<p>Out of State</p>
<p>Hello, I am preparing my apps for transfer into these schools. Chances would be helpful.</p>
<p>HS stats:</p>
<p>Cumulative GPA: 3.4 (85)</p>
<p>Last two years of HS GPA: 3.48</p>
<p>College GPA (After two years)</p>
<p>Freshman year: 3.95
Sophomore year: 4.0</p>
<p>Cumulative GPA for first two years of college: 3.</p>
<p>SAT: 1750</p>
<p>Chance me please</p>
<p>What major??</p>
<p>Have you completed or planning to complete the a-g requirements before you apply?</p>
<p>If I went to Berkeley my major would be Economics</p>
<p>SATs are unnecessary for UCs.</p>
<p>Which major and which type of college (CC, out-of-state, UC, CSU, etc) are you coming from?</p>
<p>If you keep the GPA up and finish the GE and major requirements, I believe you will get in.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>if you kept your gpa at ~ 3.97?</p>
<p>nah… probably not.</p>
<p>^ Before someone goes and pulls something like “OMG PINKERFLOYD STOP WITH YOUR BAD ADVICE UR SOOOO DUMB!!!” I just want to point out his sarcasm.</p>
<p>Over and out.</p>
<p>HS GPAs and the SATs are completely void in the Transfer Application Process.</p>
<p>Your GPA is well above the average so you are in the safe zone.</p>
<p>Are you transferring from a community college? If yes, then you have a good chance of making it to Berkeley.</p>
<p>If not, then why do you NEED to transfer to Berkeley Economics when you can just get your B.A. at your current university? Berkeley (or any UCs) will question your motive in transferring to their school, so your essay better have some definite explanation for your reasons.</p>
<p>“… Berkeley (or any UCs) will question your motive in transferring to their school, so your essay better have some definite explanation for your reasons.”</p>
<p>Why? I am not doubting what you are saying, but neither the transfer application nor the prompts ask why you are transferring. The Common Application (not used for the UCs) actually asks “In 250 words or less, please let us know why you are transferring to ____.” Everyone has their reasons for transferring, but since you apply to ALL of the UCs with one application, it is hard to give a specific reason that would pertain to a particular University (such as being close to family or distinguished faculty in your field).</p>
<p>My statement applies more to an applicant transferring from a four year university. Part of the essay is to “anticipate questions an admissions evaluator will have after reading your application” (quoted from the University of California site) and answering them in your personal statements.</p>
<p>As much as qualification and individual’s potential matter for admission, just as important is the NEED of the applicant. If the number one need for transferring to a UC is to stay close to your family, why would you apply to both UCLA and Berkeley (those two campuses are at least 350 miles apart)? You need to make sense in your reasons. Treat the entire UC system as a one big university.</p>
<p>Your reason will need to be more sound if you are transferring from a four-year university. If you school offers an Economics program, why do you specifically need to transfer to a UC system? And why does staying with a distinguished faculty matter? Is there a professor in your target university that is a renown expert in a specific field of study you plan to research with in the future? Or does the current university not offer a specific concentration of study (ex. Econometrics or International Economics) you are interested in studying? You need to address all these questions when writing your personal statements. </p>
<p>Why do you think a “UC-to-UC” transfer is so much harder than a CC-to-UC transfer? It’s because the Adcoms understand that any of the UCs will provide students with the same standards of education with similar curriculum regardless of the campus (thus minimizing the NEED factor for transferring to a different campus) that only a very few students are able to persuade the adcoms with a sound explanation for their transferring. And PRESTIGE factor is probably the least convincing argument of winning your admission, after the infamous “I want to be close to my boyfriend/girlfriend” argument.</p>
<p>I see, thanks for the thorough response.I am one of the UC-UC transfers, which is why I am interested in your thoughts. </p>
<p>I understand community college students NEED to transfer because they have nowhere else to go after receiving their associates degree, but UC-UC transfers are pretty common too. In fact, the rates are very similar between UC to UC and CCC to UC. </p>
<p>I don’t think most of these 4 year college transfers have a genuine “Need” to transfer. I mean, most transfers from four year Universities on this board don’t like their current school, and therefore are looking for a better fit. </p>
<p>Just my opinion, but I think UC to UC transfer is harder than CC-UC transfer because it is harder to get an adequate GPA at a UC, whereas CC transfers have TAG guaranteeing them to almost every UC. (Yeah there is some priority too, but the transfer GPAs between UC-UC transfers and CC-UC transfers are very similar showing the priority is not too big of a deal.</p>
<p>People have lists of reasons to transfer ranging from “better fit” to “lack of ability to minor in specific areas related to their major” to “better job prospects” to “being closer to family.” Lets say a student goes to UCR and performs very well (3.5+) but has social problems at his current University (not a good fit, feels alone because of lack of motivation in his peers) and basically wants to transfer to another UC, how would he incorporate this reasoning into his transfer essay? Or is this not a good reason? I have always read that one should try not to put down his/her current University because it usually comes out as bitterness which turns adcoms off. </p>
<p>I agree that all of the UCs offer similar curriculum (to some extent), but they offer this curriculum in vastly different environments. There are the very competitive environments of UCB and UCSD and the relaxed environments of UCSB/UCSC. Then the middle of the ground UCs such as UCD/UCI. If a student was from a relaxed UC and thinks he would fit better at a more competitive University, I think that would be a good reason for transferring, but how would one bring this up without saying anything bad about their current University?</p>
<p>I see what you are saying, Calu Trumpet, but I think DHL3 has some good points. I think for a transfer from a 4-year admissions committees want to know that you are not just “transferring from” but also “transferring to.” If the only reason that you are applying to Berkeley is because you don’t like your current school then it may not be very compelling.</p>
<p>If, on the other hand, you have some really great reason to be at Cal, I think it will make your personal statement stand out more.</p>
<p>this is a great discussion, i am currently trying to figure how best to phrase my situation such that it doesn’t sound bitter but also doesn’t sound like i’m transferring because i feel like it and that it is really necessary. it seems like a delicate balance to manage to convince a university that you need to transfer while making it clear that you need to transfer to their university specifically.</p>
<p>for example it is hard to convey “my university cut my financial aid” and phrase it like it is a reason for another school to accept you. on the other hand if you just say, “i want to transfer to ___ because they have a great program in ____” it may sound like you would be fine at your current university but you just want to be in a better program which may get you listed below someone from a CC who actually needs to transfer to get a 4 year degree</p>
<p>I totally agree that DHL3 makes many great points. I am sort of on the same page as furyshade. How do you come off without sounding bitter? What would you consider a “good reason.” I wouldn’t think you would want to single out a place like UCB, which is very hard to get into, because I would think that would hurt your chances at the other UCs you were applying to. </p>
<p>My current opinion on this topic is that you are not required to provide a reason for transferring and it will not hurt you if you do not give one, but a very good reason could make up for a below average GPA. If they REALLY wanted to know why you were applying to transfer, they would ask like the Common App does. I think they assume you are not happy at your current university when you apply to transfer to their school.</p>
<p>i’m wondering what the opinion is on writing a really university specific essay with the intent of focusing on one university. if i theoretically only apply to transfer to cal would there be a big advantage to writing a really berkeley specific essay? i have thought about it and think there are obvious benefits but it could come off as brown-nosing or something</p>
<p>But what if you didn’t get into Cal? Wouldn’t you want to go to a different UC instead?</p>
<p>I wouldnt go to any UC other than Berkeley.</p>
<p>well my question is a hypothetical, if that were the case i’m wondering how it would look</p>