<p>I have just finished my first year of CC with a gpa of 3.56. My goal is to get into UCB and UCLA as an engineering major. With my gpa the way it is now, I’m thinking that the schools might be a reach, considering that the engineering department at both schools are highly competitive. My questions:</p>
<li><p>Do you have any suggestions as to how I might strengthen my application? (Don’t say “get your gpa higher” beacuse that’s obvious)</p></li>
<li><p>What is the average “cut-off” gpa for UCB and UCLA’s engineering program?</p></li>
<li><p>Would it be wise to change my major into something less impacted if my gpa stays at approximately 3.6?</p></li>
<li><p>If “yes” to #3, what would you recommend as a good major that is similar to engineering?</p></li>
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<p>Join MESA if you can. Rock the personal statements and get them started as soon as humanly possible. Get several people to look over them (especially eng. profs and people in your transfer center)...</p>
<p>Average transfer gpa in engineering at UCLA last year was 3.77. It's probably higher at UCB. You can still have a chance at UCLA with 3.6, depending on which engineering major you are. There's been one or two people on this board who got into UCLA engineering with sub 3.6 gpa.</p>
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3. Would it be wise to change my major into something less impacted if my gpa stays at approximately 3.6?
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<p>Changing your major to a non-impacted major might help your admission if you have a low gpa. But my advice would be to pursue what interests you most. For me, I'm dead set as an EE major and I would even go to a no name university if no other university admitted me for my major.</p>
<p>I was accepted into UCB engineering with a sub 3.6 gpa (3.53), but I had a 3.95 in my last 63 units which included all the science and math courses (I was a sub 2.0 student prior). I agree that you shouldn't let your GPA discourage you from applying to engineering. If you can convey a genuine interest in the essays, your chances should be decent.</p>
<p>ee_stu & nicopico - Thanks for the advice! (Im a CivE btw) But, im afraid that with my gpa, its a risk and a low possiblility for me to get accepted into the schools. I wouldnt change majors into something i disliked, was thinking of changing majors into something similar to engineering.
Any suggestions?</p>
<p>MESA = Math Engineering Science Achivement...</p>
<p>I would tell you more about it but thats all I know...haha...but on the UC application somewhere it even suggests you write about your involvement with MESA if you have it (so it must be pretty respected)...</p>
<p>MESA program is a state funded program that helps low income and/or minority science/engineering students to achieve in college. most ccc have mesa and mesa gets a lot of opportunites exclusive for their members. mesa program usually has their own counselors for their students and they can often nominate their students to attend prestigious internship and research. the active members of mesa in our school were given many opportunities such as internship/research opportunities at UC campuses and scholarship opportunities. for example, this girl in my school got a summer research program at UCI through MESA.
You don't get invited to the MESA program, you can become a member as long as you meet one of the criterias which i believe are a minornity student majoring in science/engineering or a low income student majoring in science/engineering. </p>
<p>but double check on the eligibility, if you can join, then do it</p>
<p>CivE is generally the "easiest" major to get into...don't worry too much. You have a 3.56 now and try to get it up as much as possible by the time you apply, taking summer classes and finishing pre-reqs. I started out CC with a 3.53...but worked my ass off to raise my GPA.</p>
<p>don't join MESA it would be a waste of time. Instead try to be involved in clubs in you CC.</p>