Transfer to UCLA / UCB from CC

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hey guys!
just came accross this great website couple days back! I am a Community College student (El Camino College), hoping to transfer to UCB (1st choice) or UCLA. I was wondering if you guys could give me an idea if I have a good shot at getting into them. The help is greatly appreciated!!!</p>

<p>I have looked all over the place and cannot come up with a clear answer as to what is really important to these colleges. Seems very ambiguous. After pouring over (for hours on end) the statistics at the "UC Statfinder" website, UCLA looks way more promising as it shows that 87% of those in the 3.80-4.00 GPA range got in (for Engineering). OTOH, UCB boggles my mind. For Engineering, in the same GPA range, 58% were admitted. That means a whopping 42% were denied!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes: To me, it seems that it had to be the ECs/Personal Statement that got these folks booted out!!! :rolleyes: (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is NOT the case. If it was, it would be the most UNFAIR thing in the world!!!)</p>

<p>That's why I need you guys help!!! Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Overall GPA: 4.00</p>

<p>Major GPA: 4.00
more than likely I will be able to maintain the 4.00. At the worst I can't see it going below about 3.80, as I have completed difficult classes such as Multi-variable calculus & Calc-based physics series with high A's (total 54 units already completed - 33 or so to go)</p>

<p>Major: Electrical Engineering</p>

<p>Prerequisites: ALL of them will be complete before the spring semester of application(except maybe 1 or 2 "engineering" type courses that are not offered at ELCO)
Following are the courses I will have completed:</p>

<p>CALCULUS I, II, III(multi-variable), Diff.Eqns/Linear Algebra, Discrete Math (Math 210)</p>

<p>Full calc-based PHYSICS series (4 courses) - Mechanics, Thermo, Elect. & Mag, Modern Phy</p>

<p>CS1 (into to Comp.Sci), CS2 (data structures), CS30(advanced C++)</p>

<p>Chem 1A (General chemistry)-one semester (this is NOT a "college intro to chem course")</p>

<p>Electronics 130 (digital circuit analyisis) - this is not an accepted course at either UCLA or UCB, but I'm taking it anyway to "sort of" substitute for the "circuit course" requirement.</p>

<p>2 courses (Arts/Hum) for GE and Engl.1A(reading/comp) and Engl.1B(literature)</p>

<p>Now, here's the tricky part:
My ECs are very weak (virtually none) - no "leadership this and leadership that" etc. :rolleyes: .....However, I am an older student (35 yrs. old) who was out of school for over 15 years, and have a long and varied work history (though NOT in the Engineering field). I worked as a Mortgage loan officer, and the hospitality industry in positions varying from "Admin Assistant" to "Marketing Coordinator". Also I have completed my academics while working full time (40+ hours a week), albeit while taking about 8-9 units/semester, including summer and winter sessions. This has necessiated an INSANE amount of hard work to maintain my GPA!!</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for all the responses!! They are greatly appreciated!!!! :)</p>

2

<p>heey. are you in the HTP? U should be in it. 92% get admitted to ucla. Are u in club cal? U should try to be in it, its completely personalized attention from socal berkeley transfer admission reps. Talk to the HTP about it. Its great. Really helpful. I am in both, but the club cal rep took the time to truly read my essays as an admissions rep and gave her advice and i worked with her for a couple months on it. Also, she pretty much checked everything on my app to make it sound perfectly berkeley. I had to pick amongst different awards and extracurriculars and she told me which to pick.
Also, <em>ding</em> your age and situation. That is actually a bonus. The rep told me so. They TRY to get a diverse crowd. PPS good job on the gpa. I am also at elco. I am of non traditional age and am married (but i got married young and just reached the non trad age thing) =D YAY financial aid!</p>

<p>Also, about the clubs thing. I tried hard to be in leadership roles this year at elco because i was told early in the summer that it mattered for me because of my moving around and other past stuffs that I am committed 100% to my school and school in general and wont drop out and move around. </p>

<p>I know a guy who was in the airforce but refuses to do clubs because he thinks his airforce time was good enough. But he was also an ass and wrote something like that in his essay. Needless to say, he did not get in, but neither to ucla. But his gpa was 3.8. I hear there is a saying, a good essay wont necessarily get you in, but a bad essay will keep you out. </p>

<p>Rene Lozano gives advice on essays, and he was a former admissions rep for ucla. Have u visited with the reps that came during the fall? Try to get the #s for the socal rep in claremont, her name is ana rafferty. She is helpful, but I do not know if she only helps Club Cal/TaP students or if she can help everyone. PS Rene Lozano knows her contact info... I have just her email and phone #, but I hate to lead you down the wrong path =D</p>

