Transfer GPA and schedule question

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hi all and apologies for the long post.</p>

<p>I've discovered the UC TAP website (thanks @mikesauce) and have spent ALL day playing with it seeing how A's in additional UC transferable classes affect my GPA.</p>

<p>My goal is to get into Haas @ UCB in Fall of 2016. If I understand it correctly, the GPA that Berkeley will evaluate me on will only include through Summer of 2015 because the Fall 2015 semester will still be in progress when they would receive my GPA on November 30, correct? So if that's the case, my GPA through Summer of 2015 is all that matters for admission, right?</p>

<p>I'm asking this as I'm working to plan my next several semesters through Spring 2016 and given what I mentioned above, I'm going to need to front load my schedule to get as many credits and A's as I can to get my GPA up.</p>

<p>Currently, my plan looks like this:</p>

<hr>

<p><strong><em>Spring 2015</em></strong>
Art 101 / 3 credits / 7 Breadth
Physical Science Lab / 1 credit / IGETC Req
Bus 100 / 3 credits / Haas Req
Econ 100 / 3 credits / Haas Req
Pre-Calc / 5 credits / Prep for a Math 16A/B Equivalent Course
Stats / 4 credits / Haas Req
= Total credits: 19</p>

<hr>

<p><strong><em>Summer 2015</em></strong>
4-6 3-credit UC transferable courses to boost GPA. The plan, obviously, is to get all A's.
= Total credits: 12-18</p>

<hr>

<p><strong><em>Fall 2015</em></strong>
Math 16A Equiv / 3 credits / Haas Req
English 1B Equiv / 3 credits / Berkeley Req</p>

<h2>Foreign Language 1 / X credits / Berkeley Req</h2>

<p><strong><em>Spring 2016</em></strong>
Math 16B Equiv / 3 credits / Haas Req
Foreign Language 2 / X credits / Berkeley Req</p>

<hr>

<p>Keep in mind, I'm also filling in some classes (the 1 credit Physical Science Lab, for instance) for requirements for back up schools as well.</p>

<p>What are your opinions on this? Obviously it's front heavy … but all A's in Spring/Summer 2015 brings me to a 3.8 GPA. Do you see any issues, other than being too heavy of a course load? Do you see a better way to do it where I can get the benefit of getting my GPA boosted prior to grades being sent in with my application?</p>

<p>These are all CCC classes and Spring/Summer 15 should all be relatively easy classes and I've done my homework on RateMyProfessor. Fall-15/Spring-16 will definitely be challenging with the math, but if I'm conditionally admitted I shouldn't have <em>as</em> much to worry about as long as I pass with decent grades ….. but I need classes up front to boost my GPA. A lot of classes will be online, and as a veteran, I have priority registration for classes and pick of the litter.</p>

<p>I plan on having 7 breadths and all Berkeley/Haas Pre-Reqs done by the time I would potentially transfer to UCB and I'd obviously have 2 semesters worth of pre-reqs/loose-ends-to-tie-up planned/in-progress.</p>

<p>My grades were never "bad," I just didn't give my focus on school and got a few too many B's. Never got anything below a B, even while taking classes while fighting a war in Iraq … except I have 2-3 C-'s from a community college OOS from 10+ years ago when I didn't care for school that I fear will haunt me, but obviously my grade trends will show that was a different version of me academically.</p>

<p>Apologies again for the long post. I appreciate any suggestions, feedback, opinions, etc.</p>

2

<p>Much better!</p>

<p>UCB will consider fall grades since you will include them in the update and extra stuff for Haas. So your GPA for consideration will include up to Fall 2015.</p>

<p>If you feel like you can handle the courseload, go for it. However, there is nothing wrong with spreading it out over 2 years so that you can have the highest GPA possible!</p>

