Here’s the situation… I talked to a counselor at my community college that I currently am attending to about transfer. I just started my 2nd year in the summer of 2016 and want to transfer after I finish Spring 2017. I’m almost done with completing my Gen Ed courses and my GPA is around 3.71 or 3.72 AS OF RIGHT NOW. The dream is to get a BA in Biochemistry/molecular biology (or something of the sort… haven’t officially decided) within 4 years total, and attend either UCSD or UCI (their TAG program)… UCR is my third choice in case I can’t get into both of these schools. BUT just today, the counselor told me to stay at cc for 3 years instead of 2 because I “need” to complete all of my major prep classes. I probably could complete a couple of major prep classes before the end of Spring 2017, but not ALL. I thought taking major prep classes were mainly done at universities anyway from what I’ve heard? She made it sound like I have little chance at being admitted to a UC school. I understand it’s competitive for science majors and UC schools, but is it necessary for me to complete all major prep? I don’t see it necessary to have to spend extra time… plus I’ve spoken to others and they never mentioned that I needed to complete all my major prep. Has anyone transferred to a UC without needing to complete all major prep? Doesn’t UC also look into other things like personal statement and essays??? What are my chances?
Look on their website for admissions requirements into certain majors. They might require you to have 2 semesters of calculus for instance, but I’ve never heard of having to complete the entire 60 hours in order to transfer. How many hours will you have completed by the time you transfer? With approximately a 3.8 you’re not in a terrible spot at all regarding transferring to these schools. As long as you get the required prerequisites done you’ll be competitive.
I’m planning to call UCSD or UCI offices tomorrow or sometime next week since I want clarification, but the UC website said that it is recommended to try to complete as many major prep courses as possible. It didn’t state that you needed to complete all and that it doesn’t necessarily boost the chances of me getting in, but according to the counselors, all the other transfer applicants have stayed at cc for 3 years and completed all major prep… so it’s like I have to compete against them. I feel like many of these cc counselors try to talk me out of the 2-year plan. Right now in terms of Gen Eds. I only need to finish ENG 103, Math 211, BIO 150, and one humanities course (all of which I am taking in Fall 2016). When it’s Spring 2017, I’ll be able to fit in some major prep courses. In addition, I am a full-time Honors student who also works outside of school (2 jobs believe it or not). I do have “extracurricular activities” that I could list otherwise.
UCSD requires transfer students to complete specified major preparation courses before transfer:
http://admissions.ucsd.edu/transfers/prep-programs/transfer-major-preparation.html
UCI biochemistry and molecular biology requires some major preparation courses before transfer:
http://web2.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=1&sia=IRVINE&ria=UCI&ia=IRVINE&oia=UCI&aay=15-16&ay=16-17&dora=BCHE.MB
UCR requires some major preparation courses and recommends others:
http://web2.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=1&sia=IRVINE&ria=UCR&ia=IRVINE&oia=UCR&aay=15-16&ay=16-17&dora=BCH
I was able to call the UCSD admissions office this morning. The lady told me that it’s not a requirement but it’s strongly recommended. I don’t need to reach up to organic Chem and do physics in cc, but they would prefer to see biochem students to finish all of their calc and gen Chem classes. For sure I’ll finish all of gen Chem. Calc… Well I guess I could take that in summer 2017 before enrolling to any university in fall 2017? I’m going to be done with calc II in the spring for sure. It’s so weird though. She told me that these were recent changes made for competitive applicants… Whenever I spoke to an old transfer about this, they told me they only had to complete gen eds.
Do you want to be a competitive applicant? If so, you nreed to take all the major prereqs and apply. Other applicants will have all courses completed.
These are all lower division courses and once you transfer you will take upper division courses. If you get accepted somewhere with not all prereqs completed, then you’ll have to take them at the UC before taking upper division courses. So it may take 3 years to finish at the UC. Consider the extra costs too.
Read and post here http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/