<p>So in the past weeks the UCs released their admission results to prospective students for the Class of 2018. It's safe to say that the month of March was an emotional roller coaster. Originally I wanted to attend UC Berkeley because their mechanical engineering department is extraordinary.</p>
<p>I applied to 7 UC schools: Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Santa Barbara, Davis, and Riverside. As a precaution I applied to CSU Fullerton as a safety school. Well, the month of March concluded and I was rejected from every single UC. I was extremely devastated that all of my hard work and dedication did not pay off. I was only accepted to CSU Fullerton. Going to a UC school, specifically UC Berkeley or UCLA, has been a dream of mine since I was little. Now I am planning to try and transfer as a junior. I know that the UCs give first priority to Community Colleges, UCs, and then 4-year colleges. However, I am willing to work hard again to see if I have a slightly better chance of getting accepted. Can anyone give me advice as to what I can improve about myself as a student so that I can be considered competitive when I reapply? What specifically do colleges look at in transfer students that differ from freshman applicants?</p>
<p>Yes. I know how hard it is to get into UCs. They want well-rounded students in academics, test scores, ECs, and other aspects. Obviously I was not UC material. But I’m determined to try again in 2 years.</p>
<p>To transfer into a UC you need to be Junior Level (60+ units completed after Spring) and complete the admission req. which is 2 english classes, a math class and 4 liberal arts classes. </p>
<p>IMO it’s pretty dumb to work so hard at a CSU for almost last place dibs at transfering. You should goto s CC. BTW getting into UCs (besides UCLA and Cal) is very relatively easy out of CC. </p>
<p>I know that transferring from a CC to a UC is easier, however, it is not guaranteed admission. Worst case scenario is if I went to a CC and tried applying to a UC and get rejected, I’m back at square one and need to apply to CSU schools again.</p>
<p>And although UCB, UCLA and UCSD do not participate in the TAG program they take community college transfers who meet their criteria every year. My son’s friend did two years at CC and transferred to Berkeley. </p>
<p>Well I only intend to apply to UC Berkeley, UCLA, and USC because they are my top choices. Also, money is an issue since I spent a lot of money on applying to a lot of schools and the cost of sending my SAT and ACT scores.</p>
<p>CC transfer is a LOT different from HS admission. Only UCLA, UCI, UCB, and UCM even use personal statements for admission; and out of those only UCB places a good bit of weight on it.What that says is the competition isn’t so high that they need PS to differentiate applications / it’s numbers driven. This is because most of the smart (above-average) people goto UCs or CSUs off the bat so competition is lower than hs. Someone with your HS stats has s 60-70% chance of getting a 4.0 at CC and a 99% chance of getting a 3.8+. 3.4 (out of 4.0) is about the average GPA for Mid-Tier UCs CC transfers. 3.7 is UCLA and UCB. The humanities majors at Cal have a 40% acceptance rate. Tons of people apply to transfer with missing pre-reqs or even IGETC not completed every year. So if you have that completed and your GPA is high 3.8+, you are in every mid-tier UC easily and probably into UCLA and Cal. </p>
<p>For the record I am only applying right now to UCLA, Cal, and USC as a CC transfer. </p>
<p>I just don’t want to end up like some of my friends who decided to go to CC, got 3.9+ gpas by completing their prerequisites and not get accepted to Cal or UCLA. I worked way too hard in high school and sacrificed a lot to be ranked the top 10 ranked students at my school, only to be rejected since I was not competitive in their opinion. Plus it’s extremely annoying to know other students with much lower stats only got in because of affirmative action. </p>
<p>Either your friends are applying to UCLA Business-Econ/Berkeley Haas Business or they screwed up. Didn’t finish pre-reqs, too many units (30 4yr + 60 CC), etc. I know someone who got into UCLA with the hardest class he took at CC being intro to (algebra-based) statistics. </p>
<p>Their majors were psychology, Asian studies, and philosophy. I doubt it was a completing prerequisites issue or too many credits problem since they were just as precise and strict of getting into either if the two UCs with meeting the requirements.</p>
<p>Clearly you want to hear this is piece of cake - but it isn’t. The smoothest path to a mid-range UC is via a CC and the TAG program. You note above, there are some risks to that plan - including not getting the required classes when you need them - that can delay or stall your progress. </p>
<p>A handful of people do transfer from CSUs to UCs each year. The Custom Reports tab on this web site is run by the state of CA and will allow you to run some reports and see how few. </p>
<p>Either way, you’ll have to apply as a Jr so, I’d encourage you to go to Fullerton, do your best and make the most of what they have to offer. If, in 18 month, you still feel like you belong on a bigger stage, apply to all the UCs and see how you fare.</p>
<p>Wow. I feel bad for you. My stats are not as good as yours and I got into UCSB, UCSC, and UCR. I even got two waitlists (UCD and UCI). My SAT score is below yours (2300). My GPA is also below yours (4.0 capped UCGPA). Although my extracurriculars include sports, music, community service, and clubs, I think your extracurriculars are more impressive than mine.</p>
<p>How are those denials even possible…your stats put mine to shame and three UCs (UCSC, UCI, and UCSB) offered me places in their honors programs…</p>
<p>I am completely baffled that they would deny you.</p>
<p>“Plus it’s extremely annoying to know other students with much lower stats only got in because of affirmative action.”
I thought UCs didn’t use affirmative action?</p>
<p>@CultClassic I just recently found out they banned affirmative action. Yet I’ve heard of few students with really low stats that were accepted to UCLA.</p>
<p>@silas6070 Whoa…Sorry to hear that. The UCs should’ve accepted you, especially with scholarship offers! I know this year they received far more applications and that caused their acceptance rates to drop even more. I think you should go to CSU Fullerton and try your best to transfer. My friend’s relative went to CSU Fullerton and transferred to UCLA. She just worked extremely hard and was dedicated! Plus my neighbor got into Berkeley as a transfer from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for Mechanical Engineering. If you truly want it, you have to work hard for it. But I think you can be a part of that few percentage that gets in from 4-year schools with those stats! God Bless ya dude. :)</p>
<p>zigzag18: Thanks for the support. I know trying to maintain a high GPA in college is not an easy task. When I was rejected from UC San Diego, Davis, Riverside, Irvine, and Santa Barbara, the letters notified me that my rejection was due to all of the available spots in my major being filled up. UC San Diego was the only school that I put down an alternate major and it was Aerospace Engineering (another impacted major). So those rejections did not bother me really since my heart is set on both Cal and UCLA. My bro is going to UCLA and was accepted to Cal, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine, but he chose Undeclared Biology. Hopefully I will be able to go to school with him again in the future. </p>
<p>Wow a 34 on your ACT and a 4.0 GPA? You could get into ivy leagues with that it’s ridiculous that even some of the lower ones didn’t accept you. Were you in low level courses or anything? I know it doesn’t help but that really is mind-boggling</p>