I am an aspiring transfer student in San Diego. I attend CC here and have been for nearly the last four years. I didn’t have the best start to CC; not passing classes, unsure on major, etc. Over the last year I finally settled on a major (Business Admin) and have worked to improve my gpa. I’ve either retaken every class that I’ve gotten a D or F in and passed them with a better grade, or have applied academic renewal to them. Right now my gpa is a 2.88. I’m following the green sheet and have completed all of the GE classes as well as prep for the major, except for two classes which I’m in now and expect to pass. If I do pass these, my gpa would be around about 2.92.
In June, I’ll be graduating with an AS-T in Bus. Ad which I thought would guarantee me admission to at least one csu. I applied to SDSU and CSUSM and got a letter from both this week denying me. I talked to a counselor and she said my SDSU app was denied because my gpa is lower than the requirement 2.9. CSUSM has a 2.5 minimum for Business Admin, but she said I was probably denied because I’m not considered local.
I’m in a short term class now which ends in 2 weeks. I expect to get an A which would put my gpa over the minimum for SDSU. I want to appeal the decision and cite this class as putting me over the requirement, but I feel like it’s not even worth it. CC has been hard for me the last few years. I don’t qualify for Fin. Aid anymore because too many units. I get no family contribution and have had to work part time to afford books and whatnot.
I’ve tried so hard over the last few semesters to improve my gpa, such as taking 14 units and getting a 3.86 last semester. I want to finish school, but I’ve been in CC so long, that if I had to wait an extra year just to transfer, I don’t know if I have it in me to go back.
SDSU has become very competitive such that you are competing with students who are near 4.0 and who have multiple college EC activities. (Their business administration program is impacted) Since they get over 80K applications for spots, they are going to be concerned with the number of academic renewals and the fact that the CC classes are lower division and should be “doable”.
San Marcos also has limited space and they take the students who reside north of the 56 (or whose high schools were north of the 56).
Did you apply to any other local schools? Pt. Loma? USD? They are forgiving to local applicants/transfers. You can contact them and tell them your current situation. You can also try the CSU’s that are not quite as impacted: Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Sonoma etc. Sonoma may offer you some financial incentives.
Are you set on staying in San Diego? There are lots of WUE schools out there that would be happy to have you as a transfer. My son is going to Northern Arizona and loves it there. You should be able to take junior and senior year student loans and potentially quality for financial aide once you transfer, correct?
@auntbea Those two were the only ones I applied to. I thought since I was doing an AS-T I’d have to get in to at least one of them. I realize I was misinformed now. My counselor suggested I look at those CSUs you mentioned and try contacting them which I plan to do.
@socalmom007 I’d prefer to stay in SD if I could, but if transferring on time was my only option, I’d consider somewhere outside SD but probably still in CA. I don’t qualify for fin. aid at CC, but they said I would after I transferred to a uni.
Also try to use WUE like @socalmom007 suggested. You could do Northern Arizona U.
Try Humboldt.
@auntbea I will do that. Thank you
There is no harm in appealing - especially if your GPA came up the semester as you describe. Few succeed in the appeal process but, honestly you have nothing to loose - so give it a shot. For this year, you don’t have many other options, particularly if you stay in San Diego. Some WUE schools (like Reno) have really late application deadlines and may be open to you if you apply now. That’s a long way from the beach but, certanly worth a look. Reno is also a much cheaper place to live.
For next year, add a non-impacted school or 2 to your ap list. CSU East Bay may be just the ticket.
Good luck.
Also if your GPA is 2.9ish then maybe there’s older classes that you could retake for higher grades? I did that and it had a huge effect on my GPA
@philbegas I actually do have a few that I could take. That seems like the best way if I’m not able to transfer.
@NCalRent Thank you.