Throughout the whole admissions process USC has been my absolute dream school. I have numerous family members who attended, alumni connections, and I took the summer program for high school students. I’m absolutely in love with SC. Unfortunately though, I was rejected just recently but appealed and am still waiting for appeal decisions (May 13th).
Additionally, out of all the schools I applied to, Berkeley was the toughest and somehow I got waitlisted. Just yesterday, I found out I was admitted to UC Berkeley (Letters and Science) as a Spring Admit and was shocked. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I am doubtful on attending as I visited Berkeley several months ago (to send off my brother - who attends Berkeley) and did not enjoy the atmosphere and vibe of the campus.
Anyway, I have one week to submit my SIR to Berkeley or decline it. I am conflicted on whether or not I should attend as I am intending to pursue Business Administration and am fearful of Berkeley’s rigorous two years of GE’s then application to Haas School of Business. Moreover, I am considering minoring in Acting, which USC is far more superior in terms of connections and overall program. Lastly, social life at USC I’m guaranteed to have fun as I have connections with some Greek Life members and still have relatives who attend the school.
Basically, I have two options now, attend Berkeley (still doubtful) or attend community college for a year then transfer to USC. In my opinion, I am fine with community college for a year, because transferring to USC is quiet easy compared to high school admissions.
I seriously don’t know what to do. If I told anyone I turned down UC BERKELEY for community college it would just sound silly! I need your opinion fast as I have less than a week to decide. Thank You.
You have some very sound reasons for the decision. And there’s a simple answer: don’t tell people. If you think you would be happier transferring to USC after a year at a community college, do it. I live in Berkeley and think that Cal is a great school (D is in grad school there now), but it’s not for everyone. Neither is Harvard. D turned down Harvard in favor of Dartmouth for much the same vibe. Conventional wisdom ain’t always wisdom. Best of luck in your decision.
You could accept the spring admission at UCB, attend a community college in the fall (allowed according to http://admissions.berkeley.edu/januarystart ), and then reconsider whether you want to go start UCB in the spring or stay at the community college and hope to transfer to USC. Or go to UCB and, if you do not like it, try to transfer to USC. Or go to UCB, and send a transfer application to USC as well as apply to business in your second year.
How do costs compare and how important are they to you?
My only concern is that you are underestimating the difficulty transferring to USC from community college. Are you confident that it won’t be hard to do?
Do you have other options?
This is by far the most logical choice. If you end up not liking UCB, USC would probably be more willing to accept a transfer from Berkeley than from a CC.
Actually, USC admits 58% of its transfer students from community colleges, although the raw percentages do not indicate whether applicants from community colleges are favored or disfavored (or neither) compared to those from four year schools.
http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/transfer/prospective/transferprofile.html
Note also that it is not trivial to get into USC as a transfer student; 29% admitted with an average college GPA of 3.7 (and 3.7 in college is generally a lot harder to earn than 3.7 in high school).
Either of these could work:
CC --> USC
Berkeley --> USC
I think the second plan, while more expensive, is the safer move:
- If you did not get into USC from CC, you might be in a bit of a pickle. A success rate of 58% is decent odds, but far from guaranteed. And honestly, one would think that the chances of transferring to USC from Berkeley are better, provided you did good work at Berkeley.
- If you did not get into USC from Berkeley... you would still be at Berkeley. And by then you might have learned to tolerate it... even really like it.
- You might start at Berkeley and realize your first impression was incomplete and that Cal is really just fine for you. If that happened -- you made a bunch of friends, enjoyed the academic work, etc. -- you might not even attempt to transfer.
It’s a tough call, but I think that starting at Berkeley – at least starting there – is your best choice.
58% is the percentage of USC transfer students from community colleges, not the admission rate for USC transfer applicants (from community colleges or otherwise; overall USC transfer admission rate is 29% with average college GPA of 3.7).
@AboutTheSame thanks for the piece of advice; sounds reasonable!
@ucbalumnus thank you for the input. I would most likely attend Berkeley in the Fall (FPF) if I attend. Costs matter to me, but I’m not too worried as we can afford USC.
@bsalum My brother went to the community college I plan on choosing and he told me it’s very easy compared to what I’ve academically faced in high school. He transferred to Berkeley from CC and also got into USC. Additionally, I spoke to my USC admissions counselor and she said it’s easy so long as I take the required classes and maintain a decently high GPA, which I’m positive is doable as I’ve done my research on the professors at the CC.
@prezbucky I thought about that too, but realized that Berkeley will be harder for me to reach a 3.7 GPA as the GE’s are notably difficult. Also, if I don’t get that GPA that means I have slimmer chances of transferring into USC and may even be rejected by Haas, since the competition is high. I’m thinking long term, because I don’t want to be stuck in Berkeley with a major that doesn’t pertain to my career if things don’t go as planned - hypothetically speaking. If I went to CC, a 3.7 is feasible; I am confident that I could make a 3.7 or even higher GPA at CC (near my local area).
What would your backup plans be if:
A. You go to UCB and later do not get into the business major and do not get admitted as a transfer to USC? Would you do some other major at UCB, or also have transfer applications to other schools?
B. You go to a community college and do not get admitted to either USC or UCB. What other schools would you apply to transfer to that you would be satisfied attending?
7 - I need to remember to read carefully. :-)
Wherever you go first, it behooves you to achieve a high GPA. The benefit of Berkeley would be a better education for those 1-2 semesters (vs. CC); but if your goal is to be at USC, and SC does not give greater weight to a Berkeley 3.7 than a CC 3.7, then the CC route will likely be easier.
Just try to provide options for yourself if your transfer attempt doesn’t work out. And obviously, do everything legally and ethically possible to help make sure that it is successful.
My advice would be to go to Berkeley and transfer to USC if you don’t get in to Haas. If you don’t get in to Haas and USC won’t take you, then do Econ at Berkeley. My daughter got in to both USC and Berkeley and chose USC because of the uncertainty of Haas but as a parent, it was tough to agree to pay more than twice as much. I would take what is given to you, especially if it is as good of a school as Cal. If it was UCLA, then better off at cc.
@ucbalumnus if I went to Berkeley right now and did not get in to Haas, I would more than likely stay within Berkeley for another major (not sure as yet). I’m thinking this scenario could happen (worst case scenario) and I would likely be adjusted to Berkeley and would most likely not leave.
If I didn’t get into USC from CC I would just do a guarantee transfer program to possibly UCI, or apply to NYU, or wait one more year to try and apply again.