CS Transfer Chances to UC

<p>This is a repost from College Chances forum. I am sorry if I'm not allowed to do that. Please notify me if I did wrong in this forum</p>

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<p>So, I am a computer science major which currently attending California community colleges. I started my CCC life this January and planning to transfer next year. I know this is crazy, but this what my parent expected me to do in U.S.; yes i'm an international student. </p>

<p>GPA: 3.57 (Fall GPA must be around 3.6-3.7)
Units (in progress) and completed : 64 quarter units.
English/Math/CS Complete Series + 2/4 Physics Series + Some GEs</p>

<p>EC:
HS Volleyball Captain
Math Tutor
Math Teaching Assistant (employee)
Volunteer at some public events
CS Enthusiast/Programming
Entered some prestigious local programming contest (back in my country)
Webmaster/Tech People for one CCC club
Lots of Computer-Subject Highschool achievement
Some other tech-related activities</p>

<p>For my EC, I can't really do much since I need to catch up for all of the prereqs (15+ quarter units/quarter)</p>

<p>I have a TAG with Irvine since it is the only UC that I can fulfils the pre-reqs. However, I am trying to apply to UCB, UCD, UCSC, UCSD. For UCD I can't finish two pre-reqs since I don't really have time for it. </p>

<p>What are the chances for me to get in to UCB, UCD, UCSC and UCSD?</p>

<p>If you were a CS transfer, which UC has a good program for CS not including UCB/UCLA?</p>

<p>Thank you! Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>UCSB has the college of creative studies.</p>

<p>It is a interesting college and they offer CS in the college of creative studies.</p>

<p>Check out the link
[UCSB</a> Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/CollegesAndMajors.asp?subsection=3]UCSB”>http://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/CollegesAndMajors.asp?subsection=3)</p>

<p>UCSB also offers CS college of engineering… Both of these programs seem legit.</p>

<p>@Dagoberto</p>

<p>Sadly I am not applying to UCSB, I can’t finish ALL of the pre-req. I missed 1 class for Physics. And the programming course I took in Java not C++ that they are asking.</p>

<p>Do you think I should apply though or it is just useless?</p>

<p>I would like to say that UCSD and UCI has great CS programs. I also wanna say that you have around 70-80% to get into UCSD, as long as you keep that GPA.</p>

<p>I can only speak on behalf of ucla since it’s where I transferred. But not taking C++ is definitely a disadvantage. They ideally want you to learn C++ first because it becomes easier to learn other languages. However UCLA’s computer science major has a lot of prerequisites, they are really going to care about your math, physics, and chemistry grades. </p>

<p>Not a lot of people know but UCLA offers a different computer science major in the college of Letters and Science (part of the math department). It’s called: mathematics for computing.
It’s more theory based and for people that want to go to grad school. </p>

<p>UCSB computer science programs should be easier to get admitted than UCLA.</p>

<p>@Dagoberto</p>

<p>Thanks for you response appreciate it!
I learned (advanced-competition level) C++ back in highschool, so changing a language back and forth is completely fine with me. </p>

<p>But what turned me to Java series is because, Berkeley asked for it. I really don’t know how do they use Java in their course. What do you think?</p>

<p>Actually, your point is right, C++ is more powerful than Java. C++ can access deep down into computer memory system while Java can’t (that’s why we have JVM). Am I right?</p>

<p>On Java/Berkeley: You will be thrown into new languages constantly. You’ll be expected to pick up new languages in a week or two. Don’t get too attached, there’s no one language that’s used a lot. CS61A (intro CS) is taught in Python with a bit of scheme/lisp and logic programming. CS61B (data structures) is taught in Java. CS61C (lower div architecture) uses C, mips, a bit of java, and logisim. The upper division classes branch out and do whatever they want… python, C, C++, Java/Android, Ruby, Javascript, IA-32, whatever fits best or whatever the professor prefers. So, really any language is going to be equally helpful at Berkeley. Knowing Java/C++ helps out with data structures and catching up on pre-reqs, though.</p>

<p>@failure622</p>

<p>Hmm… that’s one new thing about Berkeley CS for me. Thanks for the information!</p>

<p>Are you a transfer student from CCC?</p>

<p>Yes, I transferred to Berkeley (EECS) last year from a CCC. I’m not particularly useful at chancing people but I’m happy to answer questions about Cal/transferring/CS.</p>

<p>@failure622</p>

<p>Awesome!</p>

<p>What is you gpa from CCC?</p>

<p>and will Berkeley CS particularly need Physics course? Since I don’t see it on assist so I assumed they only focus on programming and math?</p>

<p>Last one, does Berkeley CS is under college of engineering? Or is it just another stand alone major?</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

<p>My GPA was ~3.7, I think? Hard to remember… I had trouble calculating it, honestly, since I had coursework from semesters/quarters and two different schools. I had a lot of CS/math/physics classes and techy ECs/projects.</p>

<p>Physics: Depends on if you’re L&S or EECS. EECS does require physics. L&S I think has a physical science breadth requirement, but I don’t think that specifically requires physics.</p>

<p>Berkeley actually has two different CS programs… Letters and Science offers a BA in CS. EECS (College of Engineering) is a BS.</p>

<p>EECS (the BS) lets students choose between CS, CE, EE, whatever. It includes more technical classes (like physics) than the BA does. The requirements are pretty flexible. Everyone needs to take 6 lower div classes (basic CS, data structures, architecture, discrete math, systems and signals, and circuits) and then students are free to choose their own path. Some students focus just on CS, some are EE people, some like everything. But it has lots of options.</p>

<p>L&S CS focuses on Computer Science, and only has one EE requirement. The program is a bit less flexible, and it requires the L&S GE requirements. The transfer plan is a bit different. L&S also makes students finish lower division requirements before declaring their major… that means it’s easier to get in, but you need to complete lower div classes with a certain GPA before you can declare CS. So that can be a bit stressful.</p>

<p>There’s not a huge difference between the two majors, assuming your focus is CS. Both majors take a lot of the same classes. The biggest difference is probably the breadth requirements and admission process.</p>

<p>@failure622</p>

<p>Thanks for all the information.</p>

<p>For L&S CS, do you have to finish IGETC? Or finishing prerequisites should be fine?</p>

<p>@failure622 </p>

<p>So do you mean that in L&S they require higher gpa for graduation? and lower gpa if you’re in colllege of engineering?</p>

<p>Thanks man appreciate your time!</p>

<p>@swollenninja: Off the top of my head, I don’t know… I transferred as EECS. But I think L&S recommends IGETC? Assist should tell you if it’s expected.</p>

<p>@zevitc: It’s not a graduation thing, it’s a major thing. Students who get in as EECS are automatically declared as EECS majors… they’re in the program from the minute they enroll. Those who apply to L&S CS enter as undeclared. That means they’re not CS majors, they’re L&S undeclared majors. Every L&S major works that way. But CS is impacted now, so intended CS majors need to keep a 3.0+ in their lower division CS pre-reqs and then declare their major. Those who can’t meet the requirements to declare CS have to pick an alternate (unimpacted) major.</p>