In the case of listing your extracurriculars on your UC App, is it acceptable to mention your high school volunteer work and internships?
I will be a one year transfer with a fairly heavy unit schedule this Fall and wondered if app readers would consider the fact that I really did not have enough time to put in a lot work for extracurriculars being that I apply so early.
If any one year transfers could shed some advice, that will be very appreciated. Thanks.
@jackbane I wasn’t a one-year transfer, but perhaps I could shed a little light on your situation. While listing high school extracurriculars isn’t advised, you are definitely free to do so. With that being said, I do caution against it unless it’s your only option. I’ve spoken with many counselors on this topic, and each one of them highly suggests to fill-up all the available spaces with as many recent activities as possible (MAKE SURE TO FILL THEM UP, no matter what). For example, if you started volunteer work back in high school, try to continue it within the next few months so that you can list it as an activity you started in high school, as well as one you continue to do so now. Internships might be a little more tricky, but do your best to get creative. Admissions officers understand that many of us CCC transfers simply don’t have the time and the resources to lavishly decorate our college apps like many of our high school counterparts. Thus, get creative with your time, try some new things, and don’t be afraid to put them on your apps. Good luck!
@rainbubble I took 12 semester units P/F and got into all the UCs I applied to: berkeley, ucla, davis, Santa Barbara. You’re allowed to do IGETC and Breadth P/F and despite what people say they don’t hold it against you. I asked a UC advisor. However, I would suggest doing it with classes unrelated to your major general area. I’m Media Studies (Communications) at berkeley and these were my P/NP:
Both IGETC sciences: 7 units
1 language: 5 units, although I took a higher level after it for a grade. (But even Haas says language, if fulfilling breadth can be P/NP.)
FWIW, I did not choose soc, psych, anthro etc for P/NP as too close to my major.
Im a astrophysics major I just completed calculous 2 with a “B” I have a 3.099 gpa applying to uc berkley, ucla, davis, and Merced. Ha those "C"s are killers and I failed calculous 1 my first year.
I’m a bit depressed after completing a first pass of the UC application; I really have no honors, awards, volunteer or extracurricular activities to list and I’m in the dark as to the significance. The one substantial factor I have going for me besides GPA is that I have been working over 20 hours a week for my dad’s construction company for years, but besides that I have literally nothing besides coursework to list on my application.
I’d be interested in hearing any thoughts on this matter, whether they come from a former transfer or a current applicant.
@Deangeloyouknow At least you have grade trends going for you, so I would keep fighting the good fight. Also, considering UCLA’s profile of admitted transfers I think you should consider applying as a physics major instead, at least that’s what I’d do in your position. Check out these admissions stats: https://www.admission.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof15_mjr.htm
@mightyMETA I see that the acceptance rate is 39% for physics and 25% for astrophysics majors. That is really helpful but honestly I’m more interested in astrophysics than just physics. I really do appreciate the help, I wish the best for you.
In-State CC Fall 2017 Transfer
Major: Anthropology
UC GPA: 3.91
Major GPA: 4.0
IGETC: Will be done in the fall
Major Prep: Completed for UCLA, will be done in the fall for all others.
Tap: Yes, will be certified the spring before transfer.
Tag: Will be tagging UC Davis when the filing period opens
Units Completed: Summer 2016 - 35 completed. By Fall 2016 - 54 completed. By Winter 2016/17 - 61 completed. By Spring 2017 - 79 completed (If all goes according to plan, if not I’ll still have over 60 units completed after spring).
ECs:
- Voluteered at a church for over 5 years, but 1 year not including my high school years - 10hrs a week, 42 weeks per year.
- Volunteer note-taker for my CC’s DSPS - 3hrs a week, 24 weeks per year.
- Volunteered at Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital for 5 months - 4hrs a week, 23 weeks per year.
- Worked full time as a manager/cashier 63hrs in the Summer and 40hrs during the school year since December 2015, still work there now.
