Okay so Berkeley’s website is very unclear to me about a couple of things… I saw that they primarily take california community college students but I’m hoping my chances are still there. What I couldn’t get a clear answer about is if you have to be a junior to transfer to UCB?
Also on their website it says you must have at least 60 units to transfer… what does this mean? Is it like credits because that seems impossible…
While you can theoretically transfer as a non-junior transfer, the statistics for that are not in your favor. Junior transfers have a huge advantage over lower division transfers due to Berkeley’s preference for transfer students that will finish within 4 semesters.
Most community college students are able to finish 60 unit credits within 4 semesters, why do you think it’s impossible?
Where are you currently attending?
You apply at the beginning of your sophomore year, if that’s what you’re asking, and you will have to have junior standing by the term you would be starting (at least 60 units). For example, lets say I’m taking 15 units per semester, or 30 units per academic year. At the end of my freshman year, I’ll have 30 units, and I’ll apply to Cal in the beginning of my sophomore year (November, I believe?). If I get accepted, then I would transfer to Cal with junior standing.
Summer/winter classes offset the amount of units that you’ll have to take. The 60 unit minimum is actually fairly easy to reach, one way or another. If you have units from AP tests, that would satisfy courses and probably give you units, as well.
Goldencub described CCC process well. It sounds like you’re OOS. A lot of tuition and lower on priority list to get in, but depending on GPA, is possible.
im going to depaul which is some rinky dink college in chicago meaning that im probably even LOWER on berk’s list… . thanks for the replies everyone!
…why not a CC then?
i thought i would be happy at depaul but i visited again this past week and realize i hate everything about it… too late to go back on the deposit and such
Would the savings of going to CC cover any lost deposit, and give you a better shot at UCB?
probably cost-wise … but definitely would not better my chances as it would be an Illinois community college and not california
Oh, my bad. I thought you were from CA
Haha, was reading that @luckie1367. I’m like wait a sec. :))
so i might as well apply as a first year transfer bc my chances will be about the same as a junior transfer since im OOS X(
Not exactly, you’ll probably be at a disadvantage it you are a 1 year transfer (since you won’t have all the units completed).
do we know if they look at ACT scores and GPA from high school if you apply as a junior transfer?? they probably rely heavily on that if you want to transfer earlier
Nope, the UC app doesn’t even ask for it
You can only apply as a junior transfer and they will not look at SATs or high school grades.
ONE MORE THING… so i have read that they are pretty strict about 90 quarter units but they also have recommended classes that you have under your belt before applying… one of them for haas in a intro to business class. i would take that however my school does not have a class even remotely similar to that. so are they as strict about things like that as they are about how many units you have to have?
With Haas every single requirement MUST be completed or you are ineligible. Of something like 1600+ applicants in 2014, about 1150 were ineligible as they did not complete the courses. They are 100% fanatical about that. And just so you know, over the last 10 years (maybe a little less) every single transfer (that’s 100%) have come from a CCC. You really don’t stand a chance getting into Haas from OOS.
But that’s just Haas.
My suggestion if you are interested in Berkeley is to aim for a major with a lower average GPA. Choose Letters and Science. At Berkeley, you are admitted to the College of L&S when you get accepted into that college, not the major. You then declare the major. If you have all the requirements completed for another major in L&S (or maybe just missing one), you may be able to declare that major. You may have some issues with Computer Science or Public Health or Psych and some of those top performers, but in general, you can usually make a switch. And there is also their superb Interdisciplinary Studies. You can definitely transfer into that once accepted into L&S.
UCB L&S majors
http://ls-advise.berkeley.edu/major/majorlist.html
The best way to gauge average major GPA is go to UCLA’s profile of admitted students and work off of that. As an OOS you should always try to be a bit higher GPA-wise and, of course, Berkeley is probably about a .01 or so higher anyhow, depending on subject matter.
UCLA profile
https://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof14.htm
Hope this helps.