Transfer: Chances of Getting into Business or ECON at UCI, UCR, CSULB

State Forums
1

Hey Everyone.

I am an older student who left CC a long time ago but am looking to sell my business and finish school. I want get into consulting and eventually get my MBA. I am looking at UCI, UCR, CSULB as a transfer student. I have a 3.1 GPA from years ago and am taking the rest of my classes that I was missing for a Business or Econ transfer. I noticed that there are not as many choices for Business and I would like the school to be close to me which is why I selected the schools above. Im not sure if I would be able to get my GPA up to TAG at UCI for next fall as I am missing the Calculus courses and one of my Econ courses received a C. I do not believe that fits their timeline even if I retake my Econ class this winter or fall. I am planning on taking Calculus 1 and 2 this spring and summer session. I want to keep Econ or Business Econ (UCI) an option as a major possibility either way.

My questions:

  1. Are the schools above the best choices around the southern CA area with a GPA around 3.2 to 3.4? I know UCI might be a long shot (which is why I was hoping for Business Econ instead of BA)? Any other schools you might suggest with good programs (private also).
  2. Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of getting into the schools above? Is TAG a possibility at UCI? (Timeline off due to missing Calc?)

Thank you!

2

Here is a link for the UC transfer GPA admit range by major and campus to gauge your chances: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major

If you are applying for Fall 2021, UCI TAG is due at the end of this month so if you do not have a 3.4 GPA now (required by end of summer 2020), then TAG is not an option.

For CSULB, you can look up the average CSU transfer GPA by major: https://data.ir.csulb.edu/t/IRA-Public/views/UndergraduateStudents/TransferAVGandSDofTransferGPA?%3Aembed=y&%3AshowAppBanner=false&%3AshowShareOptions=true&%3Adisplay_count=no&%3AshowVizHome=no&%3Amobile=true

I would also look at Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly Pomona for Business majors.

Best of luck.

3

Congrats on the bold move! You must be very excited.

Since you are an older student and know you want to go to grad school, virtually any CSU will do the trick, Find a path where you can keep your momentum without stalling. It looks like all of the CSUs except Maritime offer business so you have lots of options.
https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/impaction-at-the-csu/Documents/ImpactedProgramsMatrix.pdf

UCI excludes Biz from the TAG program. It is really competitive and will be a reach for you.

https://www.admissions.uci.edu/apply/transfer/requirements.php

IT looks like you are comfortably over the UCR TAG threshold - so it’s a viable option. if you have taken the required classes.

https://admissions.ucr.edu/transfer/transfer-admission-guarantee#2_plan_to_meet_these_requirements

A peculiar nuance at the CSUs, they all have a ‘local service area’ that from which transfer students get preference. The way they do that varies but, your local cal state will is always worth exploring. That is a table of ‘local’ territories for all of the cal states.
https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/documents/csulocaladmission-serviceareas.pdf

All that said, I’d target UCR via TAG and 5 Cal States that work for you location-wise. Try to include a non-impacted school and one for which you are ‘local’.

See where you get in and take it from there. You’ll have several viable options to choose from.

Good luck.

4

Hello.

Thank you both so much for your thorough responses. I had one more question on the major requirements of a “B” grade that some majors require. For example, UCI - "All applicants must complete the following courses with a grade of B or better in each course:

  • one course in microeconomics"

I received a C in this class a long time ago. I can retake this course and easily get a better grade but am not sure if it would qualify me for this major. I know that I cannot replace the grade for GPA reasons as it is not a D/F but would it at least be taken into consideration for the B requirement?

Thanks again for your responses, they are deeply appreciated.

Best Regards,

JD

5

grade requirements like that are usually pretty firm but, I would call directly and ask how they interpret old grades.

6

@matrix323: I agree with @NCalRent that you should confirm with UCI about the grade requirement. UC’s do state they do not accept repeat grades for Transfers unless the grade is a C- or lower. Having an older grade might be an exception.

Best of luck.