<p>Hello,
I'm on route to applying this upcoming semester for a handful of Universities. I have a couple in mind and wanted to know what you guys think my chances are. Also, if you guys have any suggestions on what schools would best fit my criteria, by all means let me know!</p>
<p>-Age:21
-Location: Los Angeles, California
-Nationality: Armenian (considered white/Caucasian)
-GPA: 3.3 (Will be bumped up to about 3.5 during the next few semesters before x-fer)
-Bi-Lingual(English and Armenian) but currently taking Spanish Classes
-First Generation College Student coming from a low income family.</p>
<p>E.C.'s: I'm really not sure if High School ECs are important for a transfer but i'm going to list them anyways</p>
<p>Highschool
-Bridge Program (took college courses during high school)
-Drama Club (Was done in my native language/ Had a lead role in the major play)
-School Band(Saxophonist)
-Worked part-time (subway and liquor store)</p>
<p>Community College
-Economics Club (board member)
-Math Pack (program allowing 2 calculus courses taken in 1 semester)
- Full Time/ Part Time work (Lenscrafters)
-ASA (Armenian Student Association)
-AYF( Armenian Youth Federation: Educates and partakes in events with the local youth)
-Basketball coach for 6th graders at my High School</p>
<p>There were a couple semesters where I didn't do as best as i could receiving a few Fs and Ws. It was partly due to my carelessness, full time job(Since money isn't abundant in my family), and the type of environment such as friends I hung around. Since those 3-4 semesters, I've gotten my act together and have received all As(Including retaking the Fs) for the following 3 semesters(About 25 units) since then. I plan to take about another 50 units until transferring and retaking 2 important classes: Econ 1A(A major requirement) and English 1A because i received Cs in them. I know it will not count towards my GPA but i just want to show myself that I'm not longer that idiot that f***ed up in school and is capable of getting As.
Also i have completed about 82 units of College Credits in which i believe most are transferable. So by the time around xfering comes i will be at about around 132 credits if not fewer. This is because i am going to take a couple more advanced math courses until i transfer. </p>
<p>Schools in Mind:
-All the UCs except Merced
-Claremont McKenna
-Pamona College
-Pepperdine
-Occidental College
-University of Texas-Austin
-Penn State
-Arizona State Uni.
-Boston College
-University of Rochester
-University of Michigan
-USC
-Syracuse</p>
<p>1: Do you go to GCC/PCC?
2: Which AYF chapter? </p>
<p>Sorry, had to ask haha. Anyways, you didn’t specify a major (I think) but you mentioned that Econ is a pre-req of yours so I’m assuming you’re an Econ major. I know nothing about the non-UCs, and for all UC’s besides UCLA and Cal I think you have a pretty decent shot. Look into the TAG program and see if you meet the requirements. </p>
<p>As for UCLA and Cal…a 3.3/3.5 is -for all intents and purposes- not going to cut it (for Econ/Business Econ). That’s not to say you shouldn’t apply, but it’s best to be realistic about your chances. I’m fairly confident that you’ll get into most of the other UCs if not all. </p>
<p>Definitely strive to get all-A’s from here on out. And no, high school material doesn’t count. And I’m not sure if you can even retake classes you’ve received Cs in; for sure it won’t replace the previous grade.</p>
<p>more of the suburb type area and no im not related to the kardashians nor am i fan of them although those chicks are gorgeous But, I know my chances of getting into UCLA and UCB aren’t the greatest but what about the other schools. And honestly, do you guys even think its worth it for me to apply to the out of state colleges just for the sense of having better job opportunities graduating from a prestige school after undergrad. Also, financially would it even be worth pulling out a student loan for that?</p>
<p>you can get into UCB’s Econ program with a 3.5. I know a guy who did it. Similar pattern too though in much less time. He screwed up his first semester and had straight As from thereon out. Just go all out in how you describe your ECs and work experience. Show yourself as a hero who fell but came back and persevered. Pretend it’s a job interview. Be confident but humble.</p>
<p>not sure about the privates/out of states, those places generally frown upon people with too many units and too many repeats, but the UC’s a VERY forgiving of them.</p>
<p>That gives me some hope xelink From the looks of it so far, i think my choices are narrowing down to only in state colleges due to high cost of OOS, since its really not worth pulling out a student loan for undergrad.</p>
<p>@SMCguy:
the only reason i’m avoiding applying to mathematics/economics for UCLA is because by the end of spring 2012 I’ll still have one or two math pre-reqs not completed.</p>
