I currently goto a very small CSU, with very limited opportunities due to the location. My dream school is UC Davis as a philosophy major, I currently have a 3.919, and am finishing up my second year. Do I have a shot? I also applied to UCSC, UCSB, and UCLA.
Well, your GPA is great. So I guess it comes down to (1) having 60 semester units by spring; (2) completing required courses as listed on assist.org, although I know there aren’t many required in philosophy; and (3) completion or near completion of gen ed courses. If these are in order, I would assume you stand a very good shot at all three.
As CSU transfers the only thing we need to worry about really is credits transferring so as long as you have 60+ you seem set!
I have every required course completed, and took a backup of a few to make sure they will all transfer. I however do not have all of the philosophy pre reqs completed as I was told I would only need that completed if i chose an impacted major. Thank you for the response, means a lot!
Whoever told you you only need to complete major pre-reqs if major is impacted has sorely mistaken the facts. Major pre-req completion is the number one most important thing for any and all majors. However, most philosophy courses are not available at the CCC. I would go to assist.org, choose any CCC and then the UC and philosophy, and see if you can match any. If nothing else taking some philosophy courses shows a passion for the subject.
I currently goto a CSU, and the required pre reqs are much less than the ones needed for a UC. I am currently a business major, but the main reason I hope to switch is to have access to a philosophy program with an emphasis in pre law. My current school does not offer that, and offers very few of the courses they require as pre reqs for the philosophy major. I’m
Hoping they take that & my GPA Into consideration.
I have logic, and modern philosophy completed, and my school of choice would be UC Davis. Hopefully that gives me a chance.
CC transfers have top priority in transferring to a UC, then UC to UC and next is CSU to UC.
CSU applicants transfer all the time. Don’t follow any arbitrary heirarchy. Just get the stuff needed based on what is required.
That may be true, but given if everything is equal, the transfer priority: CC > UC > CSU. There are a lot fewer CSU transfers than CC or UC. However, OP has a very high GPA which will increase the chances of transferring. Other factors would be the major, whether it is impacted or a popular major. UCLA would be very difficult to transfer to from a CSU.
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/admissions-source-school
^^^ I’m aware of the stats. But, as noted, the biggest reason CSU students do not get in is because they aren’t aware of the requirements. So it’s not exactly all things being equal. People get to UCLA from CSU each year, so to make a statement that OP probably doesn’t stand a chance is not encouraging, and simply relies on numbers without context. OP, I’m here to tell you you have a shot and do not get discouraged.
You are twisting my words. I did not state that OP does not stand a chance. OP has a chance, but I am just stating reality or the facts, which is the transfer priority based on actual facts. If you look at the stats, the numbers show that there are a lot more CC to UC, next UC to UC and last CSU to UC transfers. As I stated, the fact that OP has a high GPA gives OP, perhaps a better chance. OP must have had some doubts (and coming from a small CSU) in order to post this.
How much of the data is because there’s just so many CCC to UC transfers? And probably more UC to UC transfers as well?
I wouldn’t think that you’re at an inherent disadvantage all things considered.
@brookie1276 in terms of UCLA, there is both Biz Econ and Econ. You should look at the Transfer stats and maybe choose the one with a higher admit rate. Biz Econ, 11%; Econ, 14%. Go here to search out Transfer GPA ranges and admit rates by major and campus:
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major
Also show your strength in bus-related if possible, including any additional biz or stats, etc (if you can fit it in).
Are you sure you want to go to UC Davis? Your GPA is definitely good enough to get into some UC’s with stronger Philosophy departments (Cal, UCLA, UCSD).
If you plan to pursue a PhD in Philosophy, it’s good to keep in mind that the prestige of your undergraduate institution has a dramatic effect on where you’re likely to be accepted. For the record, I’m applying to Philosophy PhD programs this fall, and already it’s proving to be very helpful to be at a PGR-ranked school (http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/overall.asp), in terms of the quality of my letter-writers, and the quality of help I’m getting with my writing sample.
