If I can transfer into UCLA and UCB with a 3.5 gpa, you can too! My academic journey

Transfer Students UC Transfers
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This is probably my last time being on college confidential so I want to write a little reflection on my academic journey. (scroll below for stats/TLDR if thats what you want to see)

For context, we need to go back to when I was in HS in 2018. When I was in HS I was a below average student, the grades I got were mainly C’s and D’s. The only A’s or B’s I got were in PE or Band. Fast forward to senior year of HS all my friends were applying to colleges that made me feel somewhat left out. I never took the SAT/ACT and my grades were awful. Community college was the only option for me and I used it as way for me to get a second chance and to redeem myself.

In community college I was very motivated to 1) transfer to a UC and 2) get away from my parents. I wanted to proved to my parents, and HS peers that I can go to a UC. I wanted to prove them all wrong. I was so motivated that every day I was eager to go to school. I researched ALOT on transferring to UC’s/CSU’s (mainly uc’s though). ( I bet you can look at my CC posts spanning back from 2018 lol) My first semester of community college I had to start with college algebra and some lower level english that wasn’t UC transferable. I had a long mountain to climb to get to the bigger math classes such as calc 2. I was very focused, and determined.

I was applying to schools for fall 2021 but I only got into UCM, and UCSC with a 3.2 gpa (aswell as a couple of CSU’s). At the time I really wanted to go to UCSD (waitlisted → rejected) so I decided to spend an extra semester in CC to finish my major prep and IGETC.

This was probably a blessing in disguise. Not only did I take an extra semester to finish IGETC, and major prep (back to back 4.0 semesters = upward trend) but I also took a gap semester during spring 2022 to go travel while I waited for UC admissions decisions to roll in.

In the end everything worked out in my favor. To my surprise I got into UCLA, and UCB which I didn’t think I would have a chance for with my gpa, and even without completing major prep.

Anyways, it’s been one hell of a ride. The jobs not done, but I hope I inspired alot of folks that it is possible to get into these universities even without a spectacular gpa. Even if you don’t think you qualify, apply anyways.

Side note: I had a 3.2 gpa when I applied back in Fall 2021 and a 3.5 gpa when I applied in Fall 2022. For UCLA, UCB, UCD I applied for Cogsci. For UCSB I applied for data science. For UCR, and all CSU’s I applied for Bus Admin.

TLDR: Below average HS student → 3.5 gpa CC transfer → admitted to UC’s.

Admission results for Fall 22 admission:

3.5 GPA, Igetc completed, (major prep completed only for UCSD)

Admitted: UCLA, UCB, UCSD, UCR, UCSB, UCD, CSUF

Rejected: CPSLO, SDSU, CSULB, UCI

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The title of the thread implies that you got into UCLA and UCB with a 3.50 High School GPA, which is extremely rare (1%-2%). Admissions for transfers with a 3.50 transfer GPA is 5% for UCLA, and 13% for Berkeley.

First, congratulations! You turned your academic life around, and did not let your attitudes in high school determine your future. You have done very well.

However, you are of a small percent of transfers who were accepted to these colleges with a 3.50 transfer GPA, so that “you can too” is not at all accurate.

It would be more accurate if you wrote: “If I can get into UCLA and UCB with a 3.5 gpa, you can too (but you most likely won’t)!”

That being said, for a student who did not do well in high school, the CC => transfer route is the best chance for admissions to the more popular UCs, so long as they do a lot better in college than they did in high school.

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Im not sure how the title of the thread implies that I got in with a 3.5 high school gpa since this is under “UC transfers” thread. I was under the impressions that this was meant for CC transfer students to look at.

I don’t think the title was exactly misleading. My point of the post is to inspire people that they can do it. Even if you don’t think you qualify as an applicant, go ahead and apply anyway. You have nothing to lose except for the money you spent on the app. I didn’t think I would have been admitted to ucb or ucla. But if I didn’t apply to those schools then I would’ve had zero chance of being admitted. My other point is that GPA isn’t the only deciding factor in admissions. I know for a fact that my PIQ’s played a big role in my application. Thus it can play a role in admission for other applicants as well.

Now yes, if you’re in some sort of engineering or CS discipline you should aim for a much higher gpa.

Despite 3.5 being on the lower end for schools like ucb and ucla, I also don’t think it’s super uncommon for applicants to get into these schools with a 3.5/3.6 gpa. It’s definitely very major dependent but there are quite a few people who have gotten into these schools within that gpa range. I dont think it’s that rare per say. Transfers by major | University of California

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Best of luck in your future endeavors. Hopefully the study skills that you learned in your two final, 4.0 semesters at community college will carry through to serve you well in the more academically demanding atmosphere at the UC.

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Congratulations to you. I hope you don’t mind that I edited your title to “transfer”.

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Definitely a more accurate title now!

OP, congratulations on persevering and working hard to achieve your dream. Best wishes!

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I helped a CC with 3.5 transfer into ucla in aerospace a few years ago.
It is possible, but obviously not many are transferring into aerospace vs other impacted majors.