@cricketfan I agree with your perspective regarding UCB and LA. I’ve been accepted to a couple CSUs and UCSB, but I worked hard these last two years. While all the UCs are great I want the top. When I was accepted to the CSUs I saw people in those threads with 3.0 GPAs saying they were admitted. I earned a 3.94. So while that’s great for them I’m thinking I need to be challenged. I’ve also decided since I only have 50 units to complete when I transfer I want to be somewhere I can go to grad school as well. I want to do progressive coursework and have a smooth seamless transition. The added benefit is I get the four year University experience even though I attended CCC for two years.
I am confused what you meant by “at least I’ll have something to fall back on.”
@goodBrujo9 - What I mean is that if for any reason graduate school does not work out for me then at least my Education section of my resume will show UCB or UCLA.
Not trying to be vain, but there is a reason why these universities are considered top notch by employers the world over. I am looking forward to earning the right to put one of them against my name.
@cricketfan I’ve been going back and forth on this as well ever since I was invited to apply for regents at Davis. I think that there are pros and cons to both sides.
Of course you get the prestigious name of ucla or Berkeley if you attend, and you get the experience that you’ve worked so hard to recieve. You learn from the cream of the crop, and you are surrounded by (generally) like-minded individuals.
On the other hand, there is a reason why these mid-tier UCs offer regents to the people that they suspect will get into the more prestigious schools. They make the offer as enticing as they can–merit based financial aid, priority registration, connections to researchers and professors, and listing the regents scholarship on your diploma, to name a few. The benefits that they offer make it way easier to do well (priority registration is huge and lets you pick literally whatever professor you want, considering how hard it is to get preferred classes at Berkeley and ucla) and land research positions, which, by the way, are pretty competitive to get at ucla and Berkeley. Regents scholars have access to all kinds of academic help that regular students without regents don’t have. Regents gives you a way better chance at graduate school.
In the end, I think they are both plausible decisions. It’s important to pick what you think will benefit you the most, and I urge everyone in the same position to really consider both options. And honestly, prestige can only get you so far, it has more to do with you as a person and your work ethic.
Hi guys,
So I have finished applying to the CAA scholarships but it sent me an email say that if I am not admitted or do not submit my SIR by the deadline date your application will be revoked… but Berkeley doesn’t send out decisions till the 27th. So lost
@Vaneeters I think it is just letting you know that if you don’t get accepted your application will be revoked which makes sense. And if you are accepted, you have till June 1st to SIR. If you don’t SIR then of course they will revoke your application. I hope his makes sense.
Hey all. I did not receive the promotion email (CAA scholarships) because I did not authorize the UC to release my information (from the UC application). Someone who did not get the email may have the same issue here. Don’t worry.
I know it is kind of late but I wanted to get some input from you guys about my chances.
One year transfer
Major: L&S CS
GPA: 4.0
IGETC: completed by Spring 2018
Prereq: completed by Fall 2017
TAP: no
Essays: 8.5/10, had them checked by Cal’s Transfer Center, many current Cal student and used their advice
Work Experience: Tutored Math from grades kindergarten to AP Calc AB/BC/Stats, Computer Science
EC’s: Done some personal CS projects, built a game and an app
Write and perform spoken word
Volunteer at science camp where I worked with little kids
Volunteer at Tech Museum (local science museum)
Danced on a competitive college team that travelled
I do not have any experience working an internship and I am kind of scared that will stunt the competitiveness of my application.
@philkobemike In all honesty I think you will get accepted. Even though CS is super competitive I think you have a great chance. I’m sure working as a tutor will also increase your chances. Did your community college offer a CS course that actually articulates to Berkeley? Because if it did, I think you’re set lol. When you find out, let us know! I would be surprised if you didn’t get accepted. By the way, I applied for EECS.
@Twenmi I can’t say for sure but I think taking a class that actually articulates is a plus. On assist it says that taking a course that articulates “strengthen your application” so It’s definitely better to do so if you can. However, a few years ago my older brother was accepted into EECS without taking a class that actually articulates so who knows how it works lol. Goodluck!
@cricketfan thanks for your input, I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently (haven’t had the liberty to before cuz of midterms) and I agree with your stance. All of the hard work I put into CC thus far, going the extra mile while the majority of my classmates were settling, is because of the sole purpose (short term) to go to a school like Cal. And honestly I can’t imagine there’d be that much of a drop-off between Davis and Berkeley in terms of difficulty. It’s not like we’re comparing CSU Fullerton to Cal, UC Davis is in the same system and a premier school in it’s own right, so it can’t be that much easier. Even with all of the perks, I feel like if you could do well at Davis you could do well at Cal. I still have yet to decide cuz I haven’t gotten all my results back, and who knows how we will all feel in the moment when we get all of our results.
@akwong15 Your extracurriculars are pretty basic tbh, but if you were able to write about them in a way that made you stand out in your personal statements I think you’re pretty solid with your GPA and the major you chose since it’s not really that impacted. It would have been nice to see an internship related to your major as that would have made you a more competitive applicant. Your GPA is great but what else makes you stand out? But overall, you’re pretty solid in my perspective. Data shows 43% admit rate for transfer student applicants for the Media Studies major so you have a pretty good shot however beware it will be hard to switch majors as a transfer student.
@mantisaurus I think you have a great shot. Great GPA, impressive ECs. Have you finished Calc 2 already and achieved an A? I know some Econ majors with 4.0’s who were rejected because they waited until spring to take Calc 2.
I know it’s late to be doing this whole chance me thing but I’d like to see what you think!
Two-year transfer from DVC
Major: Media Studies
GPA: 4.0
Major GPA: 4.0
IGETC: completed by Spring 2018
Prereq: finishing up one more required prereq for the 5 recommended/required, but all completed by Spring 2018… Plus finishing the rest of the requirements this semester as well
TAP: no
Essays: 9/10, I had them checked by current Cal students, English teachers, and transfer counselors
Work Experience: Full-time Server
EC’s: Speaker and Event Coordinator for a club called Active Minds on the Chabot College Campus (more of volunteer work because I don’t attend the school but I help out)
Freelance Interior Designer and Blogger
Member of Phi Theta Kappa
I don’t really have much extracurricular activity/volunteer work because working a full-time job and being a full-time student takes up a majority of the time that I can allocate to such activities
