Question about transferring high Gpa vs. Major pre-reqs

<p>Hello I am a CC student applying to transfer this fall to UC's. My plan this fall was to finish my math pre reqs and chem 1A and obtain a 4.0 these two semesters. It is so important for me to have a 4.0 this two semesters because my Gpa is not great. I have 3.35 Gpa currently. By taking 19 units and working hard to obtain a 4.0 this semester I will have 3.5 by fall. I have a problem though, I enrolled to take chem 1a class with a really great professor. I took chemistry in Highschool but still really need review on the material and concepts. However last minute my class schedule changed and now I have a different professor. The professor I originally enrolled to take chem with last minute switched to teach chem 1 at a different time. Now I have a professor that actually teaches chem 2b and has never taught chem 1a before. There is also no curve for an A in his class. I'm really scared that even I put in all my effort I will end up with a B in the class. I can still drop the class right now without receiving a withdrawal. But chem 1 is major pre req for my major so If I don't complete it and take another class instead I can't go on too chem 2. I love chemistry and really want to take the class but if I get a B my gpa will be 3.44 by the end of fall. Should I take chem 1 in the spring with the professor I originally wanted? Do you guys have any suggestions or advice on what I should do? It's so important for me to get a 4.0 this semester. Will not having chem 2 completed make me less competitive? Here is my schedule this fall: pre cal, stats, chem 1, foreign lang, and research (2units). I have already taken all my writing courses and an major pre req integrated biology course. For this spring semester I was planning on taking calc 1, chem 2, and bio 94. My Major is health science. Also this my 3rd year at CC I have always had a late registration date because I only took 3 units first semester at the college I'm currently attending (first semester I took classes at 2 CC's I took 3 ge classes and 1remedial math class at one college and 1 ge class at the college I'm currently attending). First semester of college I got 2 B's (both 89% but not rounded ) 1 A, and 1 C in the remedial math course (harsh but good professor about 40 students dropped) and a C in a political science ge class. It's makes me really sad I haven't transferred yet I know I can do it because I know students who have had early registration dates take classes in which the classes grading system is extremely lenient/require little effort and then transfer with higher gpa's. I know this post is really long but any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you!</p>

<p>What exactly is your question?</p>

<p>My question is should I take chem 1 this semester, even though their is a possibility that I might get a B and it might lower my gpa to a 3.44 after fall. Or should I take another class raise my gpa to 3.5 and take chem 1a spring semester even though it is a major pre req and I won’t be able to finish chem 2. Sorry if my post is a little confusing.</p>

<p>My question is should I take chem 1 this semester, even though their is a possibility that I might get a B and it might lower my gpa to a 3.44 after fall. Or should I take another class raise my gpa to 3.5 and take chem 1a spring semester even though it is a major pre req and I won’t be able to finish chem 2. Sorry if my post is a little confusing.</p>

<p>IMO finishing your prereqs is a little more crucial than potentially raising your GPA by .06 points.</p>

<p>Ok what about if I’m looking to transfer to Ucsd? I have heard they mostly look at your current gpa. </p>

<p>I think it depends on where you want to go…if you want to go to Cal or UCLA or UCSB, then per-requisites are much more important. But for UCSD or UCI, GPA is more important. Just what I think…
Like last year, I had friends who only did IGETC for CS, and were accepted to UCSD with a 3.4-3.5 GPA.(and no TAG). However, if you’re major is impacted, then both are equally important.</p>

<p>Is Chemistry 1A the first class of the General Chemistry series? I tried to take the first General Chemistry class without taking the recommended prerequisite, but I ended up doing poorly, so I dropped the class. The rest of the class didn’t do well either. In our first test only two people pass and the rest of us, 23 students, fail. The two people that passed got scored of 75% and 70%. It is a hard class. </p>

<p>A competitive GPA for UCSD was a 3.5 and above. This year, UCSD will start reviewing applications holistically, so they will view your GPA within the context of your life. They will also review your personal statement and consider the extra curricular activities you participated in, last year they did not. UCSD also doesn’t really care about prerequisites, unless you are applying to the College of Engineering, or to the Biology department. In that case, you need to complete all of them. If your applying to one of those majors, then you should have a GPA of at least 3.7. If you have some </p>

<p>So you if UCSD is your number one choice, then you should really try to raise your GPA. I saw some bad information on here, so If you have any other questions ask me. I got accepted to UCSD to the college of engineering.</p>

<p>@bolandgoo Thanks for the reply! I’m not sure if I’m applying to UCLA, or CAL just because if I do I will missing a lot of pre-reqs for my major (Health Science) and my Gpa is low. I know CAL requires O-chem to be finished for Health science majors. I could apply as a Sociology major, but I’m just not that interested in Sociology. My major (Public health science) is not impacted at UCSD.</p>

<p>@CollegeDropout1 Thanks for your reply! Yes Chemistry 1a is the first class of the General Chemistry series at my College. The only pre-requisite required for General Chemistry 1a is Intermediate Algebra (which I took freshman year first semester). Their are classes that you can take before you take Gen Chem. 1a (such as Intro to Chemistry) to help you, but they are not required. I agree with you it could be a hard class, I have taken Chemistry in high school with very tough teachers (I went to a competitive high school were most of the AP classes were similar to the CP classes). That’s why this semester I originally enrolled in a Chemistry 1 class with a great professors in which most students (about 80% students) got an A in her class. But now that the class schedule changed and the professor changed, exactly what you have said is what I’m afraid of. That even If I work hard, I will only be able to get a B in the class I’m currently in (esp since the professor that’s now teaching my class has never taught Chem 1 and only teaches Chem 2, he is TA). My major is not impacted at UCSD. I think I’m also going to talk to my counselor to get her opinion. Thanks for your advice, Congrats on your acceptance! Engineering is a great major. </p>