- Honors Enrichment Program at my CC.
- Choir Director at the church I volunteer at, 2.5hrs a week, 42 weeks per year.
- Volleyball, haven’t calculated the hours for that quite yet.
Awards:
- President’s Honor Roll.
- Youth Leadership Award from the church I volunteer at.
Target Schools: UCLA (my dream school), UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCSD. However, I’m applying to every UC (except Merced) to be safe.
Personal Statement: Started working on it yesterday.
*P.S. Sorry I wrote so much :-SS The application just opened yesterday, so I’m just reading off what I put down. Thanks! (:
@Deangeloyouknow I see, I just hope you consider it and maybe talk it over with a counselor or something. From the descriptions I’ve read on UCLA’s website, the astrophysics and physics programs are extremely similar and once you get accepted to a physics major nothing will prevent you from taking astronomy/astrophysics courses as electives. In the long run you could still become an astrophysicist and the difference between a bachelor’s in physics or one in astrophysics won’t make any difference. I’m sure the majority of current astrophysicists hold a bachelor’s in either general physics or math (I just read Neil degrasse Tyson’s CV and it lists a typical physics degree); a person like you with such positive grade trends and a clearly defined goal deserves to be at UCLA in my opinion but that will be a lot harder to do with that 26% acceptance rate :o
@mightymeta first of all thank you so much for your kind words. There needs to be more people like you in the world. 
second couldnt I just apply as a astrophysics major and choose physics as a alternative major on the common application. Also Neil is one of my idols I want to be on tv talking about space and stuff. That’s a goal of mine. Maybe a guest appearance with Neil on the Cosmos
Sorry I don’t know how to edit post I meant to put on the uc application
@Deangeloyouknow
Ucla doesn’t allow alternate majors unless you’re part of TAP. Even then, only certain majors are allowed to be alternates. Also there may be the option of switching to Astro physics if you’re admitted to Physics.
@2016Candles but on the uc app it has you list your major and then it has you list your alt major it says it right next to it.
@Deangeloyouknow It only gets considered if you’re in TAP.
@LynAmmo oh haha I did not know that. Well I still checked them lol. Thank you for the help though.
@Deangeloyouknow No problem
@Deangeloyouknow You can do it, you must have a lot of curiosity to fail calc and then keep pushing through to get passing grades; several notable physicists including those who ended up hosting their own science shows failed math and then got good at it later on (Brian Cox failed his A level math exam for instance). I think the first step is to major in physics at UCLA, but good luck either way!
Any chance I can make UCLA bus/econ with a 3.6 gpa? I will have all pre-reqs and general requirements completed.
@mightyMETA does it really look good if people keep pushing? im a physics major but in high school i constantly failed math but kept taking it because i knew i needed it for my future major. then i failed calc 1 in college and still retook it to get a B and just barely got by with a C in calc II recently. i have been feeling like such a failure because i honestly didn’t realize how bad my grades were til i started comparing myself with the admission stats and everyone has at least a 3.6-4.0 and i have a 3.47… i just get Bs and As mostly but that C really brought me down. i got an A in physics though if that helps. i thought i was at least a bit average but i didn’t realize how bad all those Bs added up to. i honestly dont feel like im even college material anymore because of this. i dont even think ill get into my local UC which is UCSD and i always used to think that was an average/midtier school i could get into if i needed to but even that seems like a huge longshot to me. what if im just not cut out to be in college? i see people with 4.0s and 3.9s even in relatively easy humanity majors and hard STEM engineering majors and i cant help but wonder why i cant achieve that or what’s wrong with me if im just not worthy or meant to do this i dont know
aye! this is my first time being apart of a college forum thread! i cannot wait to be on this journey with u guys… quick question… do UC’s calculate minuses into ur gpa… ex: A-, B-, etc
im excited to apply with TAP… i think i can get in because my major is not impacted.(sociology)
hey that is awesome! u should be a shoe in! @LynAmmo