Hi I’m currently at a CCC and am about to do the application for UC and CSU in the fall, can someone give me a realistic review of my application. First off, I want to say that I attended a private school for my first year and dropped out because I didn’t like what I was pursuing there and it was an impulsive choice to study there. Only 4 courses transferred to my CC, and sadly I only got a 3.2 GPA (because of the pluses and minuses) in my science courses (BIO1: B-, CHE1: B, CHEM2: A-, Pre-Calc: B+) so idk if the UCs consider pluses and minuses. But here my current CC stats.
Major: Communications
UC GPA (prospective by end of fall): 3.89
Major GPA: 4.00 (currently)
Major Prep: All done by fall 7/7 (apparently there were 9 prep courses offered, so I’m taking all 9)
IGETC: Done by spring
TAP: Will be certified
Applying to: UCB(Media Studies), UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, CSULB (all Communications) and probably USC(Communications)
ECs:
One year volunteer at PetSmart cat shelter
A seasonal job at Pier 1
Honors program
Paid tutor at my CC (I applied to be)
Senator of my Christian Club
Church volunteer at two churches
(will have more EC’s by fall)
I try not to have a dream school to ease the pressure, but working/studying in LA sounds nice but I know Comm for LA is THE HARDEST major to get into, I feel like I barely hit the mark for that school and they could care less about my Major GPA. I want to work somewhere along the lines of business management or work in the entertainment industry, but I have been considering switching LA to Poli Sci(suggestions?). Can someone review me as if they were part of admissions?
P.S. Been talking to UC reps and they said some of my private school courses might not articulate, so I don’t mind having to retake one or two to raise my GPA even more.
I assume you won’t qualify for TAG but, with a 3.5 ish GPA and all the required courses, I think UCB and UCLA are worth an ap - but will be a stretch. Davis is close to the state capitol, making it prime for Pol Sci majors. Even there, it could go either way without TAG. UCR, UCSC, UCSB and UCM are all pretty likely to accept you. I’d also suggest you apply to Sac State (again, proximity to State capitol makes it an appealing spot to study Pol Sci.
@NCalRent did you calculate in my private school GPA? I’m leaning more towards comm than pol sci. I feel confident applying to UCSD and UCR, UCM, and UCSC don’t have what I want to major in, so those are off the list.
You should be able to TAG to UCSB, assuming you have a total of 30 semester units (from anywhere) when you apply, plus will have 30 from a CCC by end of next spring.
You should be able to TAG UCSB and if you’re down, try UCD. From your name, I’m assuming you’re from SoCal but I know a lot of communication majors at UCD and they love it. You should be fine so long as you have enough units to transfer. Good luck!
i guessed a number between the two. At least some of those classes will transfer. As others note, you need 30 CCC units at the time of application to apply via TAG - if you can qualify, it is a huge advantage. Of course LA, B and SD don’t participate. Also, all the UCs will allow you to build your own major… something to think about.
Apply to 4-5 schools, including 1 TAG and see what happens.
Most of the CSUs have decent communications programs. Depending where your GPA winds up…
No, you do NOT need 30 CCC units to TAG. This one person keeps throwing that out. This is one reason I dislike CC, wrong info gets dessiminated and perpetuated. Please stop with the false info. Sheesh.
From SBCC (and everywhere):
A minimum of 30 ** UC-transferable ** semester units must be completed at the time of TAG submission.
You must have 60 UC-transferable semester units by the end of spring 2017.
If you will be transferring with units from a non- California Community College (CCC), your last 30 units must come from a CCC.
In order to qualify for the TAG, you need the following GPA at the time of TAG submission.*
Regarding how false info gets perpetuated, a person got declined because they did not have the required 30 CCC units by end of spring noted in their application. They were rejected from TAG in November and the person perpetuating false info interpreted that rejection (not having the required 30 units from a CCC to qualify) as needing those units prior to TAG. You only need to get those 30 by end of spring and these units were not noted in the TAG application.
Reposting my post from other link where @NCalRent continues even now to state false info re TAG:
Finally - I hope this ends it.
JUST CALLED UC IRVINE ADMISSIONS: 949-824-6703.
You do not need the 30 semester units from a CCC before TAGing. In fact, the exact comment by the female admissions officer when I asked if non-CCC units count in the 30 needed, was - drum roll - “Of course they count.”
She went on to say they realize ppl may have started elsewhere and they’re fine with it. They want everyone to have an opportunity.
So apologies from @happy2help and @ncalrent for persisting over and over in spreading false info without once ever calling a UC to ask, even with linked evidence to the contrary. I have attached the TAG matrix, which I’ve cited before. In the matrix are phone numbers for all 6 TAG UCs.
Please call them before desseminating wrong info over and over and over. It really isn’t cool. Thx.
@ohm888 looks like you are correct - @hsdfu1998 As long as you meet all the other criteria, TAG may indeed be an option. I apologize for the misdirection.
I double check virtually everything i post here and have spent my share of time with UC and CSU admissions folks. The rules do change sometimes and I am not perfect. In fact, i consulted the very document you linked before hitting submit. I noted, for the first time, that Davis is now stating a preference for full time applicants.
It says,“Who can file a TAG?
