I’m planning to transfer to UCD in chemistry and I seriously wonder how more rigorous it is. I dont know enough people to ask this question so I’m posting it here. If you’ve gone to a UC, how does it compare to community college in terms of academics? Is it a lot harder? Is it manageable? What about a CSU? I’m nervous about transfering since I feel like I don’t stand a chance. My current GPA is 3.72 if it helps.
I have yet to transfer but I’ll be at a UC in Fall 2019. What I gathered from asking questions from other transfer students is: the change from semester to quarter can be rough, but if you start the quarter right and if you stay on top of it, you can do well. Yes of course classes will be academically more rigorous as there are curves and classes consistent of a midterm or two, a paper and a final-depending on the class.
you should meet with a counselor at your xfer center. Over the years they have heard from former students who’ve gone on to UCs and can tell you what they’ve heard about the transition.
There were few students who went to different uc’s from my cc. They all came back to visit the cc share their experience with upcoming transfer students. It was more like a panel that we arrange through our cc chem club. Most of these transfer students were stem majors.
However, key notes they told us about transitioning from cc to UC’s are:
-The quarter system in UC’s are much faster than most cc’s semester system, it will be hard to adjust to the uc system at first. So they recommend us to take easy classes or fewer units in the first quarter to get used to the UC quarter system. Once you get used to the UC system, proceed to take more units or major classes.
-They also said that we wouldn’t be able to find internships right after we transfer, and most of the people like to hire interns who are sophomores or juniors so they will work for a longer period of time than seniors(seniors are about to graduate). Also, go to your professor’s office hours and show interest in their research, it may help you to get internships or you can get internship opportunities by joining clubs at the school.
-Learn to cook, do your laundry and etc.
-Also, be careful about your roommate if you get assigned a random roommate. I don’t remember exactly, but one of the transfer students said, his roommate did something may be illegal (drugs or something )and the police questioned about his roommate from him.
@AeroDE Would you mind elaborating a bit more about the internships? Since most CC transfers will be entering as juniors why wouldnt we be able to find internships?
On a side note, I feel that it is easier to get an internship as a 4-year student. I was able to get a decently-paid summer internship right after freshman year before i left my 4-year to a CC. It’s been extremely difficult finding a paid internship as a CC student in my personal experience
@whostolemycookie actually you are a misunderstanding some parts I said. I will try my best to answer your question.
Most CC transfers will be juniors, however, it will be hard to find an internship right after you transfer. It will take some time for you to adjust to the UC system and environment maybe it will take like a quarter or more depending on different people. Also, the professors at there, don’t know you since you are new, it will take some little time to get a recommendation from them.
Therefore, It’s not that they can’t find internships, it’s just that it will be hard to find internships as you are a new transfer student who just got enrolled in the university.
Also, I said that most people like to hire interns who are sophomores or juniors, but I think this applies if you are trying to get an internship inside the university such that working in a lab with a graduate student or someone. Most likely they wouldn’t like to hire a senior as an intern.
For example, if they hire a senior as an intern, they are gonna leave the university soon as they gonna graduate. However, if you hire a sophomore or junior, they will be in the university for more than one year, and it is easy for the hiring people as they don’t have to bother about training someone new since those students will work for a longer time than seniors.
-So you can find internships as a transfer, but you will need to put more effort.
-Thus, they told us to do any internships we get even though they aren’t major related. For example, I am a biochem major, if I get an internship to work at a plant lab, I should just do it as it will at least add something to my resume.
Side note- (Think at least) working at a plant lab is not related to my major, but anyways I’m gonna do it if that’s the only internship I received.
This was just based on what the UC transfer students at our cc told us.
I’m not sure why. But this is actually true for me. It is possible to find an internship as a cc student, but they prefer 4-year uni students more.
Not sure i am 100% clear on your status but, if you’ve been admitted to UCD as a chemistry transfer from a CCC with 3.72 - and are concerned you won’t be able to hang academically at UCD - I’d put those fears to rest. You will be fine… adjusting to the Qtr system and living with roommates can be a tough transition so, don’t bury yourself in the first term.
Congrats and good luck!