<p>There’s no point in retaking classes you received C’s in. Your C’s will be the only grade factored into your admission GPA because they are still considered passing. Repeat grades in these classes will be ignored essentially, but they <em>could</em> look at them from a qualitative perspective (ex. noticing you retook them and did well, but still can’t factor them into GPA).</p>
<p>Also, I graduated HS years and years ago and I still put my HS ECs on my application.</p>
<p>@killmyentourage:
I know that retaken Cs will not factor into my GPA, i’m mostly doing it to show myself and the reviewers that I can most likely receive an A in those classes. I really don’t mind that it doesn’t factor into the GPA, just the thought of knowing I can get an A is enough for me.</p>
<p>the1ndonly, I’m virtually 100% sure you cannot retake classes you got C’s in. I did a boat load of research on this. </p>
<p>I begged, pleaded and appealed to my college (El Camino) to try and retake the one and only C I got (in Physics-Electricity & Magnetism - a super important requirement for my major, Electrical Engineering) …but to no avail. In my case, I couldn’t care less anymore since I’m already at Cal. However, I thought I’d let you know that I got admitted to all colleges I applied to (including UCLA and UCB) despite that C in what might be considered THE most important course for my major. </p>
<p>The PERSONAL STATEMENT is EXTREMELY critical in circumstances such as this, and you need to spend months perfecting yours, explaining what happened along the way. Personally, I think that’s what pretty much got me in.</p>
<p>Edit: Here’s a suggestion - Instead of going through hoops trying to get the college to allow you to take the courses you got C’s in, try and take “similar” courses that are challenging, such as some difficult Econ courses? …and get A’s in them. Then find a way to explain this in your PS.</p>
<p>@victor5555:
Thanks for the info dude. I was wondering if you can retake those classes at another local CC. Also, what was your gpa when you applied?</p>
<p>HAHAHA I’m Armenian too. I think you have a pretty good chance at most UC’s except for UCLA (Unless you are TAP certified) What school is your top choice?</p>
<p>lol nice! My top choices would be either UCLA(Unfortunately I am not TAP certified) or UCB since they’re well known for economics(even if it’s not haas or biz econ). I know my chances aren’t too well for those 2 so my next favorites would have to be either UCSD OR UCSB. I am also doing TAG(Transfer Agreement Guarantee) with USCB so my chances of getting in are pretty good.</p>
<p>Actually I believe taking the same equivalent classes at another CC is no problem, but I still think it would look much better if you took courses in the same subject area that are more advanced, and excelled in them.</p>
<p>Since you said you got a C in Econ 1 (which I assume is the “entry level” econ class - macroeconomics?) the admissions committee would not bother about this if they saw that you got A’s after that in more advanced Econ classes. This would actually impress them much more.</p>
<p>Oh, and my gpa when I applied was 3.85. I got a B and a C (both in major pre-reqs) and the rest were A’s.</p>
<p>50 more units is a lot of classes you’re taking. If they are all As then that is good because a positive grad trend is something they like a lot. A 3.3 with 50 units of As turns your GPA to 3.7 area? You can TAG for almost all the rest of the UCs which is pretty simple. You shouldn’t worry much at all then. Obviously UCB and UCLA is going to be tough but there is still a chance, especially since CAL is BIG on personal statements. And for UCLA, get their TAP done and you’ll have priority admission. If your CCC has an honors program do that as well. Through that there are a lot of other programs that helps for your application. Like UCLA’s STEP program, which is pretty cool.</p>
<p>As far as the out of state schools… prestige is one thing but the cost savings of going to in state public is going to be very big compared to the slight, if that, prestige difference. I mean, a UC like UCSD is pretty dang good and MUCH cheaper than any out of state school. But you have to look at where you want to work. There is regional prestige and national. You would have to classify which is which and weigh them out.</p>
But, I know my chances of getting into UCLA and UCB aren’t the greatest but what about the other schools. And honestly, do you guys even think its worth it for me to apply to the out of state colleges just for the sense of having better job opportunities graduating from a prestige school after undergrad. Also, financially would it even be worth pulling out a student loan for that?</p>
From the looks of it so far, i think my choices are narrowing down to only in state colleges due to high cost of OOS, since its really not worth pulling out a student loan for undergrad.</p>