UC Berkeley 2016 Transfer Thread

@sutt123 You have a solid shot. Do you have the calculus series completed? It’s not a major “prerequisite” in the traditional sense but having it completed opens up options (Econ 101A-B) once your at Berkeley and it’s looked at very favorably during the review.

@Samuelho7 Hey there, I’m a one year transfer (also dual enrolled in HS) to Berkeley Econ.

I feel that “low” is an understatement with that GPA to Haas. The average admit was 3.87 last year and they don’t really consider CCC transfers with a sub 3.7 GPA. Why not take the extra year and get all A’s? The associated grade boost would give you the much needed increase in chances.

Source: https://haas.berkeley.edu/Undergrad/class_profile.html

If your adamant on transferring this year, consider retooling for the Political Economy major within L&S. Your GPA is within range and they offer a similar program of study.

@samuelho7, am I missing something? How can you transfer as a one-year unless you have AP? You need a minimum of 60 semester units to transfer. Do you have 15 or so prior to this semester?

Haas really looks at the major GPA (calc, Econ, business). You need close to As.

Next re: haas, you need a lot of leadership in ECs; not just in a club or a member - creating it or leading it.

Lastly, I don’t think they will feel secure with all those units crammed into fall and spring. Just my two cents.

@jonuni94 yes, my GPA for all UC transferable courses is 3.8, while my GPA for major pre-req classes is 4.0
I totally agree with it being on the lower end of the spectrum (though still competitive), especially for an Econ major. This semester I hope to raise it a bit to further increase my chances! Initially, I wasn’t planning on applying to UCB because I was aiming for Business, but my counselor persuaded me to take a chance with the different field of study. Fingers crossed we both get in!

@SDGoldenBear I’m currently in progress, and will complete it by the end of Spring. Due to my first semester at SFSU (ugh so many regrets), which has different requirements, I wasted a semester by taking Business Calc…Right now I am in Calc 1, next semester I will take Calc 2.

I also have taken/am taking/will take: 2 Econ courses (Macro and Micro), 2 Accounting courses (Financial and Managerial) in addition to the 2 Calc courses.
HOWEVER: I have not taken a Stats class. Does anyone know if this is a make it or break it situation?

@SDGoldenBear I know its very below par, however, I’m at the point of no return. If I were to stretch my courses over the span of two years, I wouldn’t have enough classes to complete at CC and I would be forced to become a “part-time” student or take more than 1 P.E classes just to fill up a schedule which wouldn’t be very ideal. Fall semester has not ended yet and these 6 classes i’m in will either make or break my grade, as 3 of those 6 are worth around 5 credits each. Currently, I’m grinding it out for A’s.

@lindyk8 I started back in High school, the only AP I took was AP lang which I passed with a 5. If I follow my current ed plan I will have enough credits, assuming all goes well that is. Again, I do know I’m way below par with a 3.55 GPA, and I’m depending on my performance this Fall semester since it has not ended to make or break my grades. Also, I am currently in the process of creating a Business/Entrepreneur Club at my CC and all I need is an advisor for the club. And what do you mean by “secure” with the unit cramming? Wouldn’t that prove that I can handle high stress loads if I were to do well on them?

@Samuelho7 I think what @lindyk8 is trying to say is that UC’s require a minimum of 60 units at the time of transfer. With your 6 classes, Lang score and Spring semester courseload, that will not come out to 60 units.

@themightybicycle I started doing college courses back in high school, my 6 classes currently and 6 in the spring added up with the credits that I accumulated in high school will add up over 60 credits. I spoke to my counselor about the unit’s issue and we created an ed plan to follow.

@SDGoldenBear In response to “You have a solid shot. Do you have the calculus series completed? It’s not a major “prerequisite” in the traditional sense but having it completed opens up options (Econ 101A-B) once your at Berkeley and it’s looked at very favorably during the review.”

I am applying as an Econ transfer this year and was under the impression that if you don’t have that Calculus series completed you pretty much have zero chance. Is that not the case? I’m currently completing it right now, but just out of curiosity…

@sutt123 Yes, fingers crossed for the both of us!! Also, the stats class is not offered at many CCCs so it is not a make or break situation and is often the class (Stat 20 or 21) we’ll be taking at Berkeley as transfers in our first semester. Would like others input on us not taking any Stats class though??

