Chance me for the UCs as a California CC transfer

Demographics

  • State/Location of residency *: California
  • Other special factors *: First gen, low income

Intended Major(s)
Computer Engineering (Computer Science & Engineering if offered)
GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • College GPA (for transfers): 3.51 (+/- .03 after this semester), significant upward trend (2.0 → 4.0).
    Major GPA is significantly higher (3.83) or a bit lower (3.4) depending on how it is calculated.

Coursework

  • All major prep work completed.
  • All recommended optional courses completed.
  • Major transfer pathway (electrical engineering) to be completed by Spring.
  • Roughly 120 units completed by Spring.
  • 2-3 AAs complete by Spring.

Extracurriculars

  • Experience with working a large open-source project
  • Worked as a paid tutor / computer repairman
  • Have done video game development & web development as hobbies
  • Play the piano and mess with Arduino projects on occasion as hobbies
  • Have had obligations to my family for a while now, especially for my grandmother & younger sibling
  • Served as a church youth group helper for a few years in the past
    Some of these ECs are only applicable to my high school years

Essays/LORs/Other
Currently have 2 PIQ essays complete:

  • one that explores the creativity and problem solving in video game development
  • another that goes over the struggles of financial insecurity & homelessness throughout my adolescence, and how I’ve worked to overcome them.

Cost Constraints / Budget
Will take loans / work-study as needed. EFC is 0.

Schools
UCR
UCSC
UCI
UCSD
UCSB
UCLA
UCB

  • Safety *
    UCR
    UCSC

  • Match / Reach *
    All other UCs. I’m specifically interested in UCI, UCSD, UCSB (in that order).

Also, I am aware of the publicly posted transfer stats; I’d just like receive some input from the community.

Based on Transfers by major | University of California and your 3.51 college GPA with computer science and/or engineering as the desired major:

  • UCM is probably a low match to likely.
  • UCSC and UCR are probably matches.
  • UCLA and UCB EECS are high reaches.
  • The other UCs and UCB L&S CS are somewhat more realistic reaches (however, if admitted to UCB L&S, you need to complete the remaining prerequisites at UCB with a 3.3 GPA to enter the L&S CS major).

Ah, I’m not looking to apply as a computer science major anywhere; “computer science and engineering” is a specific major offered by UCD, UCLA, and UCI. Regardless, I appreciate the input.

Did you TAG to any of the campuses? Are the 120 units all lower division from a CC?

I think that ucbalumnus has gauged your chances correctly. Have you run the NPC’s so see if Federal aid and work study will cover costs? Will your parents take out a Parent Plus loan if there is a money gap? No interest in any of the CSU’s CE programs?

UCSD will the Reachiest of your target UC’s. UCB and UCLA should always be considered High Reach schools. All but UCR/UCM and UCSC will be tough admits.

Wishing you the best of luck.

UCR and UCM will probably admit you. UCSC will be a coin toss. I’d be sure to apply to a few CSUs as well.
Sac, Chico, and SF would be good candidates.
Apply broadly so you have options…
Good luck

Computer engineering (not computer science) at SJSU may be a reasonable match if you have completed seven major prep courses: Transfer Impaction Results | Admissions .

1 Like
  • Yeah, I have already TAG’d to UCR as it is one of the closer campuses to my location.
  • All units are lower division.
  • I’m interested in some CSUs but I’d need to fit an oral communications class into my schedule.
  • Honestly, I figured my chances weren’t horrible even after looking at the public transfer stats, but we’ll see how things play out.

It really would be nice to have the 2021 transfer admit data but that is not usually posted on the UCOP website until January/February 2022.

At least you will have UCR which is still a very good option.

Does being just shy of the 25th percentile for a given major make it a reach school? I just want to make sure I’m gauging my chances correctly.

With the 25th/75th admit ranges, there are applicants that are accepted above and below these ranges. Just being shy of the 25th percentile will make the school more of a Reach than of course being within these ranges. GPA is a huge factor but your EC’s and PiQ’s will all contribute to your chances.

Gotcha. Bit of a silly question, but the transfer stats also represent the 25th - 75th percentile for enrollees, correct? The only reason I’m asking is because there is no mention of it at the bottom of the page, though I do recognize that the site mentions it near the top.

If you look at the chart there is an admit GPA range and an enroll GPA range. You want to focus on the admit range.

Is the enroll GPA range a bad frame of reference for gauging chances?

You should look at the admitted GPA range since that is where you want to be for the best chances. Many times the enrolled GPA can be lower than the admitted GPA. Like I stated, these are ranges and they do accept applicants below the 25th percentile.

This is common because the yield for stronger admits is typically lower. The stronger admits are more likely to have other attractive choices of colleges or scholarships.

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