Please help a CC transferring student

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi guys,
I came from China 2 yrs ago. I am the 1st generation of college student in my family and currently a resident of CA. I stayed in high school for a couple months and had to go to a CC because I missed the SAT deadline. I just finished my freshman yr in CC and about to apply to University.
Life was hard when I just came cuz my English was not good enough to handle the high school courses. I felt miserable and hopeless during my 1st couple months in America; however, I never gave up. Finally, when I graduated, my GPA was 4.1. I also took the Calculus AP test and my score was 4.(I read slowly and did not have enough time to finish all of the questions. lol)
During the summer before college started, I took a ceramics class in my CC just for fun. I didn’t take it that seriously so I got a B. I then realized this course was transferable. Well, that was my 1st B. =(
During Fall 05, I took Calculus II, English Composition (my 1st and last ELD course) and another ELD reading course, which was required but not transferable. I got all As on my English courses and my second B on Calculus II with a 88.6%.(That instructor was new. We had about 30 students in my class and my points were the 3rd highest person in my class. )</p>

<p>Fall 05 Grades:</p>

<p>ENSL 10 A
ENSL 55 A(not transferable)
Calculus II B</p>

<p>During Spring 06, I kept on track of my score and got straight As in my 4 classes. I also became a SI on campus and helped students with MATH and Chinese. By the end of that year, I received $2100 scholarship due to my academic excellence. </p>

<p>Spring 06 Grades:
English 1A A
Calculus III A
Soci 1 A
ART History A</p>

<p>This summer, I took a summer course and got another A</p>

<p>Summer 06 Grades:
Soci2 A </p>

<p>This semester, I am taking 5 courses. I also tutor at school Math lab and Academic support center as a SI.</p>

<p>Linear Algebra
Biology
Engineering Physics
ART History
Humanities 1
I am doing well in all of the classes. Hopefully I will have straight As by the end of this semester. Now I am trying to get an internship at a bank.
Because of my English, I decided to major in math. I will apply to UCs this semester.
<br>
Over all: my GPA is 3.78 now and hopefully it will increase to 3.85 by the end of this yr.
My questions are:
1.
Should I try to apply to Ivy? I know it’s very difficult to transfer from a CC to a private. But is there a possible? Or that’s just a waste of money? =( If it’s possible ,which one should I apply?</p>

<p>2.
I have won several very prestigious prizes on mathematics and website designing in China when I was in high school. Should I mention that in my essay? Or it doesn’t count.</p>

<li>
When I apply, I want to say my dream is becoming a teacher. Do you think that can make it easier for me to be accepted?</li>
</ol>

<p>4.
What’s the possibility for me to get into the top UCs such as UCB ａｎｄ ＵＣＬＡ？</p>

<p>Ｍａｎｙ ｔｈａｎｋｓ</p>

2

<p>just as encouragement, there are lots of people on these boards who transferred from CCs to top private schools this year, and your stats are good, don't lose your confidence.</p>

3

<p>I can only answer #4</p>

<p>Your have a very good shot.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for your encouragement elsijfdl. Hug hug~~ ;)</p>

<p>To pellman :
Do u really think so? I have 2 Bs already and one is my major requirement.(oh yeah, the other one is ceramics! How stupid I am T_T) And in my college, we don't give -/+, so B is B, nomatter if it's 89% or 80.1%</p>

5

<p>Their physical science department accepted 52% last semester, the highest of all departments at Cal. Even w/ one B in a major req. class, I'd still say you have a good shot.</p>

6

<p>with your major(math,right?) and your gpa, I don't think you have problems getting admited to top UCs, but for ivies, you probably should apply couple of them, but don't hold your hope high. In terms of the cost, I think it's worth spending extra 100~200 for your dream schools.</p>

7

<p>Two B's is really okay, don't worry! You have a great shot at all the UC's. There are a lot of students with lower stats than yours who have gotten into UC's you know.
For Ivy's, you would need to take the SATs to apply, I'm pretty sure.
For number two, I think it would be good talking about your math background in china. You can write about it as your passion and talent in math and how it would contribute to the diversity of the university.
For number three, it doesn't matter what you say you want to be in the future, just as long as you are able to convey it onto your essay and sound passionate about it, so saying you want to be a teacher would not neccessarily get you in, or even saying that you want to be the next greatest rocket scientist. All you have to do is write a good and genuine essay.</p>

