I was looking at the WUE site, and MANY CAL-STATES were on my list, by only 1 UC (Merced). Are the CSUs a significant drop in prestige and/or rigor? I aspire to graduate school, so is a CS a deal breaker?
What kind of graduate school?
Most CSU students intend to go to the workforce at graduation, so there is a stronger pre-professional feel at CSUs versus UCs. Many of them have mostly commuter populations; those in the WUE list with more residential students are Chico, Channel Islands, Maritime Academy, Humboldt, and Sonoma.
The MA I’m thinking of would be either Sociology or International Studies. Is UC-Merced well regarded?
for WUE, also look at the flagships for U-Arizona and U-Utah.
@bluebayou yes, DEFINITELY! I was asking about the CSUs because SO MANY made my list.
^yeah, I get that, but IMO you are better off attending a ‘Univ of’ (R1 research Uni) if you have designs on grad school. But more importantly, if your plans change, spending four years in Tuscon would be a much better experience than most of the Cal States.
Sociology grads are generally lower paid, so make sure you don’t incur much debt to attend an OOS college.
Good luck.
(Hint: take as many quant courses as you can.)
I wasn’t limiting myself to CSUs, just noting that so many made list.
University of Arizona offers WUE only for a few majors:
https://wuesavingsfinder.wiche.edu/school-details.php?schoolID=0011H00001Q1eJ1QAJ
University of Utah offers WUE for many (all?) majors, including sociology and international studies:
https://wuesavingsfinder.wiche.edu/school-details.php?schoolID=0011H00001Q1eL0QAJ&major_limit=0
UC Merced is the newest in the UC system. You should be aware of the weather in the valley [not my cup of tea], but [on the plus side] the buildings are new. I don’t think it really has a reputation yet. CSU schools are generally viewed as a notch below UC. I think at one point they were not even allowed to have graduate programs; that was not their function. That changed, and there is probably an overlap now between the top CSU schools and the less-highly-related UCs. Look, a CSU is probably never going to be a match for Berkeley or UCLA or Davis, but San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and maybe others are probably on a par with Merced and Riverside.
@AboutTheSame would you call Fullerton and Riverside comparable?
@babrthewarrior: For which major or majors at UCR and CSUF?
Academically overall UCR is more competitive than CSU Fullerton. UCR is probably on par academically with San Diego State and CSU Long Beach along with some majors at Cal Poly SLO.
If you are interested in UC Merced, this post gives an excellent overview of the campus: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-merced/2089179-uc-merced-campus-tour-impressions.html
Edited with Freshman profile for both campuses below:
CSU Fullerton (2019)
Average CSU/UC capped weighted GPA: 3.68
Average SAT: 1127
Average ACT: 22
UC Riverside (2019): 25-75th percentiles
UC Capped weighted GPA: 3.69 - 4.11
ACT Composite Score: 21 - 29
ACT English Language Arts : 22 - 30
SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing: 560 - 670
SAT Mathematics: 570 - 730
SAT Essay: 14 - 17
UC’s are test optional for the 2021 and 2022 application cycle. 2023, the UC’s will be test blind.
CSU’s are test blind for the 2021 admission cycle. No word for future application years.
Link for academic averages for all CSU campuses. Impacted majors and campuses will have higher requirements.
Both CSU Fullerton and UC Riverside are considered commuter schools, UCR less so than CSUF.
Are they Test blind due to Caronavirus?
Thanks for the info and link to that campus report! UCR and CSF aren’t ideal for me (out of state student). I wasn’t surprised the Merced campus was quiet, being break after all.
The CSU’s are test blind this admission cycle due to the Corona virus. The UC’s have been contemplating going test optional or test blind for several years and the Corona virus just helped along their plans.
According to the information this is temporary for the CSU’s and they will go back to using SAT/ACT scores since their own admission review premise relies on the eligibility index which uses GPA and test scores to determine ranking for students by major. They could use Cal Poly SLO’s model which gives MCA points for HS rigor (extra semesters of Math, English, Arts, Foreign language) and hours of EC’s (which are not used by the other CSU’s) but SLO also still relies heavily on the test scores.
Based on this information, the UC/CSU capped weighted GPA will have a huge impact on admissions for Fall 2021.
Information for the 2021 admission cycle for the Cal states:
** * Non-California residents may be eligible for admission to the CSU by earning a 3.00 or greater “a-g" GPA along with other supplemental factors utilized by the individual campus, including those outlined by impacted campuses and programs.
Campuses and programs designated as impacted may utilize higher “a-g" GPA thresholds for applicants, as well as identify supplemental criteria and their relative weights, in making admission decisions. However, in no case will standardized test scores be utilized in making admissions decisions for applicants during the 2021-2022 academic year.
can you give us a sense of your GPA and SAT/ACT if you’ve taken it?
I’m only an incoming sophomore, do Test yet, but my GPA was 3.44 this year.
UC’s and CSU’s do not consider 9th grades in their GPA calculation, only 10-11th so until you complete Junior year, have a calculated capped weighted UC/CSU GPA and test scores, this post is moot. Cal Poly SLO is the exception which uses 9-11th grades in their GPA calculation.
In a couple of years when you actually apply, much may be changed regarding admission requirements. It is great you are doing research early but as a student you will grow in likes and dislikes so your college list may completely change.
Continue to do well in school, enjoy the next few years and come back when you are ready to apply.
Best of luck.
I thought cal poly slo looks at weighted 9th-11th grades?
@socaldad2002: You are correct (my mistake) since SLO is the exception and they do consider 9th grades in their GPA calculation. This poster in particular has been focusing WUE CSU’s which SLO is not a participant, since they are OOS. As a rising Sophomore, too early to determine target schools until they have another 2 years of classes and grades under their belt.
SLO uses 9-11th grades in their GPA calculation and gives up to 8 semesters of honors points (weighted) for approved Honors, AP/IB or DE classes taken 10-11th grades only.
I applaud you looking into it this early but I think things will be very different from an admissions (for example, how the SAT/ACT will be used) perspective when you apply. It is simply too early to begin narrowing your focus.
CP Pomona, Chico and Sonoma are 3 relatively academically accessible CSUs with good education AND student experience. My son studies under a WUE at Fort Lewis in Durango Co, and loves it. Others to consider, Co State, NAU. UNR, and Boise State.
I should add, the CSUs are sticklers for their A-G courses, in our experience, the other states had more flexibility.
Do your best and check back an 18 months.