<p>I'm an incoming freshman to UCI. My major is computer science. I think UCI is an OK choice, but UCB is my dream school. I feel very dissappointed to be reject this year. I would like to transfer to UCB two years later. I'd like to get your advice about what prepration I should do in college besides mantaining a high GPA and finish my prerequisite? Since I'm not yet in college and don't have a college GPA, I have no idea about my chances. I have a decent SAT(2150), will it be useful in my future transfer application?</p>
<p>I'd also like to consider transfering to USC. Is there significant difference between inter UC transfer and UC to USC?</p>
<p>PS:
I'm an international student from China.
I got waitlist in Emory but I'd not like to go if I get accepted later. I think UCI is stronger in CS.</p>
<p>First step is decide which program at Berkeley you’re trying to transfer to. There’s a BA (College of Letters and Science) and a BS (College of Engineering, EECS), but you can only apply as one… even though they’re equally amazing programs if you’re a software person. EECS is harder to get into during admissions, but it’ll admit you directly to EECS. L&S is a little easier for admissions, but you’ll be admitted as undeclared and have to petition for your major after transferring.</p>
<p>Step 2: Do your pre-reqs! assist.org will give you an idea of what’s expected, but keep in mind that 61A, 61C, CS70, and EE20N usually have to be taken at UCB… I’m not sure if UCI has any articulations for those. It’s okay though, because the CCC students have just as much trouble finding those classes. You should try to complete the UCI required courses as well (UCB admissions are hard), but from what I remember the lower division requirements for both schools were pretty similar. You should aim to have 60+ semester units by the end of sophomore year.</p>
<p>Step 3: High GPA. You need one. And ECs will help make your app stronger as well. Any sort of techy projects/clubs look great for CS, internships you might get, etc. can all help you.</p>
<p>Step 4: Don’t forget the deadlines! Apps are due in November of your sophomore year, which is super early. So… make sure you don’t miss that.</p>
<p>Oh, and there’s a small chance you’ll have to worry about a unit ceiling. I don’t know those rules off the top of my head, but make sure you won’t have senior standing by the time you transfer.</p>
<p>Agree with the guy above. Goto CC. UC to UC transfer is a LOT harder than CC to UC transfer. USC doesn’t give preference but it’ll probably be harder to maintain a higher GPA at UCI v CC. </p>
<p>The CC route also means being stuck at a CC for two years… social life is nonexistent, classes there are hit or miss, professors are (generally) worse, and you won’t learn as much as you would at a UC. And even if you go to a CCC, your chances <em>still</em> aren’t great… the last reported UCB COE acceptance rate was 14.3% for transfers, and EECS should be a bit less than that. In other words, even if you go the CCC route, there’s still a high chance you don’t get into your dream school.</p>
<p>That’s not to say it isn’t the better route to go, just… there are downsides. CCC students do get priority in transfer admissions, and it’s a bit cheaper.</p>
<p>It will be harder to transfer to Berkeley from another UC but I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to community college instead of UCI just for the sake of transferring. UCI is a good school, but with the cc route you could end up there for 3 years and then just get rejected from Berkeley again. </p>
<p>I also think that as an international student it would be harder to deal with community college life. It really is a boring atmosphere. At least at my college, only a small group of students actually participate in clubs or care about academics. The rest are only there because their parents make them. </p>
<p>I think Berkeley admission in general is tough. If you can maintain a high GPA at UCI and write a well written personal statement, you will be a competitive applicant. </p>