I am a first year at CSULA in my second semester. I’ve been thing about transferring since the start of the year. I was told that I could not transfer between the CSU and UC system but on other accounts i’ve heard it is just hard. Well I am committed to transferring. My hopes are to get admitted into UCI or UCLA. Currently I have 3.7 GPA but I am not familiar with the process of transferring. I’m honestly not sure how to start this process or what to do as of right now. Some tips/ advice would be really helpful in trying to achieve this
This information was posted by a successful CSU to UC Transfer a few years ago. I hope it helps.
Tips for CSU to UC transfers:
- Get informed and and make a plan.
Use assist and college confidential to get informed and go out to look for any answers you might have. From ASSIST you will get all the information you need for the prerequisites you need for your major. Look up the major prereqs for every school you are interested in transferring to. When you know all the information for which classes to take, make a plan. Plan out which classes you need to take each semester before you transfer and how you will reach those mandatory 60 semester units needed to transfer to a UC. This is probably the most important part of transferring. The faster you have a plan the faster you get to transfer and you will have a easier and clearer path. And look through all the threads on the website and get a sense of what you need to do and what it takes to get a UC.
- Don't lose sight of the goal!
I know how hard it has been for me to keep my grades up and take enough classes to stay on track. So when you are striving to get As in those classes and you want to give up, don’t lose sight for what you are doing this for. CSU students probably have to the most to transfer because the odds are against us. If you are not willing to put in the work and you do not have the heart then trying to transfer is not for you especially if you are a CSU student. If you do put it in the work, trust me it will be worth it.
- Applications have to be perfect.
When you are finally applying to those UCs, make sure they are perfect when you submit them. Call all the schools you are applying, talk to some counselors, going to workshops if you can… do everything to make sure they are perfect. And for your personal insight questions, start early and and get some expert advice on them. Every CSU has a writing center to my knowledge, go to them with your essays and have them go over it for you and they’ll help you. Talk to counselors because they know what schools are looking for in a good essay and what an applicant should write.
- Plan for the worst.
The truth is that CSU students have last priority for transferring to UCs right after 1st) CC and 2nd)UC students. Some of us will not get into the schools we want or might not get into any that we apply to and that is the sad truth. So make a plan for every outcome that is possible. You might go to a UC that you did not expect or you might have to stay where you are now
Thank goodness I found this post, I am going through the same thing right now except I go to Cal Poly Pomona!
Hi there! I’m from CSUSM and I got accepted to UCSD and UCSC this year. I had a 3.4/3.5 GPA and I applied to UCSD, UCI, UCR, and UCSC. I got into my dream school, which is UCSD! I know it’s not exactly your case @TransferAl0701 , but I just want to be proof that it can happen. I definitely agree with @Gumbymom 's tips. As a transfer applicant from a CSU, it is extremely hard to transfer into a UC since we’re not necessarily the priority.
My main tip for you and anyone from a CSU who wants to transfer to a UC is to try to have a perfect application. Really work on it and try to improve it along the way by talking to your local CC counselors, who will be your main source of help. You do have time to add anything you need. In addition, make sure to try to get the majority or all of your major prep done prior to transferring, preferably before the Spring semester to better show that you are ready to transfer. Also, focus more on your grades and GPA. I know that a good amount of UCs doesn’t really look at extracurriculars and PIQs for transfers. Now, this does not mean to blow it off or not do them. Some UCs will refer back to your PIQs as a deciding factor. There is just less pressure and emphasis on those things.
I’m probably missing some things, but if anyone has any questions about my experience with applying or anything about this process, feel free to reply to me back!
1 Like