumes, internships etc.. whereas those students from other disciplines are doing other things... if you are an econ major, but are eager to get a business oriented job you can do it.</p>

18

<p>turkeey: You have a good shot for UCSD, this is assuming you completed the major prereqs.</p>

19

<p>i will only have finished 9 or 10/12 of my major pre-reqs before i transfer :/
does this lower my chances significantly?
Human Biology is not impacted at UCSD (yet), but a lot of people apply for it. </p>

<p>THANKS AGAIN!</p>

20

<p>That's plenty, you'll be fine. I would be very surprised if you didn't get in.</p>