<p>I needed some help in determining the answers for some questions that have been on my mind for a while. I was in the process of working on TAG, but I realized that I will be just shy of the 30 credits needed at the time of application. I have a 4.0 right now, and am working on completing the IGETC as well. The two schools I wish to be accepted into are UCLA (I know UCLA does not have TAG) or UCSD. Realizing that I won't be able to get a TAG contract for UCSD, or for any other UC at this point, with a strong GPA, will I be okay?</p>
<p>Also, if I decide to complete IGETC, with some major-specific classes done (but not all) will I stand a chance to get into my major of choice? (biological sciences)</p>
<p>Thank you very much to any who help, I just really need some help, reassurance, anything.</p>
<p>you have a 4.0
you want to go to UCLA
you are planning on having IGETC completed by time of transfer
you are planning to have a considerable amount of classes completed by time of transfer</p>
<p>and you think negative odds are against you, why?</p>
<p>Oh wow, hello. Thanks for your reply. I graduated in 2008, but I didn’t start CC until this last Spring, due to the fact that I got involved in drugs, met the wrong people. Until last Spring, I felt like a failure, and it’s really just surreal to me that I am getting straight A’s for the time being. This whole time, I was just relying on TAG (for UCSD if I didn’t get into UCLA) but now the hope for that is gone, I feel like hope just left me. I just wanted some assurance that it is possible with just IGETC. I guess that’s the best way to put it.</p>
<p>regular admission this year will have it in the bag for you to a lot of “2nd rate” UC’s, VERY QUALITY UC’s, such as UCI,UCD,UCSB,UCSC,etc. WINNERS attend those UC’s too.</p>
<p>i do believe you will be solid for UCSD as a regular applicant in november.</p>
<p>as i said though, provide your major and career goal, please.</p>
<p>Yes, UCLA is my dream school. So is UCSD. I would be elated to get into either! UCI I would have liked as well, but my younger brother is a freshman there, so I wanted to go somewhere different)! As for career goals, I would like to go to medical school and become a medical doctor in the future. Major-wise, I would love to be accepted into biology, but that is why I asked about IGETC as well. Finishing IGETC is the only way for me to complete 60 credits by Spring. I have some major-prep courses done, but to only do major-specific courses would take me too long as I have to complete one pre-req in order to get to the next. Because of this, I was also hesitant as to whether I would stand a chance of getting into my major of choice? I know I don’t have to be a bio major in order to get into medical school, but once I transfer, if I do not get into biology, will I be able to take the classes that I did not at CC? And thanks, (: I will definitely not relapse; there’s too much at stake !</p>
<p>Yes, I am a minority…I am Korean. How will that play a part in my major of choice? I have also heard that biology is overrated in many cases, but I just wanted to make sure that even if I major in something else, I can still take all the classes I need for medical school?</p>
<p>medical school/pharmacy school/dental school/etc, read admission applications right? they get all these applications and they are all majority bio/chem/phys/engineer/ majors. they basically ALL have the same story there. “I was an undergrad sci major, i did research , blah blah blah.” nothing unique, nothing that sets them apart from each other. Unless they did some killer research of course and some dope volunteering. However, I believe, which i have learned through SDN (Student Doctor Network - The college confidential version for medical students) that they often prefer a “non traditional student”. See I was a bio major, blah blah blah, before as well, but learned i can major in just something different, and then take my pre reqs, to not only appear a different applicant, but to prevents my GPA from being killed by classes that aren’t even relevant to dental school.</p>
<p>Of course you can take the sci route, but its all up to you, just putting it out there for you that you can do a different route & still make it, if you aren’t even interested in taking all those science courses. Major in something that interests you, those adcoms will admire that.</p>
<p>More specifically, which bio pre-reqs will you have completed by the end of Spring '12? This definitely weighs into your acceptance just as much as your GPA and moreso than IGETC.</p>
<p>Honestly, I will only be done with General Chemistry, no O-chem by the time I transfer, and Bio 11 (Molecular Bio), which at my college, you can take after the first General Chemistry Class.</p>
<p>UCSD requires a different sequence of bio than UCLA.</p>
<p>UCSD: Cell Bio –> Organism –> Evolution/Ecology which is at minimum 3 articulated classes at your CC in which you will only have a single one completed? They also require Calc 1-3 (though sometimes you can substitute a stat class for Calc 3). SD suggests finishing all lower level pre-reqs in order to be accepted into the bio major which is impacted. Have you taken any Calc or Physics yet?</p>
<p>UCLA: Organism –> Cell Bio –> Biochem and Molecular Bio –> Genetics which is a minimum of 4/5 courses you can take in lower division preparation, though only organism & cell bio are required. UCLA Bio assist.org says… THIS MAJOR IS HIGHLY SELECTIVE; a significant number of preparatory courses should be completed prior to transfer. At minimum, you should complete one year of biology with laboratory, one year of general chemistry with laboratory, one year of calculus and one semester of organic chemistry with laboratory. Completion of a second semester of organic chemistry or one year of calculus-based physics is strongly recommended. </p>
<p>Overall, sure you have a high GPA, but if you have barely any pre-reqs (not even the minimum), then you should definitely find a backup major that you WILL have sufficient pre-reqs for. I’d look into for sure finishing Cell & Organism Bio, Gen Chem, Calc 1&2, and at least 1 or 2 other pre-reqs by the end of Spring.</p>
<p>Impacted majors at any school indicate that the majors (and subsequent related classes) are saturated with students already. Keep in mind that there could be restrictions on adding general pre-med classes (ochem/phys/bio) later on once you transfer and you may not be able to get into them in the first place. Additionally, will you even have enough time in your schedule for them? A ton of med schools also require Stat or even sometimes a Biochem course or other random requirements. Additionally, CC courses are becoming more and more difficult to enroll in. If you have priority registration now at your CC, your best bet is to get as much done now as you can if med school is really what you’re aiming for.</p>
<p>The guy claims he served as an adcom for many medical school. While I don’t have time to investigate his posts to determine credibility, his response style allows me to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was. But my point is, see, even he said as an adcom he would basically prefer a non-trad.</p>
<p>As an Asian, you are NOT part of an underrepresented minority, you’re part of a highly overrepresented minority. This is particularly true of Koreans in particular. I had a Korean for a roommate last year. I knew 50 Koreans as consequence…</p>
<p>Regardless, you’re fine. Don’t worry, relax you’ll get into one of your top schools. Just keep up the good work and don’t let your grades slip.</p>
<p>Also, your major doesn’t matter. Just do well in your classes and knock out the requirements.</p>