So I’m pretty sure I’m gonna attend UGA for my freshman year. I was gonna apply to UC schools but since I didn’t take a Fine Arts class, then I couldn’t apply. I was thinking about transferring to a UC school after maybe a year or two at UGA if I think it will work out well for me. Do all UC schools allow people to transfer after one year in college? I know UGA isn’t a community college but I’m really interested in attending the UC schools. I have visited Berkeley and Stanford but I’ve also been around San Francisco and the Bay Area so it’s not like I’m going to college in an unfamiliar place. Do you think it’s worth transferring or could this just be a waste of money and/or time? I’m interested in majoring in Computer Science, so schools that I think fit me are UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Diego, but I think all the other UC’s are fine. I know some colleges look at high school stuff if transferring after a year or two in college so my stats are:
SAT: 2060
AP Classes: 11
GPA: 4.0 unweighted
UCs do not care whatsoever about HS stats. Your HS GPA, SAT, etc. are irrelevant. AP scores can help you get subject credit, but it won’t reflect favorably upon you for having it.
You need 60 semester units / 90 quarter units to be eligible to transfer to a UC. I’m not at all familiar with what Stanford requires, but hardly anyone gets admitted - you’d have to be a unicorn, essentially. You need to complete the UC 7-course pattern (differs between schools) of general education to be eligible. (http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/glossary/seven-course%20pattern.html)
CS is incredibly impacted, and there are tons of major requirements that you will have to complete to be eligible for transfer. Go on assist.org, and look at articulation agreements between California Community Colleges and each of the UCs you listed, just for reference.
It’ll be next to impossible to transfer to UCB, UCLA, and UCSD as an OOS applicant, unless you have a 4.0 and complete all requirements available to you. Even then, it’s not guaranteed.
If you have your heart set on a top UC school, perhaps it would be a good idea to look into CA CCs - Santa Barbara City College is a well-known one, for instance, with a thriving social scene that would feel more like a university than a CC. Santa Monica College is also well-known. Both are regarded as top CCs in the country. De Anza is a good CC for CS, as is Diablo Valley College. I’m guessing you won’t be open to it, but it’s a good option that many people overlook - it boosts one’s chances to get into a top UC (as classes are generally easier than 4-year universities, which results in people generally having higher GPAs if they work hard - and CCC students get top priority), and it saves a lot of money.
Your high school stats don’t matter, as goldencub said. Given your excellent GPA though, if you can continue that trend into college you should have a great shot at transferring to any of the UCs. I think transferring to Cal for computer science would be your best option, because it’s one of the top schools for CS and the bay area is such a great place for tech careers. The extra cost would be well worth it.
I think goldencub is right that a California CC would be the best way to go, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s next to impossible to transfer as an out of state resident. More difficult perhaps, but not impossible. However, if you’re really serious about UC, I agree that your best move is to come here for community college. The ones that he recommended are all great, and I would also add Foothill College to the list, De Anza’s sister college. I know most people don’t want to go to community college when they can go to a 4 year, but it can really pay off.
Can you afford a UC even for 2 years at $55K/year with no FA? What is wrong with UGA?
It’s just not really known for its CS department and GA Tech is also pretty hard to get into, especially in you’re an in-state, Asian male and a wannabe CS major (which is me lol).
So what exactly makes it hard for an OOS student to apply to a UC school?
It’s not hard to apply for an OOS student to apply to a UC school. Applying is the easy part.
Getting accepted is hard because they don’t take many OOS transfers. Most transfer students come from California Community Colleges.
UC’s are California publics supported by California tax payers, so priority is given to in-state residents.
So let’s say I do end up going to a California Community College. I never took a Fine Arts course in high school, which is part of the A-G class requirements. Will that not matter anymore and only my grades from the California CC’s matter? And if I do say get a 4.0 gpa on my first year (or somewhere close) will it be easier to get accepted to some of the UC schools?
And also if I do end up in a California CC, how will the social life be? I’m 100% certain that none of my friends will be attending any California CC next year so I won’t really know anyone. I have cousins that live in the San Francisco/Bay Area but those are the only people I know there honestly.
HS courses do not matter for transfers unless you plan to use AP credit. Your record at the CC or 4 year University is what is important. You do realize that a California CC will cost around $20K/year tuition and fees as an OOS student, not including housing/transportation etc…
I think it’ll be next to impossible to transfer as an OOS applicant as a CS major, given 1) how unlikely it is to find OOS courses that will articulate with the 61 series and other requirements, and 2) how competitive CS is overall. This is my opinion, though. It has probably been done.
@JoshV523 That is correct. A-G requirements are entirely irrelevant for transfer admission.
Transferring as a CS major is very competitive. If you do decide to go that route, plenty of people on here will be able to give their experiences, feedback, etc., which may help your decision in the long run.
A 4.0 will make you competitive, but you will need to complete all major requirements available to you. You’re probably capable of doing well, given your HS GPA, and the number of AP courses you’ve taken.
There’s a program called TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) that allows you to have guaranteed admission at one of the lower UCs (not UCB, LA or SD), provided you meet the criteria. It’s a good back up to have.
Many CS majors take three years to complete all of their requirements, but it’s definitely doable in two. Your AP units, if you have any, will help make that easier.
