Hi Everyone!
I am looking to transfer from Cal State Northridge to UC San Diego! I am a Computer Science major. I have done all the PREP requirements and have in fact exceeded them. I am taking classes in math and computer science that are way past the requirements needed to transfer! I will have a 3.8 GPA upon transfer and applying. It is my second year at Cal State Northridge currently. In terms of Extra Curriculars, I have my own company and I am the C.T.O. I am using my computer science background and incorporating that into my business.
I would love to get everyone’s opinions on how I look based off of this information alone. Also, I would love all the tips I can get to enhance my application to further increase my chances of getting in! I would also especially like tips on how to approach the Essays and personal insight questions.
Thank you and feel free to ask questions I am an open book!
The information below was posted by a successful CSU to UC transfer student a few years ago. The tips still apply:
Tips for CSU to UC transfers:
- Get informed and and make a plan.
Use assist and college confidential to get informed and go out to look for any answers you might have. From ASSIST you will get all the information you need for the prerequisites you need for your major. Look up the major prereqs for every school you are interested in transferring to. When you know all the information for which classes to take, make a plan. Plan out which classes you need to take each semester before you transfer and how you will reach those mandatory 60 semester units needed to transfer to a UC. This is probably the most important part of transferring. The faster you have a plan the faster you get to transfer and you will have a easier and clearer path. And look through all the threads on the website and get a sense of what you need to do and what it takes to get a UC.
- Don't lose sight of the goal!
I know how hard it has been for me to keep my grades up and take enough classes to stay on track. So when you are striving to get As in those classes and you want to give up, don’t lose sight for what you are doing this for. CSU students probably have to the most to transfer because the odds are against us. If you are not willing to put in the work and you do not have the heart then trying to transfer is not for you especially if you are a CSU student. If you do put it in the work, trust me it will be worth it.
- Applications have to be perfect.
When you are finally applying to those UCs, make sure they are perfect when you submit them. Call all the schools you are applying, talk to some counselors, going to workshops if you can… do everything to make sure they are perfect. And for your personal insight questions, start early and and get some expert advice on them. Every CSU has a writing center to my knowledge, go to them with your essays and have them go over it for you and they’ll help you. Talk to counselors because they know what schools are looking for in a good essay and what an applicant should write.
- Plan for the worst.
The truth is that CSU students have last priority for transferring to UCs right after 1st) CC and 2nd)UC students. Some of us will not get into the schools we want or might not get into any that we apply to and that is the sad truth. So make a plan for every outcome that is possible. You might go to a UC that you did not expect or you might have to stay where you are now.
UC transfer GPA by major and campus admit ranges: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major
UC admissions by source school: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/admissions-source-school
it is worth applying but, your GPA is well below the 25/75 range (3.83-4.00) from the transfer GPA link above so, it is really unlikely.
You are doing great at CSUN - if UCSD takes you as a transfer, great, if not, make the most of the opportunities there, including clubs, internships, etc. and you won’t have any trouble finding job post college.
good luck.