<p>Contrary to what some people are saying you actually can get admitted to the UC’s as a biology major missing a FEW recommended pre-reqs. However, missing a significant number is going to hurt you. I think what’s going to hurt you the most though is you won’t have completed any biology courses by the time they evaluate your application. The UC’s aren’t going to have any idea of how capable you are in the subject and would basically have to admit you on blind faith that you have a proficient understanding of fundamental biological concepts that you crammed into winter and spring. I think had you had some biology classes completed and had been still completing Math or Chem in winter/spring your chances would be much better. </p>
<p>At UCLA, I can tell you you’re already ineligible for all the life science majors because UCLA has hard “required” prerequisites that have to be completed to be considered for admission. Unfortunately you’ll be missing Organic Chemistry and one quarter of Biology by Spring 2014 and they will not make an exception to let you take them in summer.
See UCLA’s life science transfer requirements here:
[Transfer</a> Major Prep - Life Science majors - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/lsmajors/life_sci.htm]Transfer”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/lsmajors/life_sci.htm)</p>
<p>You’ll also be ineligible at UCI for their Biological Sciences major for the same reason.
[Transfer</a> Preparation: School of Biological Sciences](<a href=“Apply | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCI”>Apply | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCI)</p>
<p>Here at UCSD, biology is probably the most competitive department outside of engineering. Until this year it was impacted and they capped the number of admitted students to all biology majors because of overcrowding. UCSD isn’t particularly strict on pre-reqs and admissions tends to focus heavily on GPA, but without anything to show in basic biology classes when they review your application, I’d say your chances are likely slim to none. </p>
<p>However, there is some hope because at UC Davis you should meet all of their hard requirements to be admitted into a major in their college of Biological Sciences, like Exercise Bio. You can see those requirements here:
[UC</a> Davis : Requirements in the College of Biological Sciences](<a href=“http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/admission/transfers/trfr_stmr_cbs.cfm]UC”>Major Requirements: College of Biological Sciences)
IF you can maintain your 3.5GPA which it sounds like you might be struggling to do, I’d expect you to be admitted into UC Davis. </p>
<p>Lastly, don’t be afraid to stay in CC and finish your prereqs if you want to attend a top UC like UCLA or UCSD for biology. No one wants to stay in CC for more than two years, but as others have mentioned the reality is that many of us science/engineering transfers spend 3 years in CC or had to supplement with AP credit/summer courses to make it in two years. If your main goal was to transfer in two years, you probably should’ve picked a social science or humanities major. Also, something to consider is even if it were somehow possible to transfer in two years missing a significant number of prereqs, the reality is that you’d probably end up spending 3 years at a UC where cost of attendance is 10 times more than in CC because you’d still have lower division classes to take. So even if you have to stay in CC one more year, you’re saving yourself a lot of money. </p>
<p>Finally to close with some words of encouragement. I’m a current Molecular Bio major at UCSD, I was also accepted to UCI and UCLA (MCDB) in 2012. Before I was accepted I applied in 2011 after two years in CC and I was rejected to everywhere I applied except UC Davis and UCSC (I didn’t want to attend either). I actually had a similar GPA as you and I was missing some of my prereqs like o-chem and physics. I didn’t want to stay back in CC either, but I chose to and it paid off after raising my GPA and finishing those pre-reqs . I’d really encourage you to apply to UC Davis and UCSD, but even if you don’t get accepted, or if you do and decide you really wanted to go to UCLA/Berkeley, use it as a motivation and you may have a real shot at even Berkeley or UCLA next year once you finish your pre-reqs.</p>
<p>Final piece of advice: If you can’t get classes be persistent. A class being full at your registration date shouldn’t be an excuse as that happens to nearly everyone. If that’s the case, join the wait list and show up to the class for the first month and eventually enough people will drop that you’ll get in. If the wait list is full, show up anyway and enough people will drop off the wait list and stop attending that there will be empty seats. If you’re the most persistent person for waiting to enroll it will generally pay off. There’s also the option of co-enrolling at another local CC to double your chances. Don’t give up just because you can’t register on your first try. Most successful transfers have had to crash courses and get late-add slips to enroll at some point in their CC career. Stay persistent and stay on top of your classes and you’ll be able to transfer wherever you want.</p>