UC Berkeley Transfer Thread 2018

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
381

Hey guys! Long time lurker here and as the deadline gets closer, I am becoming more nervous and unsure as to whether or not I even have a chance to get in.

Here is my situation:

Never knew that I had the possibility of transferring out of a ccc in a year. Once i found out it was already mid fall semester so, i am now taking 3 poli sci pre reqs now.

here are my stats:
First year at a ccc
Poli Sci major
Pre reqs: Done spring
IGETC: Done
In my cc’s honor program, but that won’t matter because I will not be TAP certified.
I have a 3.65 after the winter semester. I would have a 4.0 if it weren’t for one calculus course that I got a C in because I was sick to the point of hospitalization for two of the tests which I bombed. I got an A in both stats and Poli sci 101 in terms of my major courses.
I have great ECs: Intern for local assemblyman and an immigration lawyer. Coach and referee for a youth soccer program. Coach a team of physically and mentally disabled kids. Youngest ever member of the Board of Directors for that national soccer program (I have 1500+ hours in that program). Volunteer at a hospital during high school.
Essays were very good in the opinions of everyone I showed. (This bummed me out the most because these essays are great and I would hate if that one calculus course ruined my chances).
Another thing I am worried about is the fact that I am taking 3/4 poli sci pre reqs right now. I have high As in all of them but the fact that I did not have them done by fall is a killer.

If you read all of this, please be honest and let me know what you think. I applied out of high school and was rejected with a 33 ACT and a 4.3 Gpa. I was so sad about that situation. I just wish I knew I could’ve transferred in a year. I would’ve taken more of the poli sci classes

Thanks guys and I wish you all the best in the coming weeks!! Also, let me know if you have any questions about my post!

382

hey! New to CC and a bit late for the whole ‘chance’ thing. Still, I’m applying as a junior transfer. Here are my stats.

GPA: 3.83 from an Ivy league school (HYP)
Philosophy major (and if I get into Berkeley, I hope to double major in either math or Classics)
Had taken many math classes (above calculus– so multivariable, linear algebra, abstract algebra, etc.) including graduate level courses at local state school in high school for credit, with a 3.88 GPA overall among those courses. (7 courses; 6 As and one B+, the B+ not among the graduate level courses).
SAT: 2290 (800 Math, 730 Reading, 760 Writing)

Honors in high school:
Published a paper in a well-regarded math journal
Was a national finalist in the Siemens competition
Won multiple national honors for poetry
Nationally recognized for classical music

ECs and Honors in college:

Won college-wide awards for creative writing
Awarded a travel grant to do research in Greece fall of sophomore year
Poetry editor at schoolwide literary magazine
Volunteered at LGBT Center (ran training programs for freshmen on allyship and inclusion, etc.)
Led freshman-orientation community service trips
Volunteered as a tutor in nearby prisons
Served on ‘Academics Committee’, which proposed and voted on policies concerning academics at the university

Currently taking a gap year, during which I’m doing a year-long research fellowship in Europe (in math and philosophy) that I was awarded.

Essays: wrote about my particular interests in philosophy and particular professors at Berkeley that made Berkeley an appealing choice; wrote about my passion for writing poetry; wrote about wanting a more accepting and global college community.

CAVEATS/POTENTIAL NEGATIVES:

In my final semester at current school I had an incomplete in one of my courses (not a philosophy course or math course, or a classics course). Additionally, I think I’m bordering on the maximum of 80 transferred credits allowed for a junior transfer (because of the state school classes I took for credit in high school).

Also, I’m told that transfer applicants from 4 year colleges are at a disadvantage compared to applicants from 2-year colleges? And I’m not from CA-- not sure if that matters.

Any advice/expectations would be appreciated– I’m pretty nervous. <3

383

@FutureHaasBear in a nutshell, I talked about my experience in leadership at my job being a new hire trainer and having to lead a large team/work together, I talked about my interior design career and where it stemmed from and how it continues today/its impact on my life, obviously my major and how I came to love it/how I plan to immerse myself in my major moving forward, and then I talked about the challenges of working so much and being involved in other extracurriculars alongside school and where my perseverance stemmed from/why the way I grew up has had such an extensive impact on who I am today

384

Could somebody please chance me??