Only students transferring directly from a California community college (CCC) are considered for a TAG, including international students (those with a visa). A CCC transfer student is one who has completed at least 30 semester (45 quarter) UC-transferable units at one or more California community colleges, and the last college the student attended in a regular session (fall/spring or fall/winter/spring) before admission to a UC campus is a California community college.”
Which looks to be the requirement to file the TAG and is pretty clear about the 30 units being from a CCC.
CCC enrollment:
Full-time enrollment at a CCC from spring term 2017 through spring term 2018 is expected, though part-time
enrollment is permissible for good cause. Students enrolled part time at a CCC should provide a brief
explanation about reasons for part-time attendance in the section of the UC TAG Application titled “Additional
comments regarding your TAG application” that becomes available during step 1 of the TAG submission
process. An example of “good cause” would be a student’s need to attend school part time because he/she is
employed.
A student must have been enrolled at a CCC spring term 2017.
A student must be enrolled fall term 2017 at the current/primary CCC indicated on the UC TAG
Application.
A student must be enrolled at a CCC winter or spring term 2018
B. Unit requirements
Students must have completed at least 30 semester (45 quarter) transferable units, including units for any
AP and IB credit, by the end of summer 2017. Students who have completed fewer than 30 semester (45
quarter) units do not qualify for a TAG. These students should apply for admission through the regular UC
application process.
If coursework duplicates AP or IB credit it is possible that students may not receive unit credit for
duplicate coursework. The AP chart and IB chart in the UC Davis General Catalog provides details about
earning International Baccalaureate and earning Advanced Placement credit.
Students must complete at least 60 semester (90 quarter) transferable units by the end of spring 2018—
regardless of UC eligibility at the time of high school graduation—and meet the TAG enrollment
provisions and limitations in Section I.
Students must meet the definition of a CCC student by completing a minimum of 30 semester (45 quarter)
transferable units at a CCC by the end of spring 2018, not including units for any AP or IB credit.
I have looked over the years and have never seen that much specificity in a UC document. suppose there are 2 important takeaways -
1 - when it is your future at stake double check everything with the source. things change and people are sometimes wrong in their assertions. (In this case me)
2. TAG is a nuanced program, especially if your path isn’t the standard one - full time and through a single CCC. Complicating matters, it changes a bet year to year so, something that worked a few years ago may not longer be viable. Of course, the reverse is also true. Do you own homework before concluding (either way) if it is an option for you.
Again apologies to anyone negatively impacted by my misinterpretation.
Up until a few days ago UC Santa Barbara was the only TAG school to have the stipulation that all 30 credits needed to come from a CCC and none from AP Test credits. While the new doc isn’t online yet, I was told by 3 separate folks at UCSB admissions , that the stipulation was lifted for new applicants starting this coming year…
Thanks for posting this @tjosocal . I’ve got the same info today from my CC advisors. Unfortunately, as stated in that website, TAG does not apply to any major in the College of Engineering (Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering), so it kind of sucks for me but the requirements look interesting for other majors.
Yeah, that sucks, but my opinion is,…If you can handle the cirriculum of Chemical Engineering at any recognizable University, you’ll do just fine. UCSB is just a stumbling block, I’m just predicting as someone who graduated from college in '88 and is experiencing my son’s issues and regulations to attempt to transfer.
I’m planning to transfer in the coming fall. Don’t know if anyone can help me to revie if i have any chance to get into UCLA UCI UCD UCSD ( structural engineering )?
Major: Civil engineering
current gpa: 3.54
Prereqs: Finished all phys and most of the math. Working on CS and last math class
EC: honor society ( permanent member )
-rose parade internship
Civil Eng looks like the toughest discipline with an avg gpa of 3.82 to 3.95. Then Engineering GPA’s range from 3.1 to 4.0. but you picked the most competitive discipline in the Major.
Thanks for all the feedback guys! Update, my GPA will be actually about 3.88 by fall, just an estimation and speculation. I will have about 45-50 units by fall and will be retaking general bio at my cc since it doesn’t articulate as bio 1. And my stats class will replace my pre calc class because it is a pre requisite. I’m determined to stick to being a comm major for UCLA, even if my GPA may be borderline, they even told me that submitting winter grades early will be considered. as for @KnightKing your C.E. GPA may be solid for Davis and Irvine, LA is a big reach and San Diego may consider you. It depends if you get your GPA to a high 3.6 or at least a low 3.7 by the time of application. Good luck!
Well, to be honest, @tjosocal, I’ve completely discarded submitting a TAP/TAG for UC Berkeley even if my current GPA at CC is 3.93, and I plan on getting it to 3.96 ~ 3.98 by transfer term because I don’t feel that my math skills are exceptional (I’d say I’m an A- when it comes to math). I’d rather do really well at another UC and graduate on time, than risk to struggle to get decent grades at Berkeley. Sadly, not all STEM majors are math geeks, more likely just above average
Berkeley doesn’t have TAG. Their TAP is simply a support system for girst gen, minority or low income. If you’re any of those and your CCC offers it, you should do it because while they claim it does not give priority, they say about 80% get in - probably because the TAP reps know exactly the steps you need to take. (It’s not honors-based like UCLA.)
