Hey everyone! I’m a UCSC student and applied to transfer to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCSB. I’ve been accepted to UCSD, UC Davis, and UCSB and I was rejected from LA and Berkeley (haven’t heard back from Irvine yet). Here are my stats:
Overall GPA: 3.99
Major GPA: 4.0
Major applied with: Neuroscience (variations of this major based on campus)
Awards: Dean’s Honors for every quarter, EOP Honors Student, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, invited to Golden Key Honor Society, Ap Scholar
Extracurriculars: volunteered at Cedars Sinai Hospital, Homeless Garden Project, Interact, Link Crew, Robotics, Acadeca, College Senate, Choir (both in high school and college)
Essays: I spent a lot of time on my essays, and they were good
Prerequisites: I met all the prereqs for all the campuses, except Organic Chemistry (prereq for UC Berkeley and UCLA). My school only offers it as an upper division and if I took it, I’d go way over the unit cap).
GEs: Completed all GEs; UC statement of reciprocity
I’m disappointed with the Cal decision, because I’ve worked hard and am very determined. Berkeley is my dream school, and I don’t want to give up yet, so I’m going to appeal the decision. Although my chances are extremely slim, I think it would be unfair to myself if I didn’t give all my effort until the end.
Does anyone have any opinions? Also if making a choice out of the UCs I’ve been accepted to, I’m between San Diego and Davis (Irvine’s decision wouldn’t change this). Both campuses seem to be similar in architecture and academics, so I’m really not sure which one I’d prefer. Also I’m premed (planning on applying to MD/PhD programs) if that matters. I know both universities have a medical center and good research opportunities.
Objectively, UCSD has more bio-related and medical opportunities. Davis has one small hospital in the town and the large and awesome UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. UCSD has the VA Medical Center, Scripps Memorial Hospital, and UCSD Thornton Hospital/Jacobs Medical Center on campus, Scripps Green Hospital and several clinics within walking distance, and the large and awesome UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. Davis’s med school is also in Sacramento, while UCSD’s is on campus and ranked higher. This translates into more clinical, research, shadowing and volunteering opportunities for students. Whether you take advantage of the opportunities at Davis or SD is up to you.
UCSD is also generally a more prominent hub for biosciences and biomedical research. The physiology and neuroscience is ranked among the top 2-5 graduate programs in the nation, and the division of biological sciences is generally in the top 5-10. At a school which receives $1 billion in research funding, that trickles down into prestigious and challenging research opportunities for undergrads. The region is also the #2 hub for biotechnology in the nation. Prestigious research institutes such as the Salk Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute and the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine are all located on or adjacent to campus and frequently provide entry level positions and internships to undergrads. There are also large and small pharma and biotech companies all over the Torrey Pines Mesa, Sorrento Valley and North County. Admittedly I don’t know what the bio scene is like in Davis, so hopefully someone can clarify.
Subjectively, the campuses and campus vibes aren’t that similar. Davis has a pretty, collegiate campus with clean architecture. San Diego’s is more polarizing but I personally like the modernist/brutalist architecture and art. UCD also has a more vibrant social scene and a college town adjacent to campus; UCSD isn’t “socially dead” by any means, but it doesn’t have a frat row and most of La Jolla/San Diego is only accessible by bus or car. The college system might feel familiar for a former UCSC student, although it doesn’t really matter for transfers (who usually live in the swanky Village at Torrey Pines). Davis is also located far inland in an almost rural suburb, while SD is a stone’s toss from beaches in a northern suburb of a large city. Like the poster above suggested, try visiting both schools if you can to get a feel for the environments and departments. This post has been long af and fairly biased but I hope it helps you with your decision.
Sounds like you worked to the limit of your capabilities, so don’t be discouraged about Berkely! UCSD has a great program for your major as well. Congrats on all of your other admissions!
I am also a UCSC student wanting to transfer. Did you have any resources and aid from the UCSC campus about transferring concerning about UC statement of reciprocity,etc. ?
I found that UCSC advising was not really helpful; they just told me to contact the schools I was applying to for asking questions about transferring, even though I needed answers to general questions regarding UCSC. I ended up talking to advisors from all the campuses I applied to, and at some point was given inaccurate information which was likely the reason I wasn’t accepted into Berkeley or LA. An advisor told me that there was an upper division unit cap, and guided me to find some UC form online that seemed to line up. However the form was outdated and the advisor was wrong, so I avoided taking OChem at UCSC (it’s only offered as an upper division course) even though it was a prereq for Berkeley and UCLA. For the most part, I did everything myself in terms of finding information and comparing courses. One advisor at UCSC was helpful and easily answered my question about GE’s (UC Statement of Reciprocity). If you’re a Cowell student, make sure you talk to the college advisor Ethan. It’s funny because every other advisor I spoke to hadn’t ever even heard about the statement of reciprocity. Your best bet is to speak to other students who have already transferred for general questions (GE’s between campuses/application questions) and try to find information online on your own for specific questions. I’d recommend only reaching out to advisors as a last resort, and even after that you should fact-check them on your own. Also, don’t let anyone bring you down; just keep pushing for your goals. People have told me transferring UC to UC is almost impossible, the transition will be too difficult, to just be patient and wait another two years, that I’ll be missing out on opportunities I could only get by staying at a university for all four years, etc. Really, all of that was wrong so don’t get discouraged. I ended up transferring to UCSD and it has been amazing here in every way! At this point I’m ultimately happy I did not get into Berkeley because their school year start date (semester system) would have made it impossible to go on the abroad clinical rotations program that I went on last summer. Just keep working hard. It will all be worth it in the end
