<p>I am currently a high school senior inching towards graduation and I have a slightly different situation going on regarding my college plans. I'm fortunate enough to have a program at my school for 11th graders and up to take college classes at the local community college (i.e. Los Angeles Pierce College) and I've been taking them ever since I was eligible to.
Fall, Summer, and Spring classes have brought me up to a total of 28 (taken/in progress) units as of now and I plan on taking at least two (3 unit) classes during the Summer session in order to bring myself to a status where I can transfer over to a UC for the Fall 2015 term. In terms of which UC I do want to enroll into, I have hopes of LA, Berkeley, or SD as a Psychology B.A. major. Using the Transfer Admission Planner on the UC website, I'm currently in a standing of a 3.42 GPA (I'm aware to be a more competitive applicant I need to raise this to AT LEAST a 3.7 or 3.8). In addition to this, I also have a part-time job working at an office as an assistant/clerk for Psychologists and Psychiatrists specializing in treating patients who have ADHD and I'll be continuing this job until I transfer over to a different college.
I'm aware of the TAP (Transfer Alliance Program) at UCLA and UCB, however this requires for me to be entered into the Honors program at my college. Although I would've loved to increase my chances of getting admitted in, I cannot enter the program in time for applying because I already took a good portion of the same classes (non-honors) during my time as a high school student. It's a blessing and a curse, I know.
My question is, am I/will I be seen as a strong applicant during the selection process for the Fall 2015 term?</p>
<p>P.S.
Some other information regarding EC's and Awards
- APIASF Scholar
I've received the chance to enter in the next selection process of the APIASF Scholarship Fund as a finalist. The results will come out in May whether I receive the scholarship or not, but I thought maybe this would be a good component to add in my application (IF I do win) and I wanted to see if you all can tell me if it would help.
- 2nd Degree Black Belt in Martial Arts
I've received trophies/awards in my history of competitions, but seeing how these have been received during my high school years, would I even be able to/would it even make sense for me to add in what I won?
- Key Club/Community Service
I've done roughly 150+ community service hours throughout high school. I'm assuming this isn't something I can put in my application?</p>
<p>As far as I know, since Psychology is indeed an impacted major at both UCLA and Berkeley, your application isn’t as competitive as others. With that said, you still haven’t applied and still have room for improvement to your GPA, so I would start picking things up! </p>
<p>Side note: I would say you are slightly more competitive towards admission to Berkeley, since they’re known to put more weight on EC’s as well as personal statements, so work hard on that essay! </p>
<p>If you want to be competitive for UCLA you will need to take 6 units in the summer, 19 units in the fall and another 6 units in the winter with all As; that will raise you to ~3.72. I would quit the job and focus entirely on school. </p>
<p>I’ve already planned on taking summer and winter classes, but why take 19 units in the Fall, excluding out the Spring semester? I accepted the fact that I need to get all A’s from hereon out in order to reach the average GPA within the applicants, but I don’t see why I should quit the job.
Wouldn’t having a job where I have a first-hand perspective of the field of psychology in a work environment be something unique to include in my application and personal statement(s)?</p>
<p>I actually like that you have that part-time job! It sounds really interesting. You should definitely not quit it because it can really give you a good perspective, as you said in the comments. </p>
<p>I think you should focus on maintaining a high GPA. I hear Berkeley is more selective on its Psychology applicants than UCLA but usually they’re about the same. You don’t need to take 19 units in the Fall…you’ll overwork yourself and that may affect your GPA. Also, there’s no proof that the top-tier UC’s like Berkeley and UCLA prefer an applicant who takes a high number of units each semester. It’s your GPA, major prerequisites, personal statements, and extracurriculars that matter to Berkeley and UCLA. </p>
<p>What will you learn in the next 6 months on the job that you haven’t already learned? What are the odds the personal essay you will write about this job will be better in 6 months than it is today? Odds are the marginal benefit of this job does not outweigh the cost.</p>
<p>The number 1 criteria you will be evaluated for admission is your GPA. I did the math, if you get 31 units of straight As your gpa will raise to 3.72; which is below the avgGPA of 3.82 for psych @ UCLA (and most likely Berkeley too).</p>
<p>19 units is usually the maximum a college will let you take without having to petition for extra units. It’s also doable if you don’t have other priorities. Besides 19 units in fall is like taking 6 units in summer. </p>
<p>In short you need to take as many units as possible before they evaluate your application (so summer, fall and winter) to increase your gpa. That is why. </p>
<p>Correction: SORRY! I made a mistake regarding my GPA and units.
Currently I have 21 units completed, while I have 7 units in progress right now. Assuming I do everything in my ability to make sure I get A’s in these 3 classes, I will have a 3.57 GPA. @bomerr I’m sorry but I don’t think I’ll give up my job for now because it’s probably one of my only strong points aside from academics. If they see that I’m able to achieve good grades while also working, wouldn’t they be more impressed? Rather than quitting and trying to get all the units I can cram into the next semesters. Well, this is only my opinion and I cannot suddenly quit my job because it would leave the company in a huge disaster which will definitely bite me in the future.
Also, if I can get 19 units down with A’s for Summer and Fall, it would get me a 3.74 GPA which isn’t that far from what you planned out for me.
For the GPA statistics, is this only counting up to the Fall prior to applying? Or is it until the Spring semester?</p>
<p>The admitted GPA is Fall & Winter, Spring not included. </p>
<p>I know a guy who got into UCLA with a so-so personal statement, no work exp, just some tutoring and of course a 3.95 gpa. His major was Biz-Econ. </p>
<p>On the flip-side, I have talked to people who have gone to UCI and ended up working jobs they aren’t too happy about because they emphasized their internship over their college GPA. </p>
<p>Basically GPA > everything else. </p>
<p>FYI, you could hit a 3.79 with 38 units (7 units now, 6 summer, 19 fall, 6 winter = 38) of As and even a 3.8 with 40 units. </p>
<p>In that case, I’ll do my best to also take Winter classes.
I’m sorry and I completely understand what you’re saying about taking 19 units in Fall and quit my job, but with the current situation I’m in right now, I simply cannot quit, especially with such short notice.
I can’t change much of what I have right now and my best bet is to get around 25 units from Summer to Winter and get straight A’s. Of course, I’ll work on my personal statements constantly and review it over and over, starting this summer in order to make my application more appealing.
Also, with what we’ve been focusing on, would being in a low-income family with a brother attending UCSD be beneficial? I’m comfortable with sharing that it’s a household of 5 with less than 30,000 a year.</p>
<p>im actually a psych transfer as well and i’ve already been accepted to UCSD not cal or L.A yet and I came from Pierce College too. Can i ask which high school you are from?</p>
<p>Actually I take back what I said about winter.</p>
<p>“Winter grades are NOT calculated into the GPA for admission evaluation, EVEN if they are posted by January 31 (deadline for the Transfer Academic Update).”</p>
<p>Update: With the schedule of classes I have for Fall 2014, the highest GPA I would be applying with is a 3.739.
I’ve decided to strive for UCLA, UCB, UCD, and UCI. With a TAG on either UCD or UCI.
I’ve also received the APIASF Scholarship so I’m officially a scholar and I also decided to go with the Honors TAP program for UCLA.
I’ve been continuing with my part-time job and most of the information remains the same regarding my major and EC’s.</p>
<p>(Sorry for suddenly bringing this back up. Just curious of my chances with more updated info)</p>