I’m only stressing this because Philosophy is a remarkably elitist profession, so if you want to get a PhD in Philosophy, it would improve your chances to transfer to a top 10-20 PGR-ranked school.
(Source: http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2007/09/applying-to-philosophy-phd-programs.html - “To my knowledge no UCR undergraduate has ever been admitted to a top-15 philosophy Ph.D. program (certainly not in the 10 years I’ve been here), though we’ve had some students with straight A’s, very strong letters, and excellent writing samples.”)
Edit: I see that you want to major in philosophy with an emphasis in pre-law. It’s different for law school - your GPA and your LSAT is really all that matters. Prestige of undergrad does not matter, but I’ve read that students at top universities tend to do better on the LSAT (don’t have a source), and in virtue of that, they tend to get into better schools. UC Davis’ Philosophy department is perfectly good, and I’m sure you’ll get a great education there - but if you’re not set on law, and you may be interested in grad school, then it’s very much worth considering going somewhere else.
I believe it is harder for CSU students but I get what Ohm is trying to say, you should make it so they can’t deny you. It’s hard to deny a student with a GPA above 75th percentile for the major and all prereqs/gen ed done. It’s not like you’re at a OOS school or international.
Thank you all!
Hi brookie1276! Yes, it is possible! (I have done it). However, it really doesn’t happen often, like NCal Rent said. I transferred from CSU San Marcos to UCI with 96-semester units and 12 AP test credit units. I applied three times: as a freshman, junior and finally as a senior transfer. You probably know that CSU transfers are one of the last ones accepted due to the TAG guarantee at CC’s. My recommendation is to keep your GPA in the 3.7 area, that makes you a bit more competitive in any major. Also, they don’t read the personal statements, like at all. I used the same ones from my junior transfer on my senior application because I got lazy…They only look at SAT and ACT scores for freshman and freshman transfer applications, after that, you don’t really need them on the application. However, AP scores can be used for all applications.
(HOWEVER, some majors are easier to get into than others, i.e. BIO SCI is majorly impacted where some majors aren’t, therefore apply for the less impacted majors and switch over immediately upon acceptance. Or in BIO SCI’s case make sure you have completed all your requirements before transfer and switch after taking the 4 required at UCI courses).
For financial aid… I got a 5K grant which was directly from UCI so I can’t vouch for other UC’s and schools. They offered me 2 loans of about 5,500 and 2,500, with the option of Parent Plus. Also, I have another grant that’s like 800 bucks from the middle-class scholarship.
In the end, they have accepted all my credits which came down to 139.5 quarter credits and 12 AP test credits and now I am majoring in Enviro Sci and Bio Sci, Gen.
Hope all this helps. If you have any more questions let me know.
A lot of the above information is somewhat wrong…
CC students from California get priority with TAG (if they do not apply for or get TAG they might as well wait till the next application season)
Out of State students get next priority - This includes out of state CC and 4-year applicants
In state Private School to UC (rare but does happen)
UC to UC (since you are already at a 4 year and in the UC they tend to not put them high on the list).
CSU to UC (Literally the last one. They figure since you already at a 4 year it isn’t a priority)
And this statement, “As CSU transfers the only thing we need to worry about really is credits transferring so as long as you have 60+ you seem set!” is so incorrect that I cannot even. First of all, you can transfer with less than 60 units. It is called a freshman transfer. Second, your units will all transfer, BUT they may not cover courses. For example, you took Philosophy 1 - Introduction to Philosophy (4 units) your 4 units are brought over; however, you will not get credit for the GE humanities and will need to retake it even though its a GE and no one cares about Philosophy if you are a Biology major. This happened to me. I took it as P/NP so it doesn’t matter in terms of my GPA and of course, I got a P… Long story short is you will have to fight for every unit in order for things to get covered. My suggestion? KEEP ALL YOUR PAPERS AND SYLLABI! They asked me for a paper I wrote 4 years ago to prove that I took a lower GE writing. Needless to say, they wanted to redo that class, but I pulled an “I talked to UC Berkeley moment.” They did approve me for lower division writing as I was able to prove it was equivalent. It worked but its annoying. Anyways…