<p>I'm currently a California CC student. My GPA (without -'s) is a 3.6. I'm a Middle Eastern Studies major applying to UCB, UCLA, and UCSB. My CC doesn't offer any of the major requirement classes, but I was able to do concurrent enrollment and take some Arabic and Middle East classes at UCB. Also, I won a competitive scholarship to study Arabic abroad. It was a $20,000 award. Except for one semester of Arabic, I have completed all major requirements for UCB, most for UCLA, and all for UCSB. Unfortunetely, I have 3 Ws and 1 I. =( I just found out recently that I received an internship with the State Department for next summer. I was the Inter-Club Council rep. and Treasurer for AGS at my CC. I can also speak Russian.</p>
<p>Aside from my low GPA and Ws/I, I think I have an ok shot. My essay, I thought, was pretty good. I hired one of those internet sites that claim to have "Harvard Educated" people to assist writting it. I thought the assistance was NOT worth the money, but it helped a little.</p>
<p>Im kinda in the same boat as you, only I am out of state ( finished High school in cali though ). I have a 3.7 GPA ( which I hope to raise by the end of this semester ), and am fluent in Arabic and Urdu. I hope my extensive experience with Middle eastern studies will help get me in.</p>
<p>Being out of state will hurt you a lot, I know for certain. Even though you graduated from a California high school won't make any difference either, because the rule says you only get preference (as a transfer) if you have 30 units from a CCC and it was the last school of attendance.</p>
<p>Urdu isn't considered an ME language, at least not according to Berkeley. The languages considered to be ME are Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, and Hebrew, but I'm certain it'll count for something.</p>
<p>I'm hoping my scholarship and internship with State will make-up for my low GPA. Looking back, I wish I had done TAP.</p>
<p>I hope being out of state doesnt hurt me too much. My GPA is ok ( should be 3.8 by end of this semester hopefully ), and I have an extensive background with the Middle East and Islamic Studies ( there is no Islamic studies in the UC system right? They are all lumped into Near Eastern Studies I think). Urdu is an offshoot of Farsi, and is considered the language of the Muslims of India. Urdu, Arabic and Farsi share the same script ( ARabic.), so it has strong Middle Eastern connections if anything.</p>
<p>3.6 would be a little difficult to get into the UCB and UCLA..
rest should not be a problem...</p>
<p>if you are able to take it up to 3.8 you have a very good chance..
also.. check with your california community college for honors transfering program..</p>
<p>you finish that program with 3.5, you have guarantee admission to any UC or Calstate</p>
<p>I think you have a decent shot if you write a good personal statement. If your transfer GPA is higher than a 3.6, you're even better off. AGS is definitely a big plus. </p>
<p>I know plenty of people who were accepted to UCLA and UCB with lower than a 3.8. It depends on whether a major is impacted or not.</p>
<p>It actually worries me that you say AGS is a big help. What I mean is, I was in AGS for 3 semesters, and the entire time I always see the same thing: 10% of the people doing 90% of the work. I considered myself to be in the 10%, but it irks me that the other 90% might get some kind of big preference when it comes to putting AGS down on your application.</p>
<p>Considering my major isn't impacted and it's impossible to fulfil <em>any</em> major requirement at a CC I think helps a lot. Most of my competition (other ME majors from a CC) are missing a lot.</p>
<p>My biggest star, in my opinion, is the scholarship. It is a national scholarship with 21% acceptance. As far as I know, I was the only CC student of 186 people accepted nationally. I guess I'm hoping on the logic of "Someone else thinks I'm smart, so you should too."</p>
<p>I know what you mean about AGS. We have the same thing in our Associated Students. However, our AGS is pretty good. Besides, you can't receive a stamp if you don't receive enough points in ours, so that keeps attendance and participation from dropping to much and our President is really cool. </p>
<p>I think you don't have anything to worry about. But, I do... </p>
<p>Anyway, I like your logic. I tried to incorporate that kind of mentality in my application. However, I doubt it will help me too much.</p>