<p>I'm a non-CA resident. Originally from NY, currently studying in VT.
Went to a state university in NY after high school. Entered as bio/pre-med. Long story short, did absolutely terrible my freshman year, ended up changing my major twice my sophomore year (did less than average due to lack of interest in both majors), then once again my junior year. Did a little above average in my junior year major (health and wellness) but did not put in maximum effort. Decided to leave that school. cGPA when leaving state school: 2.7 (don't be rude). I have a bit of a sob story for the crappy GPA but no excuses. </p>
<p>Currently studying medical imaging at a school in VT. 4th year in college. Anticipating anywhere between 3.8-4.0 cGPA here. It's only a 2-year Associates of Science program. Will be ARRT certified by the end, so I will be a certified radiologic technologist. Will have 1700 hours of clinical patient care. (Anticipating a high cGPA here because there is no messing around here. Currently working my tail off). </p>
<p>All of my general education requirements will be complete by the time I get around to applying to Cal (this time next year). </p>
<p>ECs: 1700 clinical patient care in a hospital, various clubs, leadership positions, ARRT certified, internship in hospital, long-term campus jobs. Attempting to find some sort of research project. </p>
<p>Do I have a shot in hell? I'm thinking not at all, especially being OOS. Not sure on a major yet. Was thinking molecular/cellular bio, for a pre-medical track but may choose a different major to show diversity for medical schools (planning osteopathic medicine). Curious to know if my upward trend from my sophomore year will even make a difference or not, or if the 2.7 from my first institution completely effs me all around.</p>
<p>Sorry this is so long.
PS: Don't be rude, I know my GPA sucks.</p>
<p>NYgirl: they will take a look at all of your previous academics, so you need to know that off the bat. You’re clinical care work is good. It should help. You never know unless you try. What about UCSD? The VA Hospital is on campus. UCSD school of medicine has three hospitals. There’s a spot on the application where you can explain your current upward trend. Don’t bring up SUNY.</p>
<p>Cost of OOS will be expensive. Cal isn’t giving out money to OOS.</p>
<p>What do you mean why “don’t bring up SUNY”? On the upward trend explanation, do not bring up my last year there, which has a significant upward trend from the first two years, and only mention my years in VT?
Money is not an issue.
I’ve read that OOS transfers basically get the crap end of the stick and only around 10-20% get in, so I assume that they get in with much higher grades.</p>
<p>The upward trend makes a difference, but I would say you have little to no shot because you still seem to not have a focus. You’ve been in college for 4 years and had a bad GPA when attending a 4 year and even though you have a good GPA at the 2 year, it’s for a certificate program, not a general liberal arts education. You say you will have all of your general ed requirements done, but what about the bio prereqs? There are a lot of them. You don’t even know if you will major in bio, which is a big red flag to me.</p>
<p>Since you are OOS your chances are low to begin with. I would say that applying to Cal would be a waste of money. But if you are desperate to move to CA and pay OOS tuition to go to a UC, you should still apply to UCR, UCM, and maybe a few others.</p>
<p>I’m sorry I was confused, was it not SUNY that was your weak area? They can see from your transcripts that is was weak. Play up what you are currently doing in VT.</p>
<p>An associates degree is considered a certificate program? </p>
<p>I don’t see myself as not having a focus, because I do. The only thing I am not sure of is a definitive major and I have more than a year to fine tune that detail. I’m basically starting undergrad over again, although the SUNY is on my record. I have quite a few biology prereqs completed. No upper div sciences however, just basic, which I assume is all I need.</p>
<p>My sort of excuse story: diagnosed with rare autoimmune disease senior year of high school. Treatment affected my freshman year of college, did poorly and put me in the mindset that I could not handle a biology program despite my love for it. Changed majors twice due to lack of interest in the subjects (which caused my less than stellar grades at SUNY).</p>
<p>My focus is what is KEEPING me in school so long. Determined to get to where I want to go.</p>
<p>I figured I didn’t have a shot in hell anyway. Not desperate for California, was just curious.</p>
<p>Aunt Bea, my SUNY was my weak spot, my apologies. They will see it on my transcript anyway.</p>
<p>Yeah, medical imaging seems to be a certificate program-the end goal is you getting certified. I would assume that some of those classes won’t be UC transferable so even if you got As, they won’t help your GPA.</p>
<p>NY girl: an AS degree is an AS degree, use it. I would also use the dx of the autoimmune disease somewhere on the APP. </p>
<p>Again, you never know unless you try. If you want to try a Cal State, you may want to do that? Play up your strengths! You’re on the way up!</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement, Aunt Bea :-)</p>
<p>Thanks to the other two for the help too. Again, not desperate for Cal, or any school in California really. I was just curious as to whether or not a significant upward trend mattered at all. Again, most prereqs are finished, and over the next three semesters I have a lot of slots to fill in my schedule (since I transferred here with a ton of credits and completed most of my prereqs for here in VT) to finish any other major prereqs I need…</p>
<p>Mainly looking for a big, public research university with a lot of opportunities for medical school. Not getting into Berkeley wouldn’t be a big deal for me, so thanks for all of your help guys. I’ll see where I am at when it’s time to apply and do some more research.</p>
<p>I think UC Riverside has a lot of research opportunities. It’s a big, public, research university that would probably accept you. I have a few friends who are there who really like it. Why don’t you research into that a bit?</p>
<p>I’m sure there’s a SUNY that has a good program for you, and since you used to attend one and have an upward grade trend, it might be easier to get back in.</p>
<p>I will definitely take UCR into account, thanks! 
</p>
<p>I think I am finished with SUNY. I’m not a fan of the way that they work, and I am looking to get out of NYS anyway. Mostly every school I will be applying to will be out of state, with the exception of SUNY Stony Brook and possibly Syracuse U (not SUNY).</p>
<p>Is there any shot for UC Davis for what I have above? Not sure if anyone will still answer, but thanks!</p>
<p>NY girl: I don’t think you’ll get into UCD because it is extremely competitive especially since it’s known as the UC VET school for future veterinarians, but you never know! </p>
<p>UCR is less competitive than the other UC’s. It is in Riverside which doesn’t have much in the way of aesthetics, but students do like it and from what I understand, they are getting more monies for research facilities which they are building. It might also be considered a commuter school, because it is in the southern california valley-desert area, but not as much of a commuter school as UCI.</p>
<p>Merced is accepting applications. It is a really tiny campus in the middle of a cow field. It sits at the base of roads that lead to Yosemite.</p>
<p>Humans read admissions essays – case and point, I got into Berkeley to transfer, my good friend from CC didn’t. His GPA was better, and we completed the same courses. I can only assume my essay was better.
Berkeley can almost be easier for people with really unique life situations, IMO. If you are a good fit for the school, and have completed all the pre-reqs in your major with a good GPA, I don’t think it’s a waste to apply!</p>
<p>That having been said, I was told by an admissions rep at UCSD that the <em>floor</em> for out of state applicants GPA-wise was 3.9.</p>
<p>I was accepted to UCSD from an OOS University with under a 3.5… (i am a CA resident though)</p>