i know there’s this whole thing about the implausibility of chancing folks but i’m just really interested to know what y’all think since my nerves are all over the place. and thank you! 
ps: i also had a question about the unit requirements for transferring. i reported that i’ll have 126.5 units by spring’s end. the limit is 129. the thing is that i’m actually only taking one class in spring, so i’d have 118.5, for what it’s worth. will my app be thrown out on these grounds? should i call UC admissions to notify them of this development? i’d technically enroll as a junior either way, i guess, and be senior status by winter.
base stats
UCSD student (previously: CA comm. college transfer)
major: philosophy
GPA: 3.84
IGETC/prereqs: yes
applying: UCLA, UCB, UCR, UCSB
reason given for xferring from UC: closeness to family north of san diego
things I mentioned in essays*
(1) preparation for major Q:
- 4.0 GPA in philosophy with 5 upper-divs and four lower-divs
- invited to decision theory (formal epistemology) grad seminar
- got A+ in that, also invited to take core epistemology grad seminar in spring
- phil. club + reading group involvement + wrote paper for honors colloquium @ CC
- applying to 2018 summer programs for underrepresented groups in philosophy
(2) educational opportunity Q: - really went into detail about having access to the “grad student” experience from seminar
- also mentioned fostering good relationship w the prof who invited me to take it (i.e., A+ in her upper-div class)
(3) significant challenge Q: - first-gen undergrad + parent to newborn daughter
- upshot = adapting to learning curve of uni/mandatory multitasking/time management
(4) strong candidate Q: - contributing diverse perspective an underrepresented minority in philosophy (female major of mexican descent)
- mentioned faculty that work in my area of specialty at each school
- upshot = willingness to seize opportunity to become good philosopher by association
- it'd be awesome if someone could take a look at the responses. i'm curious to know if they're any good.
etc
demographic info:
30k parents’ gross income
CA native
- notably i had to take a few quarters off because of my pregnancy. (my daughter was born on halloween, so fall quarter just wasn’t happening, and now i’m on leave to take care of her until spring because my commute to UCSD is 2hrs each way.) the possibility that this will rule me out as an applicant scares me!
academia-related:
logic co-instructor @ CC
philosophy tutor (more generally) @ CC
phil. + history of science reading group @ UCSD
philosophy club @ UCSD and CC
won scholarship for philosophy paper @ CC
set for graduating “with highest honors” via senior thesis @ UCSD
co-curricular:
organize annual crime victims’ rights march in my hometown (3yrs)
fundraising for local non-profit theater (3yrs)
volunteer docent at living museum (1yr)
literacy council volunteer (2yrs)
starbucks barista (1yr)