Got into UCSC but specific GPA too low to declare?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Cruz
1

I recently got admitted to UCSC as a junior level transfer student. The problem is that I want to declare as a Biochemistry major and they want a minimum of 2.5 GPA in:
Chem 1B (I got a C)
Chem 1C (I got a C)
Chem 12A (I got a B)
Bio 1A (I got a C)
Calculus 1 (I got a C)
My GPA therefore falls short, but if you look at the rest of my major grades, they are:
Chem 1A: A
Chem 1B: C
Chem 1C: C
Chem 12A: B
Chem 12B: A-
Chem 12C: A-
Physics 4A: A+
Physics 4B: A
Physics 4C: A
Bio 1A: C
Bio 1B: C
Bio 1C: B
See what I mean? They are going to calculate the courses from the time I was taking 21 units and working two jobs. I quit one job and focused on school, and improved. With the minimum GPA of 2.5 in those five courses, I can meet the requirements if I repeat one of those “C” courses. Do you think if I explain this and repeat it at the UC, they will let me? Or do you think I’m screwed? :frowning:
It’s not like I can retake those five classes even though an A in just one of them would satisfy the min GPA

Should I:

  1. E-mail the advisors for the dept?
  2. Write a letter of appeal?
2

Why is it “not like you can retake the first five courses”?

Students where I teach can retake a C if they want to, even if they are transferring in the fall they can take a course in the summer. I would just retake one if you can.

And PLEASE do not whine about working and go to college full-time; nay, MORE than full-time. Many students are doing that and it is dumb dumb dumb but sometimes necessary to work.

The only question would be whether you have enough to be able to transfer if you ask them to ignore one or more grades so you can repeat the course at UCSC.

The other thing is, do you have to declare a biochemistry major immediately, or can you declare a chemistry major (or not even declare a major at all) and take the courses needed for biochem and then switch? I know people who switch majors in junior year, as long as they are pretty close.

And do you know that 100% of your credits will transfer? Chem 1 and Chem 12 both sound like freshmen Chem; how much material did they cover? You may actually be able to appeal if your earlier Chem courses do not have equivalents at UCSC.

My suggestion is to see how many of the credits transfer in to UCSC. If some are dropped, that might work in your favor in terms of GPA for the courses that do transfer. Then you can consider appealing because you did better in the higher level Chem courses.

Chem 12B and Chem 12C are not counted, but you did very well in those, that would be ammunition for you.

3
  1. It says courses that I received a C or better in cannot be repeated.
  2. They don't "ignore" grades. I have to report every grade I received.
  3. The allow me to transfer 105 quarter units.
  4. I have to declare my major by the second quarter.
  5. Yes I'm 100% sure. I spoke to a counselor before.
  6. Chem 1A/1B/1C is freshman General Chemistry and 12/12B/12C is Sophomore Organic Chemistry.
  7. Since none drop, should I appeal or e-mail/call first?
  8. What do you mean ammunition? Do you mean it works in my favour?
4

I was reading on other forums about other people that have been in my situatiion, and I found a few people who needed a 2.8 in two Econ classed to declare Econ and if they appealed for the major, they were usually deferred, saying they can take another Econ class at UCSC and if they get a C+ or better, they can declare. Do you think a similar thing might be available for me? Maybe if I write an appeal, they might tell me to take Biochemistry 100A and see if I can get a B or something before they let me declare.