Transferring to USC (and other privates) from a good UC (UCSB)

Transfer Students
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<p>I've recently decided between UCSB Honors CLAS and Barnard College and have chosen to forfeit my aspirations of small class sizes and city life (Barnard) and go with the financially responsible decision (UCSB instate tuition). I'm fairly certain that while I'll grow to like UCSB and the college experience in general, it would be a big advantage to graduate from USC considering I'm interested (vaguely, but still interested) in law, film/entertainment, business, and more humanities based subjects. I'm from Los Angeles and am familiar enough with the city to be able to maneuver the internship opportunities with some ease. </p>

<p>I'm planning on applying to USC after one year at UCSB. During this year, I plan on doing all that I can (easier classes that definitely transfer, volunteering, etc.) to get a high GPA and a somewhat interesting application. Other than obtaining a 3.7+ GPA, are there any other recommended steps for getting in after one year? I have plenty of friends on the Trojan Transfer Plan who claim that all their new USC counselors have claimed that sophomore transfer is almost exclusively given to TTP students. On the other hand, I've seen on these very forums stories of UCI and Chapman students transferring after a year with relative ease. Any insights? </p>

<p>Also I know that UCs only accept junior transfers, but if this true of most schools? Would private schools accept my application after one year at the school? The only other school I'd like to apply to as a transfer is Columbia. </p>

<p>Should my one year plan not work, I will happily spend my sophomore year studying abroad at one of the UC system's great UK schools. I'll surprisingly save money this way, gain an experience I otherwise couldn't have at a CCC, and have a compelling story to tell in my junior transfer apps. At this point, I would apply to UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Columbia as well as USC. </p>

<p>There are so many varying opinions on the feasibility of this transfer, and I'd like to gain some fresh (not 2010) information. </p>

<p>One last question: do colleges take into account that I'm in the honors program at UCSB and may in turn have a lower GPA than a CCC student? </p>

<p>and one disclaimer: I acknowledge the fantastic academics at UCSB. Unfortunately, I'm not the engineering, physics, science, or accounting type and would really benefit from an urban setting and small class sizes. This is not about prestige. </p>

<p>Thanks to all in advance :) </p>

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<p>oh my high school stats are:</p>

<p>3.84 UW/4.15 W GPA
7 APs throughout high school, and as many honors classes as possible (besides two years of regular math)
32 on ACT (35, 35, 27 math, 30 science)
Volunteer abroad in Thailand orphanages
Delians National Honor Society
Varsity Tennis</p>

<p>etc. </p>

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<p>ayudame</p>

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<p>USC class sizes are not necessarily small. See <a href=“http://classes.usc.edu/”>http://classes.usc.edu/&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

<p>USC admits junior and lower class students. Those with 64 or more semester units must declare a major on applying. See <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/transfer/prospective/transferbrochure.html”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/transfer/prospective/transferbrochure.html&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

<p>USC takes a lot of transfer students from California community colleges. See <a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/transfer/prospective/transferprofile.html”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/transfer/prospective/transferprofile.html&lt;/a&gt; .</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus regardless of class size, I think the opportunity for growth in my prospective majors is still greater at USC and Los Angeles in general. And I appreciate the info from the links! I’m hoping that the small 11% of transfers from CSUs and UCs is simply attributed to the fact that these students are less inclined to try to transfer and not that they have a smaller chance of acceptance. the average 3.7 GPA is a bit daunting since I’ll be in an honors program at a UC that’s rising in academic quality. Hopefully they’ll take into account that a 3.6/3.7 is harder to obtain at UCSB than is a 3.8+ at a CC. sigh. </p>

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<p>If you want to transfer to USC just go to CC. Do you live next to any “good” CCs? e.g. SMC in LA county or OCC in OC county are great schools–for the money–IMO. </p>

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<p>@bomerr I actually live right by SMC and don’t want to attend a CC for that reason lol. A large majority of my school attends SMC and from what I’ve heard from multitudes of likeminded friends, the environment is unmotivated, overcrowded, and generally depressing. I’ve been advised to go to UCSB instead because I’m getting a good price and a good fallback school in case USC doesn’t work out. </p>

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<p>SMC is really nice, idk how the CC in the bay area stack up but it’s the best in the LA/OC/IE area. Ya it’ll be unmotivated on average, that is how all CC is but that also works in your favor because it’s easier to get a higher GPA. UCSB might be fun for the freshman experience but for the cost it’s a complete waste against SMC. </p>

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<p>SABREEZ did you apply to USC originally? With a 32 and 7 APs I would have thought you would have been accepted. UCSB and USC are more similar to each other, even in their rankings; Barnard is very different from USC. You would have a much better chance of transferring to a higher ranked school outside of Cali from UCSB than from a community college, but I agree with bomerr, you could probably save even more money by going to a CC then UCLA or USC. Actually at most other top schools, esp business majors, they prefer soph transfers to juniors and a 32 and a 3.5 college GPA will often get you in . You must try to get a 4.0 your first semester and really think about what you want to major in.</p>

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<p>@2cents4u sorry I just saw this. I did apply to USC originally, and I believe it was my 3.84 GPA that resulted in my rejection (competition is clearly very tough these days!). I appealed the decision and am waiting to hear back in a few days.
It’s good to hear that some schools prefer sophomore majors! I’ve been looking into some other schools that take soph transfers with some ease and it looks like Northwestern and Cornell (I think I already talked about Cornell) make it very easy for credits from other schools to transfer. The community colleges in my area (Los Angeles) are severely overcrowded and I’ve had friends who ended up at Santa Monica College for 2 and a half years or more, while taking classes at other CCCs as well, because of the difficulty getting classes. I figured I might as well have a good backup school in case I don’t get in anywhere, since I found out that UCSB is more respected in the academic/business world than it is by high school students and parents…and apparently my neighbors who think I’m a 17 year old drunkard for choosing sb. </p>

<p>I’m mainly worried about maintaining that high of a GPA since UCSB is not a joke academically. </p>

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<p>I think the reason you are rejected for USC is because you are competitive and they expect you would not be going… I have a friend here who got Barnard offer as well, she received half scholarship here I think
The class size here are not really small. Also, transfer students may not receive much financial aid or scholarships</p>

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<p>If you really want to go USC, I suggest you to appeal to USC. They allow applicants to appeal and you stats are very competitive for it. Try to tell them you received other offers and USC is your number one choice, not your safety. I think you are not admitted because they think you use USC as safety so they rejected you to keep admission and yield rate low.</p>

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<p>@kai026 I’d love to think that I’m overqualified for USC but I don’t think that’s the case given this year’s 18-20 percent acceptance rate. I did submit an appeal though, and I hear back in a few days. I mentioned that I’m attending trial as an assistant to a DA this month, and that I’m going to ComicCon as a staff writer for a site this July. I mentioned that they’re my top choice as well. wish me luck! </p>

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<p>TTP is not a guarantee for entry into Sophomore year. </p>