I’m thinking about applying to davis as a biochem major from CC but my gpa is rather underwhelming(3.1). I have all the major requirements(except physics) either done or planned to be done. Anyone know my chances of actually getting in?
The biological sciences department at Davis is huge. You GPA will be compared to other students from the community colleges.
Try anyway.
The UCLA profile of admitted transfers for 2014 has the avg GPA for biochem at 3.77. (The molecular bio series are the same or higher.) While they will be a point or two lower at Davis (most likely), they will still probably be, at minimum, about 3.5-3.6. I simply don’t see it happening, and you should try and pick a major that will provide a degree of possible assurance and not waste an application.
You can use the UCLA profile below to suss out avg GPAs by major. Just adjust downward for the lower-tier UCs. The majors that have lower admitted GPAs will be fairly consistent across all platforms. You can also try UCSC and Merced, but you’re still a bit low.
https://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof14_mjr.htm
Can’t you TAG to UCD BioChem with a 3.2?
http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/admission/transfers/trfr_stmr_cbs.cfm
Take another year to get your GPA up, and TAG there. Then, you will get in (provided you meet all requirements)
Ahhh, good catch @goldencub.
(Another reason they’re slowly getting rid of TAG. - jk.)
Davis apparently accepts TAG for all majors, whether selective or not. Something that was wholly unknown to me.
If you take another year and apply via TAG, MAKE SURE TO RAISE YOUR GPA, AND MAKE SURE TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS. Otherwise, you’re putting any chance you have at all into serious jeopardy. You will definitely want to take advantage of TAG. Complete everything perfectly.
As you probably know UCSD dropped theirs two years ago and I remember hearing some STEM dept somewhere saying it was killing them, because they were forced to deny admission to really high GPAs to accommodate TAG. I’m not sure why they don’t just jack the minimum GPA up. Anyway, if OP has that option he should definitely grab it.
@lindyk8 Really? I had no idea.
It’s interesting that Davis isn’t so selective with their TAG agreement in the bio sciences, considering they have a very good department. I know other schools (i.e. Irvine) set minimum requirements for more impacted majors, and exclude certain majors from the program, which makes tons of sense - but hey, OP is lucky that Davis is accommodating.
another question. If I were to omit some useless classes on tag that I took at CC would that be bad? They’re transferable and have nothing to do with my major but I got a C in them.
Yup, they’ll flat out deny you if you don’t give them everything because once you get admitted your official transcript would contradict the standards at which they admitted you for.
report everything honestly and truthfully, there’s nothing you can do about those C’s.
taking another year and applying via TAG is, by far, your best option.