<p>After a year at Cornell, I am looking to transfer to Berkeley as a sophomore for financial reasons and for the mere fact that it is closer to home for me. I have a 3.5 at Cornell and was involved in various ways this past year (ambassador program, residence hall council, and student council). I got a 3.95 in high school and was extremely involved in leadership, being sophomore and senior class president, as well as a representative for my hometown's city council youth committee. I am studying urban planning at Cornell and recognize that Berkeley has an outstanding urban planning program, so I'm looking to transfer into Environmental Design. What are my chances? I know Berkeley does not typically accept sophomore transfers, but I am hoping they will be understanding of my situation. I am also willing to apply under Arts and Sciences. Also what would be my chances for applying as a junior transfer?</p>
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Not going to happen. What is so special about your situation, anyway? If you could play football I bet they’d find a way since their team is at the bottom of the rankings, but other than that, no way…</p>
<p>I can tell you what they’ll tell you. If you have financial issues, go to a CC for a year and apply to enter as a junior.</p>
<p>If you go to a CCC this coming year, and ace your classes, you’ll have a great shot at Berkley. Maintaining a 3.5 at Cornell is great, and will likely only help you gain admission to Cal after spending another year either at Cornell or at a CCC.</p>
<p>Uhm, why would you be a sophomore transfer? You just said you’ve already done a year… applications for junior transfers are due at the start of your sophomore year (about 30 credits completed). If you’re hoping to transfer for this coming school year, you’re very super late and kinda out of luck.</p>
<p>I’d say spend another year at your current university (or go to CC if cannot attend your old school… it’ll be near home and dirt cheap), and apply in the fall. Take a look at the pre-reqs for your major, assist.org will give you an idea of what to take, and do your best to fit those in with the coursework for your current school.</p>
<p>As for transferring, high school stats and ECs don’t matter in admissions, unless you’re still involved in them. GPA and coursework matter the most, but you’ll need good ECs/essays as well. I’d highly suggest you apply to the major you’d like to be in. Not only is it hard to change majors as a transfer, but you’ll need to have lower division pre-reqs completed (different majors want different stuff), and one of the essays is on why you chose your major. When it comes to actual chances… hard to say. Berkeley really can go either way, admissions tend to be unpredictable. It’s generally recommended that students have a plan B and apply to other schools as well.</p>
<p>You’re going to have to apply for a junior transfer. You can either transfer to a CCC and then transfer to a UC (which will likely mean you won’t graduate in 4 years) or you can apply to transfer from Cornell or you could stay at Cornell and stick it out. </p>
<p>If this is seriously about finances you should go the CCC route. If you applied from Cornell next year you’d obviously be applying as an OOS transfer and your chances likely wouldn’t be that great.</p>
<p>Would you pay OOS tuition or IS tuition if transferring directly from Cornell? I feel pretty confident in saying that if they’re taking someone OOS, they’re going to be choosing someone that is going to have to pay OOS tuition. I just don’t see them taking someone OOS that only has to pay resident tuition. </p>
<p>You need to seriously think about this and talk to your parents. It isn’t going to be a whole lot of fun telling people you dropped out of an Ivy for JC but it is much cheaper and you could eventually transfer to a UC and save some money. Good luck.</p>
<p>ECs do matter from high school. Not sure why ppl keep saying they don’t. They love to see years of leadership, etc. I was specifically told this by a UC advisor. And the Alumni Scholarships - as everyone has a high GPA , they particularly look for years of leadership. In fact, it’s the main thing they look for. I was an essay reader for the Berkeley Alumni Scholarships for a few years.</p>
<p>Always add both groups (CCC and high school), in terms of best ones and making sure it fits as they only give you so many spaces on the app. They ask for 9th through CCC.) Imagine if someone like Bill Clinton had left out all his high school stuff if he was a transfer? Doesn’t make sense to leave leadership stuff out. They’re looking at the whole person.</p>
<p>@lindyk8</p>
<p>I think some of the UC press releases have said they don’t care about HS ECs for CC applicants but I agree with you; in reality they mater a lot. </p>
<p>@bomerr they say a lot of things - also they’re big with the “we love essays about hardship or overcoming obstacles”. Some, yeah - but I think a lot of it is an indirect way to look for red flags. They’ll never admit that, though. And then you could also say, well if you like reading about all the obstacles I overcame in high school, then why don’t you want to see any of the good things I did in high school that showed strength of character? It kind of doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>I think if you’re 21-ish or younger applying as a transfer, your HS ECs help to show a pattern of behavior, However the more years between you and high school, the less it says about the person you may be today. </p>