The social environment of CC pretty much depends on you. If you are active in a few clubs you’re interested in, actively talk to people (to create study groups, hang out, etc.), you will meet people. You most likely won’t get the typical 4-year experience, but this depends on the school. SBCC is situated right next to UCSB, so naturally social life is thriving over there - and it’s right next to the beach, which is nice as well. Some CCs have dorms, but most do not.
But again, social interaction really depends on you.
transferring OOS has definitely been done. Don’t let people discourage you, just do your research and make sure you get the courses you need to be done, do related work/ecs, volunteer, etc
@goldencub is absolutely correct; as an OOS student, it will be very difficult to transfer into a UC program that is impacted. It has been done, but given that you are trying to get into the most popular UC’s, your chances are low for a number of reasons.
The UC’s are public schools for the benefit of instate residents. For transfers; priority goes to instate CC residents. Last priority are OOS university students.
As per @Gumbymom, You will pay $55,000 per year without any money from the state of California. The state of California does not fund OOS students, so you will pay full fees; any scholarships you have at your present school, will probably not go with you unless these are federal dollars or private scholarships that will fund UC schools. You also will not gain instate residency to reduce these costs. Living with relatives will not make you instate.
You need 60 transferable semester units that the UC’s will accept. The UC’s are picky about what courses will transfer in, and which they won’t accept, so if you don’t have, what they consider equivalent GE courses, you will be rejected.
http://admissions.berkeley.edu/transferrequirements
@“aunt bea” jesus christ stop talking about the money on literally EVERY OOS POST. everyone knows its expensive, and right now people are focusing on how to get it. goodness gracious it isn’t helpful
Nothing against the UC’s, but why would you go all the way across the country when you have perfectly good schools in Georgia? Are you getting Hope scholarship in Georgia? Did you apply to GT?
For some reason my son kept getting contacts from UC-Riverside, and we looked in California a tiny bit (mainly because I love California LOL). We ultimately decided that it’s too far and too expensive. But the real zinger is that CS appears to be an “impacted” major which means you’re not guaranteed a slot in the program (?).
You could think of saving California schools for grad school?
You asked if going to a UC instead of UGA would be “a waste of money.” YES!!! It would be a total waste of money. It looks like you qualify for free tuition at UGA with Hope/Zell. Not many states offer such an awesome deal to their top in-state students, so don’t take this for granted.
Don’t let your cousins in California make you believe all California universities are superior to UGA (or any other Georgia university you can get into). Apply to Ga Tech and take your chances. Apply to Georgia State University also – it has a computer science program as well, and is located in the city where you will have more opportunities for internships during the school year than at UGA. If you attend UGA, put your all into it and excel – then you can look at attending college in California for grad school, as someone else mentioned (if you even want to by then, or go to Ga Tech grad school).
Unless you’re at Stanford, MIT, or some other comparable place, it won’t really matter where you get your Computer Science degree. What will matter is how many software programs you learn to use (typically on your own time, even if you are majoring in CS), certifications you have, experience you gain through internships and otherwise, etc.
A flagship university like UGA, or even a lesser known university like Georgia State, will always look better than a community college in California! And you won’t have the risk of not getting to major in CS after all, or the “waste of money.” Atlanta has its own IT industry that is already large and growing, so you don’t really need to go all the way to California to find opportunities. Google, Oracle, and many other technology companies have offices in metro Atlanta, and they will be looking to hire some local talent.
Sorry @JoshV523, I’m going to address the cost issue that may not affect you. @Gumbymom and @mom2collegekids know this issue all too well for the UCs.
@Molisha, the COA for students always seems to be surprising come March/April when people get admitted and can’t attend because they can’t pay. They are lined up at the counseling/advising office trying to apply, late, for non-existent scholarships.
“Focusing on how to get it” wont work, after the fact, because the best aid comes from the university itself, then the parents’ loans. Most university monies are reserved for athletes, high merit, and URM candidates. Then, the money is gone. Private scholarships give you maybe a couple thousand, once. How will that cover the rest, for four years?
We often had students, in tears, because they got into their schools but were surprised that their parents couldn’t pay. The parents are often shocked at how much the costs of college have risen. Most haven’t planned nor saved any money for their children (assuming wrongly, that their kids can work their way through college like they did.)
If the uni’s can’t offer you a dime, what good does it do to get in? Californians don’t mind; we know we have GREAT schools. We’ll take your quarter of a million to attend school out here. Our state needs the money, but dont say you didn’t know what it costs.
@“aunt bea” all the OOS student I know, think ahead. I honestly think its really rude to keep bringing up money. Maybe you should just focus on answering the question at hand
k thx
It’s not rude to make students aware that it will be expensive, no matter which OOS schools nor which states are selected.
If all of the OOS students you know think ahead, why are they “focusing on how to GET” funding?
Students and their families need to be aware and prepared for costs. Most students are funded by parents. Twenty years ago, you could enter an OOS school and work to pay your fees. Parents think along these lines, as well as many of the students don’t hear that some of these colleges are out of an affordable price range.
This starts the financial conversation. No student wants to be told, “Yes, all of your hard work got you in, and you were admitted, but you can’t go because we don’t have the money.”