Starting 3rd quarter as a freshman at UCSC, wanting to transfer to UCB

Is it my best bet to stay at UCSC for my sophomore year as well and then apply to transfer to UCB? What are those chances? For reference, I am currently proposed as MCD Bio but heavily considering pursuing an general biology degree, intensive psychology, or cognitive science.

I currently have a GPA of 3.34.

If I were to withdraw from UCSC and start my sophomore year at a CCC instead, would I be guaranteed admission to UCB when I apply to transfer? Would there be a lot of risk in doing this?

Any guidance or advice is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance for any responses to this discussion.

To clarify the major situation – I will not be staying in MCD Bio. I will definitely be switching majors to one of the three listed (general bio, intensive psych, or cog sci) but I have not decided which yet.

If you aspire to transfer to UCB, you’ll need a higher GPA whether it is from UCSC or CC. UCB does not participate in the TAG program with the CC’s, which guarantees UCB admission if a minimum GPA is met. It is probably easier to get higher grades at a CCC than at UCSC. I know of a freshman who withdrew from UCSC, with about a 3.4 GPA, after the Fall Quarter to attend a CC to better the chances of transferring to UCB/UCLA/USC. The person felt it would be easier to get A’s at a CC than at UCSC. It is a choice you have to make. You might want to discuss it with your UCSC counselor or a UCB counselor.

Hi! My boyfriend spent his freshman year at UCSC as well and wanted to transfer to UCSD/UCB so he ended up transferring to our local CCC for his sophomore year and will be transferring in the fall.

UCLA regards transfers from other UCs the same as a CCC so my advice would be different if you were looking at UCLA, but for UCB and other schools your best bet is to transfer to a CCC for sophomore year and finish up IGETC/major prereqs there. There is no guarantee that you’ll get into Berkeley even still, but if you are really looking to transfer elsewhere then going to a CCC is your best best. Berkeley’s priority is CCC transfers > UC transfers > CSU transfers > other schools, so while you’re in the second tier you’d have a better shot applying from a CCC.

I agree with what UCBUSCalum said- you will most likely need a higher GPA to get into Berkeley. You may be able to achieve a higher GPA at your CCC- my boyfriend said his classes (he is a STEM major as well) have a lot more lab work at our CCC but overall finds them easier.

As said above, there is no guarantee of admission from a CCC to Cal.