<p>Oh another hearsay story I have is that someone who wanted to be an east asian studies major, worked at world market and totally played it into an awesome essay about him traversing thru cultures and crap M thru F for 9 days a week, but at the end he reveals he worked at World Market... it sounded interesting. He got in, 3.4 gpa.
Instead of using stat finder, just ask the admissions rep at Elco, i think her name is Aileen Parangou or something what the GPA range was. For English, its hella low, 3.3 to 3.6. For spanish it was 3.0 to something else low. That is ridiculous low. It surely doesnt say that on the stat finder website =D</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
My ECs are very weak (virtually none) - no "leadership this and leadership that" etc. .....However, I am an older student (35 yrs. old) who was out of school for over 15 years, and have a long and varied work history (though NOT in the Engineering field). I worked as a Mortgage loan officer, and the hospitality industry in positions varying from "Admin Assistant" to "Marketing Coordinator". Also I have completed my academics while working full time (40+ hours a week), albeit while taking about 8-9 units/semester, including summer and winter sessions. This has necessiated an INSANE amount of hard work to maintain my GPA!!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Your EC's arent weak at all IMO. Most students need EC's because they're young and haven't really proven themselves outside of the classroom yet. They need to show leadership positions in their ECs because its the only way to prove real involvement in these clubs. I don't think anyone truly believes President of a Finance Club is leadership experience. Also, ECs are a way for students to set themselves apart from other students that have the same general stats as they do. You stand out on your own: a 35 yr-old returning to school, working full-time etc. Personally, I wouldnt sweat the ECs with your background.</p>

4

<p>If you've finished all of the pre-requisites for the major, you will get into both UCLA and Berkeley. Working full time is much more strenuous than leading a small club at a CC while doing school.</p>

5

<p>Thanks to JGee, usmc<em>izzy and grey</em>syntactics for your responses!! There seems to be a general consensus that my "returning student/age/work" situation would pretty much put me in a very good position for admission to UCLA/UCB. That really relieves me significantly, as I have had to literally work like a mad dog to try and position myself to get into my dream school (Berkeley)....although I really like UCLA as well!</p>

<p>The combined demands of work and school, leaves me virtually no time to get involved in other "activities". As for the Honors Transfer Program (HTP), I was told that, for the most part, it would not be beneficial to ENGINEERING students (besides just showing the admissions committee that I had the drive to take some honors courses). I will however, look into the "ClubCal" thing, as it may help in writing a solid essay, as I would need this to demonstrate my academic achievements in light of my challenging work and family situation etc.</p>

<p>Thanks, once again, for your responses!!</p>

6

<p>you wont get into either because of your poor gpa.. ;-P</p>

7

<p>yeah man. 4.0 How in the world??? I had an ass teacher who gave me a B because i sware he didnt read thru my final well. I hope u get the EE major. It is great if u dont want to go to grad school. Like i said b4, I am of non traditional age, and I want to have kids around 28ish so I dont know if grad school will lend for that. =P So I think i picked the wrong major to be anything more than a receptionist with only a ba, but hey, I love it. </p>

<p>p.s. what do u have for your crit thinking course? Like the English 1c req? I dont think 1b counts for the crit thinking. I had petitioned for 6 months, because i took Engl 101/102 at gtown, and they wouldnt accept 102 for 1c, because they are asses at elco.</p>

8

<p>Hey guys! I have a 3.4 , psychology major, 23 yrs old,travel experience, clubs, transferring from Berkeley city college, filled up all the e.c and awards, and employment catagories on the UC app...but I think my gpa is to low for berkeley or la... any one have any proof or comments?</p>

<p>Thanks a million and one.</p>

9

<p>You're exactly what Cal likes. One of your essays needs to discuss your work ethic and age. Essays, GPA, and working to make ends-meet, those are all important. Since you're math-oriented, you might need help with your essays (which are, for Cal, most important!). Take JGee's advice and get that help. Good luck -- you deserve to be at Cal!</p>

10

<p>UCLA77 is the ****.</p>

<p>thanks appreciate it !</p>

11

<p>UCLA 77 is the **** , meaning the shiet..</p>

<p>Thanks appreciate it !</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
UCLA77 is the ****.</p>

<p>thanks appreciate it !

[/quote]

LOL UCLA77 was not talking to you they were talking to the person whose thread you hijacked. Unfortunately you on the other hand do not have a good chance at acceptance.</p>

13

<p>lol thats the problem when you don't just start your own thread probably really got their hopes up too</p>

14

<p>Sorry to encourage the hijacker...</p>

<p>
[quote]
...but I think my gpa is to low for berkeley or la... any one have any proof or comments?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Your GPA is on the low side. The average admit GPA for UCLA last year was 3.67.</p>

<p>Proof...
UCLA</a> Undergrad Admissions: Profile of Admitted Transfer Students by Major, Fall 2008</p>

15

<p>Thanks you guys, needed to hear reality.</p>

16

<p>is there a site for club cal? I tried just googleing but all i ogt was stuff about ucla and a casino in Navada wierdly enough.</p>