<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I heard that Berkeley has a large drop out rate of students, particularly transfers. Has anyone heard of this, know where I can find some possible articles or data on this? Also, how would this affect the admissions this year?
Thanks!</p>
<p>particularly transfers? nonsense, i've heard the EXACT opposite. that there's a large dropout rate of freshman compared to transfers</p>
<p>yeah it's easier for transfers since we don't need to take most of the weeder classes</p>
<p>From the perspective sophomore at Cal, I have to say simply YES. Berkeley is not an easy school nor is the surrounding environment complmentary in studying. I've grown up in the Bay Area but Berkeley is just something totally different. In engineering, roughly 1/3 of the class receives either C or F. A 2.0 lands you on prohibition and dismissal is just around the corner from there. Even though we compete and even beat most private institutions, there is no hand holding nor sympathy if you are unable to keep up. It is a public school which has to offer the spots to the strongest and most "successful students" - measured strictly by grades, boards, and e.c. points. </p>
<p>Whether you a transfer or freshman incoming, the school is difficult. Aside for a few unexplainable cases, imagine your high school class. Now take the top 4-5%. Now consider 20,000 students that are all of the same caliber. Curving and grading are not helpful, either. If you're someone who believes in the "learning process" or likes to take tangents into material your interested in, this will be difficult. Paces are fast and you just need to absorb at the requirements of the course-it'll be difficult enough. </p>
<p>Transfer admissions are fairly standard. I have not heard of any administrative changes. Hope this answers your question!</p>
<p>^^ transfers don't have to take the 7 series in physics or cs61ab or any of the lower div science classes...</p>
<p>its certainly in the top 15 for ** best retention rate** according to usnews.com</p>
<p>here is the ranking from decent to best...</p>
<p>University of Michigan--Ann Arbor 96% 6,113
U. of North Carolina--Chapel Hill 96% 3,751
Brown University (RI) 97% 1,439
Dartmouth College (NH) 97% 1,074
Duke University (NC) 97% 1,724
Georgetown University (DC) 97% 1,551
Harvard University (MA) 97% 1,640 **
Northwestern University (IL) 97% 1,952
**University of California--Berkeley 97% 4,101
Univ. of California--Los Angeles 97% 4,422
University of Virginia 97% 3,112
Washington University in St. Louis 97% 1,388
Columbia University (NY) 98% 1,339
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 98% 996
Princeton University (NJ) 98% 1,229
Stanford University (CA) 98% 1,633
University of Notre Dame (IN) 98% 1,966
University of Pennsylvania 98% 2,552
*Yale University (CT) 98% 1,321 *</p>
<p>here is the website: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/webex/Fresh_retention_Ratenatudoc_brief.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/webex/Fresh_retention_Ratenatudoc_brief.php</a></p>
<p>lostincode, your right. the weeders are not required if you have fulfilled them at the jc or former institution. yet, there are many courses (typically major specific) or unique, that the school will require you to take at Cal. In EECS, CS61C/EE40 are taken by all transfers even though they are lower-div. I can't speak for the rest of the university, but I've heard of difficulty between some course transfers. All dependent on the school and specific course that you want to fulfill. </p>
<p>Eitherway, grade curves are typically only <em>slighter</em> better in upper-division courses. We generally see a 2.7 lower-division and 2.9 upper-division gpa average. Either way, they're both awful close and with the smaller and more intimate upper-divs, its all the more competitive.</p>