Random Questions for UC Transfers - From a Community College Freshman

  1. Could having a special interests outside of the scope of your intended major include being in the process of writing a novel or playing an instrument? Does the special interest have to be recognized through awards or accolades (like winning a writing contest) to be significant enough?
  2. Do admissions officers become cautious of students who overload on extracurricular activities, even if they yield a GPA above the 25th or 75th percentile?
  3. Is a slight downward trend (4.0, then 3.8, then back to 4.0) that detrimental to an applicant in a competitive major?
  4. My community college does not grant credit for AP Psychology unless it is a 5. I received a 4 on my AP Psychology exam. Will UC still give me credit despite my school refusing to, or should I just repeat the course at my CC? If I say that I am transferring to UC, is it possible to get department approval to move into a higher level psychology course where the prerequisite is Psych 1?
  5. Once you complete your honors classes, what is the process of receiving TAP certification?
  6. When listing honors and awards, can you write down scholarships?
  7. What types of workshops or conferences are there for prospective transfer applicants in the Bay Area during the fall quarter/semester?
  8. How long should you hold a particular job position to put it on your UC application? Is holding a job for a short period of time (less than 6 months) a red flag?

I’ll probably have more questions soon. Thanks! >:D<

  1. Being in the process of writing a novel doesn't mean a whole lot because anyone can say that. Playing an instrument and having at least some groups you've played with is fine. Accolades are preferred because they confirm both your involvement and commitment.
  2. Not really? If you have too many shallow extracurriculars then it begins to raise some concerns. Remember, one very involved activity is better than 5 half-assed ones.
  3. That's negligible. Probably a single B as it is. It does not constitute a downward trend. Your GPA is steady and high.
  4. The college you transfer to can opt to give you credit. However, for a variety of reasons it may be preferable to you to just take the course at your community college and get it out of the way since it's a prerequisite course.
  5. You do it through your honors program. Typically there's an honors coordinator or counselor that fills out of the paperwork. UCLA then sends it back for a second confirmation.
  6. Scholarships are a form of award.
  7. I don't know as I'm not familiar with that. Your school and its professors should have more resources for conferences.
  8. A 6 month job is fine to list. You're young, and young people change jobs frequently.

You need to check each UC or CSU or other university that you will apply to what its policy is on the AP psychology scores. If any requires a score of 5, or does not accept the AP score at all, then you will need to take the introductory psychology course at your community college.

  1. Could having a special interests outside of the scope of your intended major include being in the process of writing a novel or playing an instrument? Does the special interest have to be recognized through awards or accolades (like winning a writing contest) to be significant enough?

No, it simply means special interest. Writing/instrument is fine.

  1. Do admissions officers become cautious of students who overload on extracurricular activities, even if they yield a GPA above the 25th or 75th percentile?

They prefer something that shows a commitment, not flitting from subject to subject. Over-loading is fine, but try and stay within a general thematic element as much as possible. But as a transfer, they don’t put as much weight on ECs as they do with freshmen.

  1. Is a slight downward trend (4.0, then 3.8, then back to 4.0) that detrimental to an applicant in a competitive major?

Explain why you took the slight dip. One course could lead to the 4.0 to 3.8, so it should be fine.

  1. My community college does not grant credit for AP Psychology unless it is a 5. I received a 4 on my AP Psychology exam. Will UC still give me credit despite my school refusing to, or should I just repeat the course at my CC? If I say that I am transferring to UC, is it possible to get department approval to move into a higher level psychology course where the prerequisite is Psych 1?

IGETC allows AP scores of 3 or more, so the CC cannot overrule that. In terms of major requirements, if psych is listed as a requirement, the UC wants a letter grade, so you might lose the AP due to duplication. If you can get by without duplicating the AP course, the UC will grant you subject credit and unit credit even if it doesn’t fulfill anything. UC and CC handled AP independently.

Re moving into a higher level psych course, it’s up to the CC. The UC recognizes AP psych as the intro, so they won’t have an issue. It will be the CC. Needing 5 sounds strict. Are you sure that’s correct?

  1. Once you complete your honors classes, what is the process of receiving TAP certification?
    Talk to your TAP advisor.

  2. When listing honors and awards, can you write down scholarships?
    Yes!

  3. What types of workshops or conferences are there for prospective transfer applicants in the Bay Area during the fall quarter/semester?
    Don’t know.

  4. How long should you hold a particular job position to put it on your UC application? Is holding a job for a short period of time (less than 6 months) a red flag?
    No.

UC Davis requires a 5 on AP psychology to be exempt from Psychology 1:
http://catalog.ucdavis.edu/PDF/CollegeBoardAdvancedPlacement.pdf

However, some other UCs only require a 4 to be exempt from their introductory psychology courses.

@ucbalumnus, thank you for clarification.

@Ohm888 Yeah I thought my CC’s policy was strict as well. It’s Foothill College.

Do any of your target UCs/CSUs have these characteristics?

a. They require introductory psychology for your major.
b. They do not accept a 4 on AP psychology to be exempt from introductory psychology for your major.
c. They accept a Foothill course for introductory psychology (see http://www.assist.org ).

If so, you may have to take the Foothill course that covers introductory psychology for your major at those UCs/CSUs.