Hello everyone, this is my very first post on here so please forgive me if I am lacking in some obvious information.
Quick background information: I am a CCC philosophy major who plans to apply to the UCs this coming fall. Today, I had an appointment with an UCI transfer counselor to review my transcripts and ask questions. I won’t meet the 3.4 GPA by the end of this summer, and therefore, am not eligible to TAG to UCI. But by the end of this fall, when I apply to the UCs, my GPA should be significantly higher. At the end of our appointment, I asked if there was anything else that I could do to be a more competitive applicant, she replied “only GPA matters” (verbatim).
At first I thought she was joking, but she explained to me that while in the past the UCs looked for well-rounded students who had community service, work experience, etc., in the present they have an overload of transfer applicants and “don’t really care” about other factors. She repeatedly said “when it comes down to it, only GPA matters”. Doesn’t that go against the UCs policy of a “comprehensive” review, an aspect that they pride themselves in? I was honestly shocked and discouraged to hear her say that.
So I guess what I am asking for is: Your personal experience/thoughts on her statement that “only GPA matters”?
She is correct. It’s a numbers game: overall GPA, major GPA, upward trend, pre-reqs are what matter. When there are two applicants with very similar stats, then they would look at the EC or PS.
Transferring is all about the numbers. The only TRUE holistic UC for transferring is Berkeley (for those that will claim UCLA, unfortunately UCLA is almost entirely about numbers). Now, you didn’t hear wrong. Freshmen admissions is actually holistic across each campus but that isn’t the case for transfers. The reason is honestly simple: a high GPA is the strongest indicator for success as a transfer.
@Burdened When you say Berkeley is truly holistic, how much is that true really? Reason I ask is I’ve never heard anyone say that before. (In reference to transfer applicants, not freshmen).
Idk I got into UCLA on a downward trend as far as my fall 2015 grades and my major gpa had to be around 2.75, regular was around 3.55 with 130 semester units. I think my essay and ECs got me in. However, GPA is a huge part of it, they are schools at the end of the day and not interesting people institutions. Also, to some schools GPA is all that matters, for example when I applied to SDSU, they really only asked for my GPA, no essays required. So yes GPA is all that matters, and no GPA isnt all that matters it really depends on the school.
Well, I got into every school I applied to- including UCI and UCLA with no tag/tap. My gpa was at the time below a 3.4.
I have a crazy history(okay, not THAT crazy) and upward grade trend. I think that it really depends on who is reviewing your app, and what else you have going on (EC’s, work, etc.). I really don’t think it’s so cut and dry as GPA only. Although, there used to be a website that explicitly said if the school considered personal statements, but I think they took it down because they changed the formatting of the essay questions… I think they’re insight Q’s now. Not sure.
I strongly disagree that only GPA matters. The process the UC’s use to review applications (particularly the ones that read personal statements) is holistic.
That being said, your GPA is by far the most important component of your application. But there are certainly other components of your application - for example, completion of IGETC, how many philosophy classes you’ve taken, demonstrated interest in the major, extracurriculars, personal statements, grades in your major, etc. - that are considered, and definitely hold weight in your application.
For most of the UCs, Philosophy doesn’t have any required prerequisites - but complete as many as possible. If GPA were the only thing that mattered, we wouldn’t have people with low GPAs get accepted to the top UCs. I recall an applicant last year being accepted to UCLA’s Philosophy program with only a 3.14. So certainly one’s GPA isn’t the only aspect of their application - it’s just very, very important.
I’m sure @UCLAFFF would have a lot to say regarding the holistic process of the UCs.
@cberg97 UCB is quite proud of their holistic review of applicants. At my CCC, we had a UCB workshop where multiple UCB transfer counselors came and they really emphasized their holistic review. It even said that on the official transfer pamphlets that they were handing out. Obviously, you still can’t discount the importance of GPA though.
@empad7 I’m in a similar situation. I attended an out-of-state university for one year and willingly withdrew with subpar grades. But I have a 4.0 at my CCC, so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if they’ll consider my upward grade trend.
@goldencub Thanks for the information, that’s good to know! I’ve completed IGETC, nearly done with my ADT in philosophy, honors courses, etc. But unfortunately my CCC doesn’t offer too many philosophy courses.
I would say GPA is the number one component at the #1 public university in the world - although UCB does take a somewhat broader view. I think holistic is a nebulous, convenient term that is not what it’s cracked up to be. It’s all in the interpretation, which allows the admin office to do whatever it wants, essentially.
GPA is a good indicator of what most transfers will do, academically, once they transfer. I think GPA becomes less of a factor when someone has more extraordinary life experiences- being older, being a parent, being a caregiver - beating the odds in some way shape or form. UCLA/ Cal, nor any UC can admit transfers who won’t graduate within 2-3 years- it messes up their statistics. They can’t have transfers who can’t keep up with the rigor and flunk out.
Ultimately no UC want students, especially transfers, to not make it through. All schools know when they admit freshmen, there are a certain percentage who will leave on their own, some will flunk out and never return, and some will be on academic probation, but may return in the future. But when students get past those first 2 years, and make it to junior standing, the expectation is that they will graduate. That’s why schools, specific UCs are highly GPA driven for transfers. They need to know that as an incoming junior, you can graduate.
@2016Candles
And ultimately, graduation rates affect university rankings.
You know how hard the UCs have worked to become the best public universities in the U.S.(Especially Cal and UCLA) and they’re not gonna fuck it up if they can help it.
College grades are the strongest predictor of future college performance for transfer students, so they are by far the most important criterion after completion of needed prerequisite course work, even in the context of holistic admission reading.
It is mainly for the most selective majors/campuses (e.g. UCB EECS) where there are so many applicants pressed up against the maximum possible GPA that things like essays and the like get magnified in importance to distinguish between them.
Extracurricular activity and personal statements are more important for freshmen since they lack life obligations. People go through a lot of changes at that age too, so the personal statement just increases the school’s confidence that a 4.6 GPA valedictorian won’t drop out after a year (happens more often than you might think).
By junior year most students are less fickle about their career goals and more likely to finish college. Thus, grade point average is the best indicator of success for transfers.
Most campuses don’t even read personal statements for transfers. This is stated explicitly in UC literature. You’re applying as a fully grown adult at this age which means you likely have many adult responsibilities too (job, car bills, rent, family obligations, internships, etc.). I doubt schools like Davis, Santa Barbara and San Diego care about extra curricular activities at all.
Berkeley and Los Angeles make it clear, however, that they do read personal statements. However, I would conjecture that extra curricular activities don’t mean anything. In fact, I think they’d be more impressed with you working and succeeding a job than wasting your time in various clubs.
Having said that, both UBC and UCLA love unique applicants. I believe these people are given priority consideration (maybe you are an undocumented student or started a non profit organization or something like that).