Should I still apply for transfer through the TAG program if my GPA is close to the min. requirement

Hello. I am planning to apply for transfer this upcoming fall. The primary major I will be applying for is Mathematics so an impacted major. I calculated my GPA and I will have a 3.46 if everything goes according to plan by the end of August. This is tempting because I already have the other requirements fulfilled to apply through the tag program. On the other hand, though, I am mostly worried if my GPA does not turn out to be at least a 3.4 and furthermore, I have also heard applicants can have their TAGs denied because of the lack of available space left even if they fulfilled all of the requirements. For more context, I am mainly interested in tagging for Irvine if I do apply through TAG. Despite fulfilling all of the requirements for tag, do you think it would be better for me to apply as a regular applicant considering I am applying for an impacted major and my GPA won’t be that high?

They can’t deny your TAG if you fulfill all the requirements. If you have at least a 3.4 by end of summer apply. Worse case scenario and your GPA falls below 3.4 you will be rolled over into general admission.

I have heard of people getting rejected even though they assumed they fulfilled all of the requirements. I heard it is because they applied for an impacted major and the admissions team can not only accept tag applicants. They also need to accept a number of general applicants. Do you think these people did complete all of the requirements or do you think they were actually missing one or two of them but thought they were fine?

What I am also worried about is not having the option of appealing. I heard that tag applicants are not able to appeal after all of the decisions come out since they technically get two chances while general applications only have one chance.

@tripple333 you seem to have heard a lot of misleading things.

TAG is a guarantee. Period. You meet the requirements, they must admit you. That’s why they call it a guarantee and not a preference. UCLA has a different program with a preference only, called TAP.

Second, there is nothing on any UCI website that limits appeals from TAG applicants. Also your wording belies your assumptions. TAG applicants did not get “two chances”, you are assuming TAG is only a “chance”. TAG applicants either qualify for the program and are accepted, or don’t qualify and are turned down under TAG. “Chances” has nothing to do with it.

But don’t take our word for it since you’ve turned it into “some people say this, others say the opposite.” Email UCI admissions (admissions@uci.edu) and ask them, flat out, if someone who satisifies all the TAG requirements can still be turned down for math. Then you’ll have an authoritative answer.

Sorry. When I mean chances, I meant that the admissions team will review your general application with the rest of the general applicants if you do not get accepted through the tag program.

Also how did you decide Math is “impacted”? I see no mention of this on the UCI website. For the College of Physical Sciences the only specific requirement for Math is a B or better in both semesters of Calculus. And https://www.oir.uci.edu/Data-Hub/Undergraduate-Admissions-Dashboard.php for transfers shows the admit rate to Math in 2019 was 56%, much higher than some other transfer majors and higher than the overall xfer admit rate of 44% that year.