3

<p>They will consider the fall 2015 update that you submit in January. I would lighten the loads and throw some in fall 2015 and spring 2016. Maybe put stats in fall 2015. The schedule you have now looks a little like an accident waiting to happen. Remember, it’s all about GPA and you’re wasting GPA potential when your last two terms have such tiny courseloads in comparison.</p>

<p>Also, are you allowed to take just a lab for one unit without the corresponding science course?</p>

<p>FYI, you should consider taking lang 1 P/NP.</p>

4

<p>summer classes are accelerated, meaning you do more work in a short amount of time, even 6 units can be a challenge for students. If you think you can handle it take 9 (3 classes) but make sure they aren’t homework heavy, things like PE should be easy A’s</p>

5

<p>Thank you for your response @luckie1367‌, and apologies for posting the wrong area!</p>

<p>That’s one thing I actually don’t understand, the update. Is this something everyone is required to do, or only those UCB is serious about, or just Haas? Will I be any less competitive if my GPA is lower on my initial application because I spread out classes that will boost my GPA, as opposed to front loading it so my GPA is higher initially? Or are no decisions made, period, until the updates come in? And the spring 15 classes, I’m assuming aren’t factored into a GPA but if I’m accepted they obviously need to be passed?</p>

<p>I apologize this created more questions, but the fall update isn’t something I considered nor do I know how it plays/factors into the the admission process.</p>

<p>Thanks @lindyk8. I took the class I’m doing the lab for this semester and was told I could take the lab next semester. Sounds weird but it works! The stats definitely sounds like a bit much, but it’s with a teacher I really want and the following year I’ll be doing the Math 16A/B equivalent at another school so I want to get this knocked out of the way so I can just focus on the tougher calc classes. Maybe dropping microeconomics would be best… But I’m on a wait list for stats, so my hand might be forced there regardless. </p>

<p>Also, knowing now there’s a fall update, I’d definitely add a class or two to cushion my GPA a little. </p>

<p>Why the P/NP on foreign language for first semester? Do a lot of people have trouble with this? I took two years of German in high school, 10 years ago, so I unfortunately have to start all over again but if I can find a German class near me, I’d definitely have an edge in the class. Though I don’t remember much, I have a feeling it would come back. </p>

<p>Good advice, @MikeSauce. I plan on taking easier online UC transferable classes that ideally lack much substance, but I’ll explore it deeper. </p>

<p>Thanks again all. Apologize for any typos, wrote most of this from my phone. </p>

6

<p>No reason to take Language 1 P/NP unless you feel overwhelmed. I mentioned it only because it is UC-transferable, but for lack of a better word, the first language courses are kind of seen as remedial. So taking it P/NP, the UCs don’t care at all, and you’ll be taking Lang 2 for a grade. So if you felt overwhelmed, it would be the likely P/NP choice. </p>

<p>Re Transfer Academic Update (TAU) everyone does it in January and it’s where you update the fall grades and put in your final spring course plan. They do not look at the applications until after TAU so no worries about different GPA views. </p>

<p>Haas has the added essay, etc. </p>

<p>And yes, they make decision without seeing final spring grades, and once accepted they’re more lenient (within reason). </p>

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<p>Thank you so much, @lindyk8‌! That’s really helpful. </p>

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<p>No worries @briank82 ! The main reason you should post here is that it is a more active thread and you questions may be answered faster and better here than on the other thread!</p>

<p>Everyone that applies to a UC has to complete the Fall update. Hass is special however, because you get to complete a supplemental application that is also considered. Applications aren’t even reviewed until the update is in, the adcoms go through the freshman first.</p>

<p>Keep the questions coming! It is far better to ask them all now than to find out later you were wrong :)</p>

9

<p>UCs DON’T care about course load. I speak from person experience where I took 19 units a semester with all As and also an engineering transfer who took 27 units while working a full time job; we both got rejected from Berkeley. With that said UCs DO care about maintaining a full-load i.e. 12 units a semester. So you would be better off redistributing your credits to maintain 12 units each semester vs piling up a lot of units right now and being under full-time student status later on.</p>

