<p>Hi there,
I'm somewhat new to this so I apologize if this thread has already been posted. I am California community college student (Fullerton college in orange county) and have planned to apply to a few CSU's this October as a Health Science/Public Health major. However, I've grown interested in field of health psychology and UCLA has a great great program -one of a select few in this field.
Earlier this afternoon I looked over the requirements on assist.org and realized that I have met them with one exception. They ask for general biology and I have human biology. This would be my first concern. My second concern is that I am not a part of any TAP agreement as I had no plans of applying to the UC system. Lastly, my GPA. Currently I hold a 3.58 with an upward trend (I am 33 years old and had some poor grades 15 years ago) and expect a 3.72 by th end of fall. Still, I would regret if if I didn't not apply -So I am going too. however, I am still curious if I stand a chance. I know I can write a great personal statement, but I don't know if that's enough. I know none of you can tell me for sure, but I am eager to hear some opinion.
Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Psychology is very popular…you are unlikely to get in without General Biology (one of the major’s most basic requirements) complete. Just take it in Fall Semester (Quarter) and you should be fine. Make sure it comes with lab cause they are quite stingy when it comes to that. Don’t worry about TAP. It only helps but it isn’t required and I’m sure your unique situation will play to your advantage in the Personal Statement area. Although one point of caution…since you have grades from 15 years ago, make sure that you will be applying for transfer at the Junior level and not Senior level.</p>
<p>UCLA Psych admit rate for Fall 2011 was 21.31% and the average GPA of admitted applicants was 3.81 (Fall 2012 stats not yet updated; source: [Profile</a> of Admitted Transfer Students by Major, Fall 2011 - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/Adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm]Profile”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/Adm_tr/Tr_Prof11_mjr.htm)). Make sure you have general biology completed by the end of spring term (preferably by the end of fall) and keep your fingers crossed.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I’m going to have to meet with a counselor to discuss general bio. My classes for fall are set as I start next week. I have my spring schedule planned too and it does not include general bio. My course plan is based on the requirements of the CSU major and I’m afraid to go off course in hopes of getting into UCLA - especially with such a bleak outlook. Thanks for your help though. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>a few more questions to anyone who feels like answering:
- does UCLA substitute courses? for example, one CSU is allowing my human nutrition to substitute for food science while another is allowing my human bio to sub for general bio. any chance UCLA would do the same? UCLA asks for LIFESCI 15 Life: Concepts & Issues or LIFESCI 1 Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity or PHYSCI 3 Intro to Human Physiology; on assist, these translate to BIOL 100 -Principles of Bio, BIOL 101- General BIOL, BIOL- 170 Organismal BIO and BIOL 274- General Ecology respectively. I have BIOL 102 Human Biology & BIOL 102 L Human Biology Lab. again, one CSU is allowing my human bio to substitute for general bio and I am curious what the chances are of UCLA doing the same.
- if they do not allow for substitutions, would they allow me to take this one course in the summer of 2013? I could take it in the spring, but there are classes I need to fullfill my original plans for the CSU’s and I hate to change them for one school and then not get accepted to any school. ( I will be taking Mircobiology in the spring)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>UCLA is most likely not going to let you substitute. They get so many qualified applicants, they are down right rude to anyone who dare ask admission questions (I get complaints from students every year about UCLA admissions office hanging up on them after saying something like “NO!” I haven’t had anyone from UCLA hang up on me, but maybe I’m just lucky).</p></li>
<li><p>No, you need to have all of your requirements done by the end of spring term prior to transfer. You can say on the application that you will take the course in the summer, but by policy UCLA will not consider any courses you plan to take in the summer as meeting the requirement.</p></li>
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<p>so, is it that hard to get in to ucla psych even as a transfer from a california community college?</p>
<p>UCs give priority to California community college transfers so it’s easier in that way but it is highly competitive.</p>
<p>@SoCal79 have you considered doing academic renewal for the classes you did badly in when you were younger? It would bring your GPA up and I don’t think UCs can even see the grade for an AR course - only that you took it</p>
<p>Wow, I nearly forgot about this thread. @mrfamous - I think you stand a decent chance with proper planning and great academic standing. I did not plan ahead. Applying to the UC system was sort of a last minute decision for me. Although I have a solid GPA, I didn’t take the courses needed for the major and therefore I don’t anticipate being accepted.</p>