<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>So I applied to UCSD, UCB, UCLA, and UCD as a chemical engineering major, but unfortunately, I only got into UCSD. This basically took me by surprise because I was confident and almost set that I'd get in and be going to UCLA. Since I didn't get in, I'm in somewhat of a crisis and I don't know what I should do so I was hoping to get some opinions from people that will hopefully help me decide.</p>
<p>My first option would be to just transfer to UCSD. My main concern with this option is that UCSD's chemical engineering program isn't anywhere near the best, in fact, from what I've seen on the university's website, it hardly seems decent. The chemical engineering program is a part of their newly opened nanoengineering program, offers only a small variety of courses to take, and seems to have a faculty that is generally uninterested in teaching. As a student who doesn't qualify for finaid, I'm worried that I wouldn't be getting a worthwhile education that would give me decent job opportunities upon graduation.</p>
<p>My second option is to stay at CC for a third year. I currently have a 3.91 gpa and the only courses I would benefit from taking are computer programming, ochem, and biology. Then I'll reapply and hopefully get into a good chemical engineering program at UCB or UCSB. My main issue with this plan is that it'd take me at the very least 5 years to get my B.S which isn't very appealing to me. </p>
<p>Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>How come you were rejected? Were you missing some prereqs?</p>
<p>If that’s the case, staying another year and finishing wouldn’t be such a bad idea, since your gpa is competitive. But keep in mind that the competition gets much more tougher each year and you’re basically risking a year. You should still be able to TAG into UCSD though even though their req has raised to 3.5. But it’s up to you, UCSD is a pretty good school overall.</p>
<p>For Davis and Berkeley I was missing plenty of pre reqs, so no surprise there xD. For LA I was only missing a computer programming pre req. I actually emailed their college of engineering and I was told that there wasn’t a lot of space for chemical engineering students so the avg gpa they accepted was 3.95 =[.</p>
<p>Ya, I’m pretty worried about the possibility that I’d get rejected again even after staying a third year. UCSD’s engineering school seems pretty good overall, but their chemical engineering program seems to be near the butt end of the engineering college so I’m reluctant to go to UCSD.</p>
<p>I’d say go and appeal to all the schools you where rejected from. If all 3 appeals don’t succeed just go to UCSD . With the budget cuts on CC’s its not going to be easy getting the classes you need/or classes that would help you finish prereqs. You have to keep in mind that the CC’s are going to cut back classes in such a way that the classes in high demand might fill up too fast for you to get a spot . </p>
<p>Both UCB and UCLA have so many 4.0 applicants they start looking at EC’s and all that . You have no guarantee that you’ll get in next year, and at least the way I think about thats a year is a very long time to sit around . </p>
<p>Personally I’m still a little disapointed that most UC’s didn’t offer Spring admission this quarter, I was ready to transfer sooner, instead I ended up working insane hours at a dead end job and wasting time .</p>
<p>That sounds like a good starting point, after all, the worst they can do is reject me again xD. I’m not concerned about getting into the classes I need since I normally get pretty good enrollment dates and I’m actually already registered for all the classes I would need for the fall at my CC in case I decide not to transfer this year.</p>
<p>Just as you say though, I am pretty concerned that I wouldn’t be accepted even after staying a third year, that would be a huge waste of my time. Spring admission would’ve been just great, it’s unfortunate that the colleges are so impacted right now. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the input guys, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I was accepted to the Cal College of Chemistry (I’m Chem Bio not Engr) but that’s what you would be admitted to there also since they don’t admit people by major. From dealing with my admission for the last few weeks, I can guarantee you that they are really serious about pre-reqs and recommended classes being near completely fulfilled, though they only put the minimum on assist.org. In addition, they require B’s or better in ALL of these classes. I was explaining this to someone in another post but not having the majority of these classes sets you at a serious disadvantage despite having a high GPA since they require you to be able to graduate within 4 semesters. </p>
<p>I haven’t looked at the ChemE curriculum but I know you have to take Physical Chemistry which has an Ochem pre-req and other UD classes might also which could have potentially limited your schedule. But yeah so anyway that could have been a big reason why you were rejected from there at least. If you are really interested in Cal, I would recommend finishing all the recommended classes they list and taking Phys 7C (it’s not required but since it’s UD, it’ll look better on your app to having more classes completed). Anyway if you have enough classes to take at your CC for another year, I would recommend that if going to UCSD will take you three years to finish anyway. It seems like you don’t really <em>want</em> to go to SD or you wouldn’t be posting this. A lot of people also might not realize that the College of Chem at Cal is one of the best in the nation (and top 3 in the nation for graduate Chem) though this isn’t exactly your major, your education and opportunities while you’re there will seriously reflect that. I don’t know much about UCLA but I would imagine it has a much more established ChemEng program as compared to SD. Since you can TAG UCSD next year anyway, it’s not like you’re giving up a huge opportunity. Most Engineering students take 5 years to finish school anyway. </p>
<p>You’re being very realistic about your options also which is why I’m saying that waiting and reapplying could definitely be a good option for you. For most people that post about not knowing whether to go or stay, I tell them to go to whatever UC they got into because the chances of them getting in anyplace else don’t seem very likely. If you decide to reapply next year, TAG UCSD, finish the Cal & UCLA pre-reqs, make sure you keep your GPA up and write awesome essays and I think you’d have a good shot at somewhere else :)</p>
<p>Appealing is definitely not a bad idea, but for the schools still accepting appeals, the deadlines are either today (UCB) or the end of the week (UCLA). </p>
<p>If you decide to stay at CC, at least you’d be finishing your lower division classes for less money and with less competition. And you’d be able to TAG to a school you want to go to, which would give you a backup if you didn’t get into UCLA/ Cal if those are your top choices. UCSD isn’t a bad school, though. Best of luck with whatever you decide; I don’t think you can really make a bad choice here.</p>
<p>why didnt you apply to ucsb in the beginning?</p>
<p>@killmyentourage
Congratz on getting into Berkeley! Thanks a lot for your input and encouragement, I really appreciate it. I just might decide to stay behind in CC a third year, but we’ll just have so see how things pan out with the appeals and all. Have you taken the ACS test for ochem yet? If so, how is it?</p>
<p>@thecomfycat
Thanks for the heads up, I’ll be sure I make the deadlines. Although I think the only university I have a shot at getting into through appeals is UCLA, but we’ll just have to see xD. UCSD does seem like a pretty decent school overall, but their chemical engineering program just seems to be one of their bottom tier programs so I’m a bit reluctant to just go to UCSD.</p>
<p>@HiAcceptMe
Simply put, I didn’t apply to UCSB because I just didn’t see myself happy going there. UCLA was my first choice this year because they’re a pretty decent all around school and because I like the school atmosphere there. Since I didn’t get into UCLA this year, I might be taking at least 5 years to get my degree now, so I figure it’d better be a darn good one.</p>
<p>They offer the ACS at Berkeley in August so I’m taking it then. My Ochem teacher said it’s 70 multiple choice questions and basically cake provided you do well in the class. Plus I have the whole summer to study (yeah right lol).</p>
<p>Haha, is it? Since its scored based on percentiles, I thought it’d be harder since you have to score in the top 30% xD. That’s cool thought, good luck!</p>