<p>Im a CCC student looking to transfer Fall of 2013 as a Poly Sci major, but my circumstances up to this point have made me wonder if there is any chance for me getting into UCLA or my top choice, CAL.</p>
<p>Took classes at a CC in Washington state from 2008-09 before I moved to California. Was not very motivated at the time/ didn't know what I wanted to do. Ended up with a 3.03 GPA for 26 semester units, not bad but had 3 C's; Intro to theater, college algebra, and intro to logic.</p>
<p>NOW! Ive since moved to CA and found my calling. Since only 2 (of course its the math and theater classes i got C's in!) of my classes transferred to my CCC, Ive had to complete the IGETC and major requirements all at my community college here in CA, including a stats class which fills the math requirement.</p>
<p>My GPA at my CCC as of now is 3.77 (can get it up to a 3.85 by the time I transfer), and I have lots of EC's;
-Tutor in the English Department's Writing Center
-Student Government Senator
-Summer internship for school board campaign
-Freshman writing award nominee</p>
<p>My question! Will my transcript from my old CC affect my chances of admission to CAL or UCLA terribly? Even though my GPA from the IGETC and major prep classes is much better? Will classes that they don't accept for transfer be calculated into my overall GPA? If i put them all together I can only get my cumulative GPA (from both CC's) up to a 3.6, is this + my EC's enough to give me a shot? </p>
<p>Ill be applying to CAL, UCLA, UCD, UCI, and CSUF (safety). Thanks!</p>
<p>My buddy got into ucla poly sci with a 3.7</p>
<p>I would talk to the transfer counselors at your ccc. I went to 4 different CCs over many years and yes, my gpa was cumulative. Too bad too as I had a d and an F from many many years ago. So in spite of a 3.9 at my current cc my cum gpa was 3.47. But I didi successfully complete IGETC and am transferring to Davis in the fall. So I would guess that all your cc grades will factor but to be sure you had better check with a counselor or a transfer admission person at one of the UCs. AS far as getting into Cal or UCLA I think you may have to have a higher gpa to be a shoe in but all the others would be definite yeses. Your ec’s and great personal statements will also help.</p>
<p>Since only two of your classes from your previous CC transfer, I don’t think it will really matter. I have been at CC for awhile now (I’m 26 years old, had to work multiple jobs for a long time to support myself), and had a couple of not so great semesters. Had two C’s, and a D (which I retook for a B) from a few years ago, and around 20 W’s or so by the time I was applying to the UC’s. However, I made sure to not get any W’s within a year and a half or two years before applying, and I had straight A’s for four consecutive semesters. I also completed my school’s honors program. I got accepted to Cal and UCLA. It’s definitely not impossible, but your EC’s and personal statement will have to be outstanding. Even if you didn’t do that great in the beginning, it’s the progress you’ve made since then that counts.</p>
<p>I believe that you have a good shot at UCLA and UCB.</p>
<p>Let me explain why:
- You are involved in your community. Student government is always a plus.
- Your GPA is competitive. It may not be a 4.0, but it is still high and competitive, especially if you can pull the 3.85.
- Berkeley does a “holistic review.” This means they don’t go strictly by GPA, statistics, etc. </p>
<p>In my opinion, you can explain your Washington CC in your personal statement with the following sentence: I was not motivated during my time at -insert Washington Community College here-, and I was not able to realize my full potential until I started at -insert Califorina Community College here-, where I began my…</p>
<p>@Inquiringmind2
from what my counselor has told me they will want to look at everything but Im sure they put more weight on the more recent transcript. Like you said, I dont think Im a shoe-in, but at least enough of a shot to try!</p>
<p>@newchapter14
“It’s definitely not impossible, but your EC’s and personal statement will have to be outstanding. Even if you didn’t do that great in the beginning, it’s the progress you’ve made since then that counts.”
This is what I’m counting on, and I will probably be joining the debate team this fall so i can add that to the EC list. Neither of my parents went to college, plus Ive been working throughout my entire school career (kids swim instructor for 5 years, now I’m a bartender). So I’m thinking with all this, EC’s, + a superb personal statement will at least make me competitive.</p>
<p>@GSG900
Thanks for the kind words GSG! I will definitely explain those things in my personal statements. From what Ive read and heard at seminars the really great personal statements are the ones that complete the application (explaining gaps/changes/answer questions that readers would have but not be able to answer from transcripts). </p>
<p>There is a great hour long lecture provided by UCtelevision on personal statements that I really learned a lot from. [Applying</a> to UC: The Personal Statement 2007 - YouTube](<a href=“Applying to UC: The Personal Statement 2007 - YouTube”>Applying to UC: The Personal Statement 2007 - YouTube)</p>
<p>I can complete all major pre-reqs for CAL at my CC, but Ill need to take a Poli Sci course at a different campus in the fall before i transfer to have 4 of the 5 for UCLA. Question… I know for CAL and UCLA having ALL major pre-reqs is a must, what about the other 2 UC’s ill be applying for? UCD and UCI. I know UCI is pretty lax but I haven’t read much on UCD, and Ill only be missing one major pre-req for UCD. Should I try to cram it in or just focus on completing IGETC and major pre-reqs for UCLA?</p>
<p>I would be careful and apply to a bunch of back-up schools, just in case. I was in a similar, albeit slightly more extreme, situation this year. 3.97 CC GPA when I applied but a 2.0 GPA from two semesters at a 4-year. I got in to UCI and UCSD and was rejected from UCLA and CAL. I found myself wishing at the end that I had applied to more schools (UCD, UCSC, UCR) just to give myself a cushion. I got accepted to UCI right before the deadline and UCSD off the waitlist, so May was a very tense month for me. I would definitely recommend having as many safety schools as possible to help minimize the stress.</p>
<p>And like others have said, make sure your personal statements kick ass. Get them revised by teachers/advisers who you respect and who know you well. Don’t write what you think they want to hear, tell them your story and show them how you’ve grown. Good luck!</p>
<p>hrosent1, how many semesters did you spend at your community college?</p>
<p>4 semesters full time, 2 summer sessions where I only took a couple courses.</p>
<p>@hrosent1
Good advice on the backup schools! I was planning on applying to CAL, UCLA, UCD, UCI, and CSUF. Do you still think I should apply to more UC’s? I could throw UCSD on that list but its probably too competitive to be considered a safety school. What about UCR? I figured I have a very good shot at either UCD or UCI, but Ill take any advice on the matter.</p>
<p>Hi cannonball! </p>
<p>I just came upon your post, it is kind of old but I noticed you came from a WA State CC too!</p>
<p>I actually did 2 semesters in a CCC and had to come back for family reaons and just started my first quarter at a CC in Washington State.</p>
<p>What do you think would happen to me when I apply for UCLA?</p>
<p>Since CCC have priority… I am opposite of you which I started at the CCC and had to come back to WA to finish up my CC courses so I could transfer back to California (UCLA)?</p>
<p>I don’t know what to expect.</p>