8

<p>Good GPA and you've taken (and are taking) challenging courses. It's understandable for one of your Bs to be in Cal II but I'd stick away from stuff like Ceramics :D as well as Art, Music, Drama - at least until you transfer. All of these kinds of classes are not really in your control. In any normal subject class like math, you can study hard and get the grade you deserve. In classes like art, music, drama, and ceramics you are at the mercy of your teacher on what he/she thinks your "talent" is and how much effort you put into the product. Those are the most dangerous classes to me. </p>

<p>Good chances though for the UCs...don't just look for "an ivy." :rolleyes: I'd suggest grabbing US News (yes I'm going to get hate mail now) and looking at the top 30 or so national universities. These are the only schools that would be worth paying OOS tuition compared to the wonderful options you have in California. Look at those schools, research them, find out their transfer rates, and pick several to apply to. You may also check into Liberal Arts colleges if you like the idea of a smaller student body. Take the SATs as well as some SAT IIs (do Chinese!) so you can have a bunch of good scores to send in. Definitely talk a/b your awards and let the school know who you really are (if that includes talkin a/b your future, then let them know). Good luck.</p>

9

<p>But i heard UCB and UCLA doesn't give aid to intls</p>

10

<p>The OP is a CA resident.</p>

11

<p>ca resident is for tuition, u r intl if u dont have a green card or citizenship</p>

<p>and Bs in CC? how many other ppl are this serious in CC? u have to remember who is competing... tho there are always different ppl... just dont worry about stuff thats past</p>

<p>as for essay, i think it should say if they want stuff thats just from the last 2,4, or 6 years... idk maybe a transfer student would know, but if its recent enough u can put anything it... make it on topic with the rest of the essay</p>

<p>as for top private skools, i have (green card) friends going there, but I tell most ppl at my CC to come to Cal with me :)... one things for sure, private skool apps are alot more work, but its up to u</p>

12

<p>"and Bs in CC? how many other ppl are this serious in CC? u have to remember who is competing... tho there are always different ppl... just dont worry about stuff thats past"</p>

<p>Right...state schools love CC students and they usually don't have the cream of the crop to choose from, so a couple Bs is no big deal. :D</p>

13

<p>Ｙｅｓ，　Ｉ　ａｍ　ａ　ｈａｐｐｙ　ＣＡ　ｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ．Ｍｙ　ｄａｄ　ｃａｍｅ　ｔｏ　ＣＡ　８　ｙｒｓ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅ　ｈａｓ　ＧＣ　ｎｏｗ．　Ｍｙ　ｏｗｎ　ＧＣ　ｉｓ　ｎｏ　ｐｒｏｍｂ，　Ｉ　ｇｏｎｎａ　ｍａｒｒｙ　ａ　ｃｉｔｉｚｅｎ　ａｎｄ　ｇｅｔ　ｍｙ　ｏｗｎ　ＧＣ　ＡＳＡＰ．ＪＫ　＝Ｐ
Ｓｅｒｉｏｕｓｌｙ，　Ｉ＇ｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｒｅｃｅｉｖｉｎｇ　ＦＡＦＳＡ　ａｎｄ　ｓｃｈｏｌａｒｓｈｉｐｓ　ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｇｕｅｓｓ　ｉｔ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｂｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓａｍｅ　ｉｎ　ＵＣ．　Ａｍ　Ｉ　ｗｒｏｎｇ？</p>

14

<p>square to you too.</p>

15

<p>Thank all you guys who either encouraged me or answered my questions.</p>

<p>I guess I will give up the ivys for now. Maybe I should go there for graduate school. Plus I did not take any SAT. It might be too late/much work for me to worry about them now.
I just signed a TAA contract with UCD. They think I can probably get into UCD for sure.(probably..for sure. hehe)
I will just apply to UCLA UCD UCB UCSD (maybe I should add UCSB?) this yr, and I am also thinking about Smith College(one of the seven sisters). I took women studies classes in my CC. I am sure they will love me.lol</p>

<p>Who can tell me how good smith is btw?</p>