<p>Hey Guys!<br>
So I'm a Junior in high school and last year basically killed my confidence in getting directly accepted into a UC. I got a pretty bad GPA (3.30). I volunteer at a hospital and will continue to do so. I'm also in my school Orchestra. Here's the problem: I feel that my GPA won't be enough to get me into UC Davis (dream school for major and med). What's there to know about transfers from a california community college to a UC. I live 300 feet from a CCC so it's pretty convenient. Will the TAG still be in effect when I graduate high school? What is there to know about other UC's (UCLA, UCB)? </p>
<p>Thank You!
-Vikram</p>
<p>Vikram, UC Davis is a cinch to get into from a CCC. First of all, CCC have what’s called a TAG agreement. If you finish 60 UC-transferrable units and complete the necessary prereqs for your major (for me ((psychology major)) I had to take: Exp. psych, Human Biology, gen psych, gen principles of biology, and a stats class) then you are literally guaranteed admission to UC Davis.</p>
<p>In high school I dropped out and received my GED. After that I had a terrible first semester at my CCC with like a 1.0 GPA. What’s great is the UC’s will forgive that (normally being seen as an outlier) and even better is this: if you have a TAG to Davis (you need just a 3.0) you’re in!</p>
<p>I thought that I had no chance of getting in anywhere other than where I could TAG back in the spring. I TAG-ed: UC Davis, UCSD, and UCSC. All of these are amazing schools and I’m really happy that I have guaranteed admission to all of them. </p>
<p>However, when I turned things aroung big time…when I bumped my UC GPA up to a 3.57, I realized that I may even have a chance at UCLA or Cal. This spring I’ll find out if I get in to those schools. UCLA as a psych major and Cal as a phil major.</p>
<p>The point is CCC is the best and probably the easiest route to get into the UC system. If you’re thinking that Davis is too big a reach because high school went poorly, take it from me…you can have a guaranteed admission to Davis with just a 3.0 at CCC. I love Davis, and if I don’t get in to Cal or UCLA, I may just see you there someday.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>“What is there to know about other UC’s (UCLA, UCB)?”</p>
<p>Well UCLA has what’s called the TAP (Transfer Alliance Program). Something like ~90% of TAP students are admitted! Unfortunately, it isn’t offered at my CCC, but if you go to a socal CCC, then it probably will be. Basically, in the TAP program, you do Honors coursework, and if you finish with a solid GPA, you have a great shot at being admitted.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if UCB has something similar, but I heard they have a sort of TAP as well, but you have to have like a 4.0 and be a low income family and some other things (from what I’ve heard). </p>
<p>Anyways, in terms of the schools themselves, both are very impressive in their own right. You’ll have to check them out/visit if you want to get a solid vibe for both campuses, but I know that the most life and stimulating environment (generally speaking) is at Cal. PM me if you want to know any specifics about Davis or UCSD btw I just visited both…Davis last week, and I can tell you alot about the people, campus, overall feel, academics, sports, pretty much anything.</p>
<p>Will the TAG still be in effect when I graduate high school?</p>
<p>Fall TAG should still be available. If you are committed to going to Community College -> Davis, consider taking some Community College courses concurrently to get a nice head start. Alternatively, you can take some GE’s in the summer. If you start this summer, transferring in 1 year is doable. You will be ahead of your peers, you will have a guaranteed chance of admittance, and you will save a lot of money.</p>
<p>I totally agree with rpicton. If you start taking CCC classes…literally now or as soon as possible, you can get ahead…and maybe even be a year ahead of your classmates. That’s what I did. Seriously doing concurrent enrollment, and/or doing some units over summer is such a great idea. You’ll thank yourself later.</p>
<p>@emilsinclair</p>
<p>UCB does have a TAP, but its very different from UCLA’s TAP. UCB’s TAP does also have a 90.1% acceptance rate tho. UCB’s TAP is different from UCLA’s in that for UCLA you choose to be a part of it, and with UCB’s they come to you, and ask you to be part of it (that’s how it happened for me and the few ppl in know in it). UCLA’s TAP is taking honors courses. For UCB’s TAP each student gets an andvisor disgnated to them by area, this advisor helps them with everything to prepare to transfer to UCB (what classes to take, personal statements, UC app, UC update, etc etc). UCLA’s TAP is open to everyone, whereas UCB’s TAP is only for those who contacted by the UCB TAP program. For UCB the first thing they do is check if ur one of the following: 1) Minority 2) Low Income 3) First Gen. College Student. If you meet one of those then they look into ur GPA and ECs, and based off all the information they decided whether you are to be part of UCB TAP or not</p>
<p>Thanks CalBearGuy, I appreciate that. I wasn’t sure how it all worked, and that was really informative.</p>
<p>@Calbearguy, I thought the percentage of TAP students acceptance was actually lower… well I have a pretty fuzzy memory but I think I remember Keith mentioning it and it was more like 80 something percent. Where did you get this stat? (This is only to ease my paranoia).</p>