-Major: Political Science, possibly minor in English.
-UC GPA: 4.0
-Major GPA: 4.0
-IGETC & Prereqs will be done by Spring 2016.
-Honors student, speaks 3 languages, first generation American, comes from a family with political background.
-ECs: Member of 2 cc honors society, PTK and AGS, that does community service every week, ran marathons for cancer research in the pasts, volunteered for children with cancer/charity organization, music producer, used to do concerts. English tutor to foreign students.
-Awards: 2 president’s list, 2 computer awards, 2 marathon certificates
Personal statement: Basically I escaped war from Syria to achieve my educational and career goals in the U.S.
-Career goal: become a diplomat/ambassador representing the U.S. in the middle east.

Please any comments, advice or evaluation of my stats is appreciated!

@Sammysaad you’re a shoe-in.

I have an important question. Do I get treated differently if I have AP credits vs college credit? Does an A in Calc II in college mean more than AP credit? I am scared that I might be rejected since I am a 1 year transfer despite having excellent grades. A lot of my prerequisites are covered by AP exams.

@jonuni94 Whoops! I meant to say Diff EQs on my previous comment. Diff EQs is the “hidden” application booster for Econ applicants.

Yes you are correct, No Calc = no admit.

@EECSProdigy AP credits are definitely treated differently. I previously mentioned this to you in the third paragraph here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18734677/#Comment_18734677

Regarding the earlier debate about x CC units = y UCB units - in defense of the people saying that CC was absurdly easy, I have to agree - but ONLY for some classes. I still think that it’s better to both take more difficult/demanding classes intentionally and make sure to really learn the material. Cutting corners isn’t ideal, and you definitely get more out of CC if you take more difficult classes.

I still don’t think one can equate 18 CC units to 12 UCB units, though?

I think it really boils down to subject. Most humanities just tend to be easier overall (IMHO).

STEM is a whole other story. And subjects like your philosophy, where it’s so logic/existential-based can be tougher, because there is so much complicated theory you need to ingest.

Duplicate

Is it just me or is the transfer requirements from community college to berkeley for computer science (L&S) wrong?

http://www.assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement=aa&reportPath=REPORT_2&reportScript=Rep2.pl&event=19&dir=1&sia=DAC&ria=UCB&ia=DAC&oia=UCB&aay=15-16&ay=15-16&dora=CS-AB
The transfer requirements are much easier than say UCLA or UCD
It appears that I would only need to finish the IGETC and take about 2 year’s worth of math courses and 1 year of computer science.

Is there no physics or chem requirement like almost all the other UCs?

That one is Letter and Science (B.A) computer science major.
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science major (B.S.) in Berkeley is the one comparable to UCLA, UCD CS(B.S) major
You’ll have to take bunch of Physics and Chemistry classes.
B.A. computer science is also extremely competitive tho.

Do you guys think that as an EECS applicant I should be concerned about the fact that the only B i’ve received since I returned to school was in calc 2? Will they be lenient since it was the first math class I had taken in five years?

Also, the chemistry class I am taking this semester happens at the same time as another class I am taking should I mention that the two classes overlap in the additional comments? I currently have an A in both, and I don’t see that changing.

@evilcow867 yea 1 B is a lot to be honest… I’ve seen people with 1-2 B’s get into L/S computer science though. All the EECS people I know that transferred had 4.0’s. I knew a guy who tried to transfer into EECS 2 years ago with a 4.0 + legit Sun Microsystems internship + code that could help read a machine read handwriting… and still got REJECTED… It’s a crap shoot probably. Just have good essays and try to the best of your abilities.

I actually met a guy who rejected Berkeley EECS in favor of going to USC. He got a full ride in both places. (Blue and gold from UCB) He felt USC was a better fit.

There were people on here last year with ~3.6’s who got into EECS. I seriously doubt that someone with a 4.0 and those EC’s got rejected unless they didn’t finish all of the major prereqs. Either way I know it’s a crapshoot because it is for basically everyone. I personally think the whole single parent working two jobs while taking 19 credit semesters and still getting straight A’s overshadows the one B I’ve gotten since I returned to school. My professors also seem to think that coming from a very rural area is a plus for me, but I don’t know if I agree with that.

Anyway, my question was more how forgiving are they of returning students who jump straight into a higher level math class without taking a refresher course. I work as a math tutor for my college and I tutor every math class we offer, it’s not like there’s any doubt that I’m good at math.