<p>As long as your GPA is over a 3.6 then you’ll have a shot depending on ECs and essays. There were multiple people with 3.9+ that got rejected last year and a girl with a 3.6 who got in. If you are wondering whether she got poor grades in the past and then had an all A turnaround, the answer is no. She told me that she was getting a B or 2 each semester. </p>

<p>In other words if those are all the classes you need to take for IGETC, Berkeley Breadth, Haas-req, and another other college major requirements then you should NOT do summer and remove 2 classes from spring too. Redistribute the classes to fall and spring instead. </p>

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<p>Hi @bomerr‌, thanks for the response. I’m sure I will be full time through my final spring semester at a CCC. I wasn’t aware my I’d be able to get those fall semester grades on my app so I loaded them all up early. </p>

<p>I will definitely be re-working my course load though and get it more evenly distributed, but my goal is to get as many transferable credits as possible on my app to boost my GPA. I’ll be sure my final plan doesn’t look as it does above for the final 2 semesters, though my final spring semester shouldn’t be too heavy as I should have nearly everything done aside from what I listed above. </p>

<p>My EC’s and hook is strong I think. I’ve owned a business since 2008, am currently 28 (will be re-entry), am a disabled combat veteran, and continuing to work on this section. I think I should be good here. </p>

<p>Just need to keep tuning my ed plan for the next few semesters. </p>

11

<p>I don’t know if I said this in the other thread but there were people with Morgan Stanley internships that got rejected along with people who started multiple business–one specifically produced commercials on TV-too and inversely a bagger at Albertsons was accepted. So in my opinion Berkeley-Haas puts a lot of emphasis in the tone of the personal statements and ECs that relate to improving the school or community. </p>

<p>Also that girl with a 3.6 didn’t even have any biz exp IIRC. </p>

12

<p>@briank82 Berkeley is one of the most military-supportive colleges in the country (from what I’ve read), and I’m sure you know this. Thank you so much for serving our country! This adds even more to your overall admissions resume. </p>

<p>The Haas essay focuses on their four defining principles. I think with your background, you will be able to fashion a great essay. </p>

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<p>Thank you for the kind words, @lindyk8! </p>

<p>Something else I’ve mentioned, but have found conflicting answers when searched … I received a few C-'s in 2005. I was straight out of high school and just didn’t take school seriously. This was at a community college out of state in Washington.</p>

<p>The classes were Human Nutrition, General Psychology, and Intro to Admin of Justice. Again, 10 years ago at a CC in another state.</p>

<p>I’ve seen classes of a D or worse grade can be repeated and the higher score used. I’ve also seen that if the school uses +/-, if it’s a C- which isn’t always a passing grade, it can be repeated and the newer grade will be replaced.</p>

<p>I found this on Ms. Sun’s UC Admission Blog:</p>

<p>“If your community college uses the +/- designations (on your transcript, you see +/- as part of the grades and there is an explanation for what the +/- stand for in the legend), then you should repeat courses in which you received a C- or lower (because you need at least a C to pass). It’s unclear to me whether the C- must also carry a grade point of less than 2.0 for this rule to be effective (I assume any community colleges that bother with the +/- designations must also differentiate the grade points based on those designations, but I don’t know that for a fact).”</p>

<p>But don’t know how that factors in being an OOS CC.</p>

<p>Clearly I should talk with someone at admissions, but that’s hard to do right now. Do I have any options for these classes? I know some of these classes may not even be transferrable, in which case this wouldn’t be an issue, but I need to plan for these just in case because 3 C-'s will kill my GPA.</p>

<p>How lenient is UCB with considering transferable credits from OOS CC’s? I also have some B’s I hope won’t be considered, like an Intro to Far East (Hist 270) class. I hope, in my case, they’re pretty strict and consider little from my OOS CC transcript, where with 45 quarter credits, I have a 3.04 GPA. I know a lot of the classes won’t transfer but there are some that worry me.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>C- sometimes can be repeated. It depends. You need to talk to someone for sure about that. </p>

