<p>So here's the story. I am finishing up my first year at a cc after transferring from a private 4 year. I was at the 4 year uni for a year and took 28 units. I was on track to be an econ major but I have decided I want to switch to computer science. The problem is, I have only a couple of the prereqs for this major completed. I could finish the prereqs by next spring but I would surpass the 90 semester unit limit for transfer students that some UCs have for admission. I could finish all the prereqs save a couple and still stay under 90 units. My dilemma is that I don't know whether to stay south of the unit limit and hope that the UC admissions people will be lenient with my major prep or to finish the prereqs and immediately disqualify myself from UCSD UCSB UCSC, and probably UCLA if I'm not mistaken. Berkeley does not have a unit cap but, my gpa would realistically be somewhere around a 3.5 and as far as I know that's too low for CS. I would like to get into the best program possible but I'm not sure which would be the better plan of action, finish the prereqs and disqualify myself or stay under with a few prereqs short. Thanks!</p>
<p>UCLA is not looking good. 2011 stats indicate that comp sci majors had a 7% admit rate with the avg admitted gpa being 3.82
[Profile</a> of Admitted Transfer Students by Major, Fall 2011 - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm#SEAS]Profile”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm#SEAS)</p>
<p>What about Cal? Any idea if I would be competitive for admission there for CS in L&S? I just need advice on what school to shoot for since if I try to go for Cal I won’t have any good back ups.</p>
<p>the unit limit doesn’t mean that they won’t accept you, it means that they will only grant you x amount of credits prior to transfer. </p>
<p>Look up each schools admission policy to figure out which ones won’t flat out not admit you for having too many credits. </p>
<p>If you have over, all it means is they will grant you subject credit. </p>
<p>Talk to your school counselor on what you plan to do and they can put you in the right direction. You won’t get accepted because you don’t have the pre-reqs done to be admitted as a CS transfer. Just take the units. You started out at a 4 year university so the rules are different for you. </p>
<p>PM me if you have any questions. I went to an out of state 4 year uni and I am also a computer engineering major.</p>
<p>
This is incorrect. Each campus, and often different colleges on the same campus, have their own policies for students with a mix of 4-year and CC credits.</p>
<p>See the answer to the question “What are the unit limitations or restrictions on admission for students who have attended a four-year institution before enrolling at a California community college?” on page 14 of <a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/files/ETS10_TransferQA_final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/counselors/files/ETS10_TransferQA_final.pdf</a></p>
<p>I know that Cal does not have a unit limit if you are currently attending a cc, but others have limits (UCSD, UCSB that I know of). My question is basically, will I still have a shot at Berkeley with a 3.6 for CS if I do not finish the prereqs? Because I could finish all the prereqs, but then I would not be able to attend UCSD (My back up) and if I didn’t get into cal I’d be in deep.</p>
<p>CAL has a strict 4-semester rule for transfers. They are more lenient for engineering majors. Meaning, if you do not graduate within 4-semester (2-years, not including summer) after you transfer then they automatically kick you out. They do this to make room for new students. So, the less classes you have completed then the more classes you have to take at once and higher chances of dropping our due to overload. </p>
<p>Also, you will be at a disadvantage and given least priority in admission for students who have higher GPA and those that have their pre-reqs completed.</p>
<p>[post deleted]</p>
<p>Never mind… You know what you’re doing.</p>
<p>Berkeley will be a reach with a 3.6 UCSD guaranteed admissions is a good deal</p>
<p>By the way it never hurts to try</p>
<p>Lawl they don’t automatically kick you out. The time for engineers is easily extended, especially for transfer engineers. It happens all the time, but don’t expect to last more than a year… then they might kick you out lol. </p>
<p>Tangent, UCSB has a Computer Science degree with economics focus. You could apply directly to that. </p>
<p>If you have your heart set on Berkeley and trying to do all to get in:</p>
<p>There is no guarantee that you will be accepted to UCB. You won’t be a strong applicant w/o most of the pre-reqs. Are you trying to get a BA or BS? The programs are not equivalent and you can apply to the BA program. The BS is ABET engineering accredited and the BA is not. (its computer science, so no one really cares as much as say EE)</p>
<p>Apply to a major that you are interested in and take a minor in CS or apply as a BA computer science. All you need to finish is this:</p>
<p>[Office</a> of Undergraduate Advising: Computer Science](<a href=“http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/major/compsci.html]Office”>http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/major/compsci.html)</p>
<p>Basically:
Calc I, II
Linear algebra
a beginner programing course prefer C++
data structures
= 5 classes. You may/may not be able to get an intro circuits class w/o physics depending on your school. </p>
<p>Look up the Assist page for a BA Computer Science (in Letters and Science). You would have a good chance to get in with a 3.6 g.p.a. AND an economics background</p>
<p>Ya I checked out the UCSB program recently it looked pretty cool, I’m just worried about UCSB’s reputation for partying. After taking a second look, I will have all the pre reqs finished for most schools including Multi Var. Calc and differential equations and Calc based physics by spring. I will apply for the BA at Cal because I’m mostly interested in software and have no interest in being in hardware. Thanks for the information, Berkeley has been a dream of mine but I would certainly be ok with going to another UC, like UCSD assuming I can tag.</p>
<p>its like any other school. It is known for partying, but has an amazing engineering school. With only 1000 students TOTAL across all disciplines, it has the lowest teacher to student ratio in the 9’s. </p>
<p>By the way, UCSB computer science jumped to 5th in the nation recently. Microsoft and Google hire on campus. It’s a solid school. You don’t have to party if you don’t want to. </p>
<p>The real question is what do you want to do after school? If you want to work at a financial firm, Berkeley would be better for the big banks, but UCSB has a strong reputation with the big 4 since its accounting major is legit. Financial firms usually are prestige whoares so Berkeley would give you a leg up in the UC system (UCLA coming in 2nd). </p>
<p>Always have a backup to your main goal just in case. But the BA option is your best bet plus it combines both your goals. You can do a lot with a focus on computer science and economics. Check out the internships for Federal Reserve in San Francisco :O)</p>
<p>I was once contemplating the same options you are so I know how it goes. I will either minor in economics…or just skip it all together. Good luck!</p>
<p>Also you can do math/econ at UCLA. You have the math for it, and a good g.p.a. It’s easier to get into math/econ and job prospects with that major are EXCELLENT. Combine that with a computer science minor and you are GOLD son. </p>
<p>Try to get Linear Algebra knocked out also.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm[/url]”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm</a>
50% admit rate and avg g.p.a of 3.54</p>