GPA: 3.71
Major: Sociology
Major Prep: Done
IGETC: Done
Applied to: UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCI, and the Claremont Colleges
Accepted to: UCI

Additional info
-CCCP program at UCLA
-Psychology Club
-Leadership Program
-Translator Intern
-Volunteered at senior/foster homes

Essays
1st: Talked about how parental abuse, depression, and homelessness pervaded my childhood which led me to develop a passion for my major.
2nd: Talked about my greatest talent/skill which is writing and how I have a personal blog with over 10,000 followers.
3rd: I mentioned the CCCP program I participated at UCLA and how it was a huge educational opportunity.
4th: Talked of how I changed my life around after realizing my search for belonging was misdirected because I was never alone.

Best of luck to all of us :slight_smile:

385

@bellalaelia you have a good GPA within range and you have overcome a lot so I think you’re in, or at least have a good chance. Berkeley does like to see applicants have a story to tell.

386

Thank you so much! @OhWhatsHerName

387

Can Someone chance me
De Anza College : ADT in Comp science
Completed TAP requirements
GPA: 3.9
Good essays
President: Developers guild @ De Anza
Hackathons etc
Applied : UCB Comp Science in College of L & S
Accepted: UCSB, UCD (Tag), Davis regents invite. San Jose State
SLO:waitlist!!

388

@DAnzaColl1 - When did you get your acceptance from UCD?

389

@cricketfan i think he just meant he received the Regents invite

edit: on second read maybe he was accepted but it was my understanding that no acceptances were out yet for UCD.

390

@proclus You have really great stats! Your GPA is well within the range of the 25-75 percentiles of philosophy, plus coming from an IVY, the rigor was probably very difficult. They do give priority to community college students but I’ve read if you have a good reason for transferring, you’ll still have a good chance of being accepted. Do you not like the IVY league you attend? The incomplete won’t be a big deal as long as you have the major prep that’s listed on their website done.

391

How wonderful! Best of luck to you! I really think you got a great shot of getting in! @mayaelesse

392

@FutureHaasBear Thank you! I’m hoping all of us receive the news we want because I see so many qualified and diverse individuals who all seem so much more than deserving. Almost a week left… And hopefully, you will become a Haas Bear!!! Good Luck

393

Last year some people registered for summer session at Cal and got their notifications (kinda) the night before, anyone thinking of doing that? Also, do we have a group chat going?!

394

@flaminhaute what do you mean? like if you sign up for summer session they accidentally tell you early?

395

omg, just read the thread from last year and i am now 10,000% more stressed out

396

@getoutmeswamp basically yeah some url trick. Honestly same but it’s not in our control anymore. Best of luck!

397

@flaminhaute best of luck to you too! As far as a groupchat i don’t think we have one yet

398

@thecolorblue That’s my other worry-- while I’ve completed a lot of requirements for the major, the program for the philosophy major is completely different at my school, so I haven’t completed all the prerequisites. For example, although I have an extensive background in logic I’ve technically never taken an introductory class in logic. The same is the case with ancient philosophy– I have an extensive background and have taken many courses on Aristotle, Plato, etc but have never taken an introductory course in ancient philosophy. And while a freshman survey course I took covered some ethical theory, my school doesn’t really have an introduction to ethics, etc. I have taken courses in modern philosophy, but those courses don’t seem to be the same as the introductory prerequisite at Berkeley.

tl;dr, I don’t know how they’d evaluate all of this.

My reason for transferring is, I hope, convincing– I was extensively harassed by a faculty member at my school and the school refused to take action, despite a great deal of proof and external testimony.

399

@proclus I’m so sorry, that’s horrible, I agree with the people above though, you have a very good shot of getting in, I wish you the best of luck and hope you find what you’re looking for!

400

hey guys do we need to get at least all B’s this semester to keep our admission if we are accepted? or is it an overall 3.0 GPA for this semester?