Transfer from Penn State University Park to UC

Transfer Students
1

Hi, I am an international student. I am currently studying in Penn State. I was a freshman in 2016-2017. I plan double major in computer science and Electrical Engineering. I really enjoy some courses like Art, History and math in Penn State but the computer science department is disaster. I can’t any name a good professor in CS. Therefore, I am planning to transfer to UC for my junior year in fall 2018. I know that they have some course requirement and program. But I am not sure that my situation fits.

I have taken courses:
Fall 2016
CHEM 110 A
HIST 123 A-
MATH 140 A-
PHYS 211 A
ECON 102 A

Spring 2017
CMPSC 121 A
PHYS 212 A
ESL 15 A
MATH 141 A
ASIA 104 A-
ENGL 5 (basically an English tutorial course) A

I didn’t join any club or do anything special in my first year here.

I am also taking classes on summer 2017. On fall 2017, I’ll complete major entrance requirement and enroll in my majors --CS and EE. So far I have 3,92 GPA. My TOEFL in 2016 is 92.
I want to apply for but not limit to UC campus, Berkeley, LA and Davis. I don’t know much about UC Computer science program. So some other campus may also have good computer science program.

I know that UC campus have TAG program but it is only for CCC student. So I think I have to go with general application.
I don’t know that what I need to do to have a good chance to get accepted since I don’t live in California.
I appreciate any information, anything I need to prepare. If I need Recommendation letter, a good essay, join bunch of clubs, or so. I probably won’t have anything in my resume since I didn’t do anything special and I spent most of my time on learning extra programming myself.

Thanks!

2

I’m sorry to say, but I don’t think it’s prudent to apply to UC’s, assuming you don’t want to stay at Penn State.



UC’s hold GREAT preference over CCC students. I recommend you apply to private Cali institutions (USC, etc.) if you want to attend college in Cali.



Here are the rather disturbing metrics:



Berkeley: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/berkeley/transfer-profile/index.html



LA:

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/ucla/transfer-profile/index.html



Davis:

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/davis/transfer-profile/index.html



93% of admitted transfer students were from CCC’s.



As I said, apply to private Cali institutions if you’d still like to study in California. Think about other institutions that you may like.

3

@TransferStalker has the best advice here. Transferring to UCs is pretty close to impossible for out of state students.

4

I actually can apply for other cali institution. I just don’t know which one has good computer science program with good professors. Can you name some?

5

Why Cali institutions in particular? All of the Cal State and UC schools have abysmal OOS transfer rates.

6

There is no financial aid for OOS students at the UC’s and the CSU’s. you would be full pay.

This will greatly lessen your chances at top CS schools.

What is the attraction for you in CA?

7

As I said, the only schools in which you have a good chance at are PRIVATE Cali institutions.



Good CS programs at PRIVATE Cali schools would be CS at Cal Poly SLO, Caltech (Although it’s extremely difficult to get accepted), and USC Viterbi.



Do not apply to any UC or CSU.



As @Syrxis asked, why Cali in particular? You should think of other institutions across the US as well.

8

@TomSrOfBoston , oh man, I actually didn’t read that part of his post. I was too alarmed with him applying to UC’s as an OOS student to read the rest.



Having zero EC activities is detrimental to your application. To have a good chance at USC Viterbi, or Cal Poly SLO, or any reputable CS program, your EC’s need to be strong (or should at least have something EC that you do).


9

How do you know UC will have good CS professors?

10

I am not sure that UC will have good CS professors but I am tired of Penn State CS professors. I want to give a try.
Only Cali institution,simply because I want to go there. Not something special.

11

Also keep in mind that if you start taking computer science classes at PSU, the classes may or may not transfer. What would happen if it doesn’t transfer?

12

If classes don’t transfer, I don’t mind taking them again.

13

You’ll be behind and it would take you more longer to graduate. Which means more loans or if your parents are okay in paying

14

@nonenonenonenone I highly recommend that you don’t choose to move across the country because you just want to. Cali public schools are close to impossible to transfer into for OOS students without a strong hook. It might sound romantic to be in the Golden State but the debt will definitely not be.

Please. Your education should be the most important part of college. If you’re pursuing CS, you want to research CS professors before even thinking about a school.

DO NOT transfer because it seems like more “fun”. Student loans are a very serious consideration.

15

I am an international student. I don’t have student loans. I just don’t want to spend tones of money and get a bad professor.

16

@nonenonenonenone , I can’t state clearly enough: LOOK AT OTHER PLACES (other states, etc.), AVOID APPLYING TO UC’S AND/OR CSU’S, AND GET INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR(S).





Look at your situation realistically. Even if you were a perfect student, I would still say to APPLY BROADLY.

17

Who’s paying for your studies? Sometimes we have to deal with the bad professors. If you can’t do good in a class with a bad professor, how would you be able to handle with a good professor? Also, professors are there to explain and do a brief guideline of the chapter you read.

18

What? International students pay tuition too. Even if your family can afford to full pay a UC school of ~61k a year, it is not fair to them that you force them to spend more than what most families in the US make in a year to humor your pursuit of a romantic ideal Cali school without a real reason to. I don’t mean to be rude, but if you didn’t want to spend tons of money on a poor professor, you should’ve properly researched Penn State before you matriculated.

19

@TransferStalker I appreciate it really. Thanks.

20

@Syrxis I agree with you. But Penn State charges me around 60K a year. So it is about same amount of money. It was my mistake that I didn’t understand Penn State enough. I only saw they had a good ranking in computer science but didn’t research their professor.