Hello All!
I’m applying to transfer to SDSU this Fall semester. I am nonlocal (took 3 transferable classes outside the San Diego area). After this summer semester I will only have 3 classes left to take. The Golden Four are complete and by the end of next spring, all my major prep classes will be taken that are available to me. I plan on majoring in Geological sciences with an emphasis in Paleontology. There are three major prep geology courses that I cannot take due to mesa, city, and miramar not offering them. I’m worried that will hinder my chances, especially since grossmont offers one of those classes. If I were to try to take that class it could only be during next spring semester, and I may not even be able to take it.
My current GPA is 3.6. My transferable GPA will be closer to a 3.4 if I continue getting A’s and B’s (which should be no problem). I have no experience in the field since I am both a full time student and a full time employee. I just applied to volunteer in the Paleontology department at the natural History museum in San Diego, but I may not get it (fingers crossed though!). Will volunteering help with my chances of acceptance to SDSU?
I will not transfer with an AD-T. There is one for Geology, but I spoke with my counselors and emailed the geology department at SDSU and both said that it would not be beneficial to my acceptance since the degree is only for geology and not for any of the emphasis’s. So I will only be transferring with my grades alone. I’m hoping that if I can volunteer then that will boost my chances. I know SDSU is an impacted campus, and geology majors have around a 32% acceptance rate. SDSU is the only college in California that offers Paleontology as a BS degree, so this is the only college I will be applying to. But I am worried about my chances. I saw some people, from different majors, being denied with a 4.0 GPA. that is terrifying. But there was one person who was accepted in Geology with a 2.9 GPA and he was nonlocal as well.
What do you guys think? Do I have a chance?
They won’t be looking at anything other than your GPA and the number of major prep courses you’ve completed. Unfortunately they don’t ask for any volunteer or work experience. You have a decent chance but it all depends on how impacted your major is at SDSU. The only thing you can do at this point is to make sure you get A’s in the rest of your classes and try to take all major prep courses (even if you need to go to a different school)
Thanks for the reply. I thought I read somewhere that on the application, or in the essay sections, that it would be extremely helpful and wise to list all volunteer work pertaining to the major. The major is not as impacted as most, like I said, it is only around a 32% acceptance rate which seems pretty good comparatively to other majors. I calculated my GPA and if I get all A’s on the rest of my classes then I will have a GPA of 3.51.
I’m fine with going to grossmont for that other major prep course, but I wont have priority registration and may not be able to get in it. I’m planning on trying, but it’s only offered in the spring.
Well on the CSUmentor application, there is nowhere where it asks about extracurricular activities. There aren’t any essay questions either. The application process is different for transfer students than for students entering straight out of high school. All it’ll ask you is which colleges you’ve attended, your GPA at each college attended, and your total transferable GPA, as well as the courses you’re planning to take in the Spring semester. It also asks which golden four courses you’ve taken and the grades you received in them. In addition, SDSU will have you complete a supplemental application where you list all the major prep courses you’ve completed.
I just did a bit of research. It does look like I just submit my application through CSU mentor, then a few weeks later I can work on/turn in the supplemental application which just documents all transferable GPA. I guess my counselors were just confusing me. They told me to seek help writing college acceptance essays at the transfer center when I’m applying. But no where on the application process does it list anything about that.
Yeah I think they might have just given you misinformation. I just went through the whole application process as a transfer and it’s pretty straight forward. Your transferable GPA and major prep classes are what will get you in. Good luck
Non-local transfer into SDSU is really tough to guess. Your GPA is solid and would get you into most UCs but, SDSU carves out so many seats for locals - it may not do the trick.
Please apply broadly so you don’t get shut out. How about CSULB, maybe UCR, or even UCI for most majors.
SDSU is the only college in California that offers my degree. This is the only college I can apply to for that degree. I would apply out of state but I really cannot afford out of state tuition.
It is great to have a specific target but, you really should apply to a couple of schools that are almost certain to accept you. I’d encourage you to TAG UCR or UCI and apply to another CSU that offers a geology degree.
Most CA public schools offer students the option to create their own major. Contact the schools directly to see how many paleo courses are offered. I bet you’ll be surprised.