I currently attend Coastline Community College and Orange Coast College (both local community colleges in Orange County, CA) and am expected to transfer as an incoming transfer student in Fall 2016. However, I have a few questions that maybe you guys can help me with!
Applying to:
UC Berkeley
UC Los Angeles
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
UC San Diego
Major: Economics
GPA: 3.65~ (I have 2 W’s on my transcript)
Work: Paralegal
Extracurricular: Occasional volunteer work
All major prerequisites met and IGETC completed
Economics is a very competitive major, so I was wondering what schools you guys think I have a good chance of getting into. I’m not eligible for TAG at UCI, so I’ll be using it for UCSB.
Additionally, my school only maintains “solid” grades, there are no so thing as a A- or a B+… it’s simply an A or B. Would this negatively affect my GPA when transferring?
Don’t expect Berkeley or LA, unless you’re able to bring your GPA up by the end of the Fall (they consider fall grades in the admissions process, not spring) - if you had, say, a 3.75-3.8, you’d be more competitive.
Do try to bring your GPA up - if you did, I think you’d have a good chance at LA, Cal, SD. Otherwise, they are all reaches (but still possible, who knows).
UCI and SB I think are good options - I think you have a better shot at getting into those two (SB definitely with TAG). Still, try to get your GPA up, that may expand your options.
Solid grades will not affect you. If anything, that’s a benefit (A-'s can really bring down one’s GPA). At most CC’s, solid grades are used. It’s not a big deal.
The W’s are irrelevant.
“Additionally, my school only maintains “solid” grades, there are no so thing as a A- or a B+… it’s simply an A or B. Would this negatively affect my GPA when transferring?”
If you get B’s instead of A’s, that would negatively effect your GPA when transferring. Otherwise, no.
I agree that Cal Econ is a bit of a reach. Have you looked into the Political Economy program at Berkeley? Assuming you are pre-law as your handle states, PE is likely a better fit for you both career-wise and admissions-wise.
I agree with @SDGoldenBear - you may want to apply to Berkeley’s PE.
Update: I got accepted to UC Irvine and UC Berkeley; rejected from UCLA.
I ended up not applying to UCSB and UCSD after all.