<p>I think it has to do with the GPA units that were awarded by the college. It needs to be less than 2.0, I believe. So, first, I guess, find out how many GPA units you got. Then proceed from there. </p>

<p>But you already applied to the UCs, right? They are going to factor in those grades unless you can get them expunged or can get them retaken by end of spring term. </p>

<p>Perhaps, due to what seems a great add to Haas (you!), they may let you retake them in summer. Did you list them in the application? You need to list all colleges attended. </p>

15

<p>@briank82 Sorry, I just read the rest of your post. Sometimes I forget to do that. So, yeah, getting lower than 2.0 seems to be the determinate. (I’m kind of recalling sometimes a C- is 2.0.)</p>

<p>If you can repeat, verify that their general psych will match your Intro to psych or whatever it’s called. I’m sure it will. Sometimes people will tell you that you cannot repeat a class at a different college. But that’s not true. The UCs look at content and determine. </p>

<p>Repeating criminal justice would be good as well. In fact, you could throw those two (nutrition and criminal) in last term. But matching content of those two may or may not be problematic. </p>

<p>You may also be able to get academic renewal for all three but not sure if C- is eligible. The one problem is there is a window before it goes into effect. You should check now with the college in Washington. If they can do AR, who knows, maybe they can rush it. Or at least you can have verification it is forthcoming. </p>

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<p>Is there anyway to get the course listing from your old CC and see if they transfer? If they transfer, they will affect your GPA, but you can always tell them what you posted here (that they are 10+ year old grades from a different time in your life, etc)</p>

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<p>The good news that @luckie1367 brought up. That nutrition class might not transfer. </p>

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<p>@lindyk8, “So, yeah, getting lower than 2.0 seems to be the determinate.” It was a quarter system, but a C- was a 1.5-1.8, so I was definitely below that threshold … unless the 2.0 is speaking directly to semester systems. I also have yet to apply. I’ll apply next fall (15) for fall 2016 … so the UC system has no application on file for me.</p>

<p>@luckie1367, “Is there anyway to get the course listing from your old CC and see if they transfer?”</p>

<p>General Psychology looks like it would transfer, as well as Intro to Criminal Justice. The Human Nutrition class is questionable. At my old school, it fell under “HSCI” or Human Science at the time, and is now under Nutrition. My current school has what looks to be a similar class that falls under Biology (BIO 103) and is UC transferable … but the weird HSCI designation might work into my favor.</p>

<p>Let’s say I retake General Psych and Intro to Criminal Justice and get A’s in both and I’m not likely able to get my old C-'s off my old transcript. Any idea what would happen in that case? Would they ignore the previous C- grades?</p>

<p>Obviously I just need to get to UCB and speak with an admissions person (and will after the holidays), but right now this is just a thorn in my side and is really bugging me. If nothing else, I can explain in my admissions that, as you explained luckie, that it wasn’t the “same” me.</p>

<p>Thanks for your patience and help!</p>

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<p>@briank82 Since you’re not applying until next year do academic renewal now. It takes usually a year (sometimes two), but assuming it’s a year - then next application period you put the C-'s in the application but can update to AR in the January TAU. So the grades will be removed. And transcripts sent in June will say AR. (Don’t worry about C-'s showing in application and then changing to AR. With AR they assume a D or an F, so you’re already ahead of the game. And they won’t care, anyway.)</p>

<p>But start the process ASAP.</p>

<p>If your Washington CC has one year AR you’re set. And with AR you don’t need to retake any classes. </p>

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<p>AR policies depend on the CC, so you’d have to check and see if a C- would get renewed.</p>

<p>If not, all of the grades would be factored in to your GPA. However, the admission officer would see that a) these grades are 10 years old, and b) that you took the time and effort to show an improvement by retaking the classes. While the GPA might take a hit, you might win points with the reviewer.</p>