I screwed up real bad this semester. Now what are my chances? (comp sci major)

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hi, folks. I am stressing on transfer decisions after my performance this semester, so I was wondering if there was anyone out there that can offer some advice to help me relax. Or maybe it is as dire a situation as I believe, so don't be afraid to be real if you have to, either. I just would like some outside perspective if anyone is willing to offer it.</p>

<p>I am a student at CC in Southern California. My major is computer science. </p>

<p>I did just recently apply to some UCs for Fall 2014. They were:
Davis
Irvine
Los Angeles
Riverside
San Diego</p>

<p>After this past summer's semester, my transferable UC GPA was 3.400. If I had gotten straight A's in my four classes this fall like I had originally planned to do, my GPA would have become 3.516.</p>

<p>Instead, I took home one W and three C's, and my UC GPA, the one that I am updating with in January, is now **3.129... If I get all A's in the next six and final classes at CC, my final UC transferable GPA will be 3.349.</p>

<p>Before this semester, my grades, basically (without pre-req's like elementary algebra, etc), looked like this:
**English Composition: A
Calculus 1: A
Calculus 2: A
Intro to C++: A
Object-Oriented C++: B
Advanced Objects C++: A
Object-Oriented Java: B</p>

<h2>Newtonian Mechanics: C</h2>

<p>Microeconomics: A
World Religions: A
US History 1: A
US History 2: B
US Politics: C**</p>

<p>Okay, and this is what I earned this fall semester:
Linear Algebra: W
Calculus 3: C
Electricity & Magnetism: C
Critical Thinking/Writing: C</p>

<p>My winter schedule looks like:
Biology
Art Appreciation</p>

<p>Spring:
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Heat, Waves, Optics
Public Speaking</p>

<p>My extra curriculars and awards that I listed on my application:
Editor for a fan website since 2005
Volunteer customer & community support for a company called [url=<a href="http://www.valvesoftware.com/%5DValve%5B/url"&gt;http://www.valvesoftware.com/]Valve[/url&lt;/a&gt;] since 2004
Work experience in warehouses and distribution centers since 2007
Division winner in industrial education expo in 2007
Participated in Google Code Jam 2011
Dean's list past 3 fall/spring semesters (before this fall)</p>

<p>It goes without saying, but I am very angry and disappointed at myself. I know that UCLA is out, and it was't likely I would have got in even when my GPA was 3.5. My top priority schools are UCSD and UCI. *Okay, so what do my chances look like for all the above schools now? *</p>

<p>Would I benefit from trying to get in contact with an adviser or rep from these schools, and ask them to give me a chance at getting all A's in winter & spring so that I can show that I am still a perfectly capable student, despite this unfortunate semester? Would it be beneficial to go to these schools personally, and shake the hands of the admissions people and explain my self? UCSD and UCI are both an hour drive from my home.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading guys and gals.</p>

2

<p>In my opinion, I’d say UC Riverside is your only school that you have a shot at. You might have a chance for UCSD and UCI, but given how these schools are impacted and especially with your major, it’s not likely. I think the problem is that you are trying to complete every class as much as you can within a semester. Keep in mind these classes you took/will take are very challenging, and that it is highly unlikely you will get an A in these classes unless you are passionate/majoring in that subject. </p>

<p>I think for Spring you should drop Public Speaking unless it is mandatory to take If it is, either drop differential, linear algebra, or physics. Taking both linear algebra and differential equations is very tough, and on top of that you have Physics (with labs I assume), AND on top of that you have public speaking. I don’t think you realize how hard and time consuming these classes are, and especially if you’re trying to increase your GPA, the classes you are about to take for spring is NOT a very good idea, in my opinion.</p>

<p>And no, you can’t go begging/go to their admissions office to tell your sob story. If they allowed it, the lines in the office would be like a DMV, too long and crowded.</p>

3

<p>Honestly, go to the school. Try whatever way you have and if they say anything negative well atleast you tried all your options. Just make sure you contact them in every way ( asking all the questions you have) so you know you did your best to try and get good insight on where you stand.</p>

4

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<p>Honestly, that was one of the most oddest answers I have seen on here in a long time. There’s no point in trying to prove them something you can’t promise. And don’t bother them about that in the first place. If they don’t see you as a good applicant then so be it. I’m sure there are other schools.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the input, everyone. </p>

<p>I cannot drop public speaking because it is one of the “golden four” courses required for transfer. I do have some room to drop diff. eq. for Spring because, while it is a major requirement, it’s not completely necessary to have it completed before transfer. But, I want to just say that the reason I did so bad was do to psychological stresses caused by a couple different things going on at home. It’s not that these classes were hard to me, it’s just that I did not have the capacity to really focus like is required. It looks like some of these issues will be resolved by Spring, so soon I won’t have these unhelpful stresses. Thank you for the advice, though, in this regard and I am going to consider moving some classes around.</p>

<p>I’ve decided that I’m going to at least try and seek out some advice from an adviser. I certainly don’t want to go in there and try to use like pity or anything low like that to get my way. I just want to try to at least explain my situation, give them a face to my application, and see what happens.</p>

6

<p>Im pretty sure speech class is only required for cal states and not uc’s</p>

7

<p>Like Resonant said, unless you’re applying to CSU, you don’t need to take speech class for UC’s.</p>

8

<p>Get your GPA up and TAG to UCI. IIRC UCSD TAG is like 3.4 now or something, while UCI will be 3.2</p>

9

<p>UCSD TAG is no longer going to be offered. It was 3.5 GPA. UCI’s is 3.4</p>