Please don’t just look at my thread on CP SLO, please also look at my other new post about chancing me on colleges, and look at that too. Just so that way you guys can see my improvement, not just my former faults.
Do not make assumptions about cost. Use the net price calculator on each college’s web site to get an estimate. Merit scholarships tend to be much less common for transfer students, and most of the colleges on your list do not give any at all.
Princeton currently does not admit any transfer students.
Amherst College, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly SLO
The only person I’ve heard of who got into MIT with a high school record like that, went to the navy and served for many years and came back to school as an adult, as a freshman, in ocean engineering when that major still existed.
I also know someone who got into UCSD I believe after two years of CC with a slightly better HS record.
UCs are probably the most realistic options, since they (a) are transfer friendly, (b) do not consider high school stuff (other than fulfilling some base-level check box requirements, though these are optional for admission), © have good in-state financial aid, and (d) should have significant research activity for a math major planning PhD study in math or a related field.
CSUs have (a), (b), and © above, although it appears that there is less emphasis on pre-PhD preparation in math. CPSLO’s career survey indicates that 58 students earned bachelor’s degrees in math in 2014-2015. 22 of these went on to further study, but only 1 to a PhD program. In comparison 12 went to teaching credential programs, 1 to law school, and 8 to master’s degree programs.
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I have been told numerous times that I would make it into UCLA, Cal, and the other UCs without breaking a sweat.
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whoever told you that is mistaken. Getting into UCLA and UCB as a transfer isn’t easy for anyone.
I have a curiosity question, everyone keeps referring to my HS record, is it normal to have top colleges (ivy leagues and other private institutions) to request HS information? It sounds like all of them do, but just for clarification purposes.
Also, the reason why I was told that is because it was AFTER I accomplished many things at my CC as well as UCLA opening more spots in my major, and so they apparently already felt I could make it in easily. The people who told me was an honors counselor of 15 years, department chair that trained students for the CalTech entrance exams every year, and a professor who transferred to UCLA then MIT to get her PhD. So if they feel with the accomplishments I have achieved that I can make it, then I believe them.
You may want to check https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major for more recent UC transfer admission stats by major.
Thanks you, I’ve never seen this before.
OP: I get the impression from what you’ve said in this thread that you’ve kind of turned things around from your high school days, are excelling at your CC, and have specific interests and experience in math and cryptography that you’d like to take further. And also that you’ve been told – perhaps by faculty at your CC? – that you have a good chance to transfer into some top schools and continue your studies there.
If that’s the case, I suggest you talk further with these faculty, get recommendations from them, suggestions about schools to consider, and ask them for contacts at these schools. They’d very likely know people there, perhaps faculty in the math departments. Then talk to those contacts and, if you can impress them, it might increase your chances of getting into some of those schools. It sounds like you have a somewhat unusual situation, and maybe something like this can benefit you.
In addition, I’d listen to the caution that many other responses are giving you, that it’s very difficult to transfer into many of these top schools. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, but try to get more information on what your chances are, how many transfers each schools generally accept, and consider a variety of schools, not just top ones.
I never thought they might have connections like that. Thank you so much for that, I’ll be sure to ask around. I really didn’t think about using my connections like that…
I understand the caution, I just don’t want it to stop me from trying, because I fully intend to try as hit as high as I can and just see where I can go.
UCLA accepts about 26% of transfer applications (~10x Stanford’s rate.)
That probably makes it a high match at best.
You might have a realistic shot at other public universities that have strong programs in both math and CS.
Go ahead and apply to schools on your list, but you also need some more realistic back-up.
Maybe Wisconsin, Minnesota, UI-UC, or UMd-CP, if out-of-state costs are not an issue.
There are VERY few scholarships of any size available for transfer students.
Yes, they do. The more competitive a college the more likely they will look at HS info. Google Common Data Set and look at section D which shows what information is used for transfer admissions.
I suspect that you believe you ‘need’ to have a big name college/U to either swim with other big fish, or to provide you the level of academics in coursework you are looking for. And you intent to work FT while doing it?
Look for the big name with graduate programs. Since you need to plan a path after CC, do look to the course requirements at various graduate programs for the type of pure math you plan to pursue - I suspect you can complete those courses at many, many UG programs.
Get your UG completed in a school that is a good fit for you now. If you are in CA, and a CA resident, why not finish at one of the fine U’s there? If your credentials when you finished HS wouldn’t have you accepted at the list of schools you proposed initially, the few that do accept a few transfer students - why pursue? If you concentrate your energies in the right ways, I believe you will have a better chance at success. You may have more doors open to you for graduate school if you are smart now. Also you don’t want a lot of UG student debt.
You want to try and hit high, but it also sounds like you believe the financial picture will also work out. Even if you take out a lot of student debt.
Sounds like as a student you are trending upward with your abilities.
What Caltech entrance exams?
Yes, they have a caltech entrance exam for math, physics, engineering, etc majors
And thank you, I will be sure to check out grad programs as my ending goal then. I really appreciate the input!
Also, if they do check my HS transcripts I understand I will not be a competitive applicant. Thank you for clarifying the process though Erin’s Dad. I appreciate understanding the process better so I don’t waste my time. Sincerely, thank you.
Ah, I see, they have a Caltech entrance exam for transfer applicants only. (I do not believe it is specific to any major, but no doubt it covers the things a freshman would have taken at Caltech including physics, math, etc.) I also looked at the numbers - you do realize that transfer admissions are even more hyper-competitive than freshman admissions, right? Let us know how it goes and if you get in.