Hi guys,
I’m a rising sophomore at a private university…I would really like to transfer to a UC (for many reasons), so I’ve been doing a lot of research and trying to figure out how the process works. I am aware that my chances of getting accepted is low since I’ll be transferring from a private university, as opposed to a CCC.
I was really hoping that some of you guys could guide me through the application process. Did any of you guys have a college counselor to help you with the transfer process? Did you attend orientation for transfer students?
Thank you all in advance.
Hi guys,
I heard it is extremely hard to get accepted to UC engineering for OOS students. My intended major is Chemical Engineering and my gpa is 3.6-3.7 ish. I applied to UCB UCLA UCI USB UCSD, what are my chances? I heard from UCSB advisor it is super hard to get into their chemical engineering program because it is small and I will be most likely to miss a pre req(MATLAB) and she said in the last few admission cycles only 4.0 students that missed a pre-req got accepted … I was like thats fuckin bullshit
And I heard that top UC like UCB and UCLA actually consider the personal statement more than any other UC? So does that mean more chances for me to get into top UC if my personal statement is extremely good?
@Tanasta While it’s true that few students are admitted from out of state, it’s not impossible! From what I’ve gleaned from the UA department and the advising team at my school, it’s the hardest to transfer directly from another state without any California classes under your belt. I just moved to California in August, so the vast majority of my classes are from OOS. However, I learned recently that all of them will transfer. I don’t think that UCB or UCLA will look over any missing major prep or requirements because of a strong personal statement. All state universities look to place their own state’s students first, not just the UCs.
Have you checked assist.org to see if you’ve taken comparable classes to the major requirements at the UCs? Luckily, I had completed most of my major pre-requisites when I was OOS and those will transfer over. I am completing the rest of my requirements at a CCC right now. That being said, a strong personal statement will help you, but a weak one will not necessarily hurt you.
@incogneato yes I have checked assist. Actually community colleges in washington are using quarter system just like most uc and california cc. So I am pretty sure that most of my courses are gonna transfer. For some uc I am gonna be missing like one preq, each uc has a slightly different prereq for chemE. like ucb requires biology and other ucs dont. So you think a strong personal statement would make up for my missing pre req?
@Tanasta Are you applying to transfer from a Washington CC? That’s where most of my classes are from as well, actually. I don’t know which city you’re in, but in Seattle, most classes that have an ampersand at the end generally transfer over quite easily. As long as you’ve taken fairly general courses, you’re probably safe. Are you hoping to transfer straight out of Washington?
Last year I got into UCLA, UCD, and UCI from out of state 
I ended up taking this year off to work and for some other reasons… Imma apply to berkeley this year too, its my dream! its not impossible to get accepted! Good luck all 
@Molisha Thank you for the nudge of encouragement! It always helps to hear from other OOS people!
@incogneato hehe no problem xP just remember to have lots of options open! which UCs are you applying to?
@Molisha Well, that’s where it gets a little difficult. We JUST moved to Los Angeles, so the only UC that I applied to is UCLA. I will be applying to other colleges in the area, but UCLA is the ultimate dream!
@incogneato ohhh I got you 
lol last year I got in as a chinese major, but I decided I wanted to switch my major to poly sci- which is a lot harder… what major did you pick?
@Molisha Psych. 
(I know…) Luckily, all of my classes from OOS transferred over and I only needed three pre-requisites by the time we moved down! I will be able to finish them all by the end of spring, thankfully. Had you taken any classes in California prior to transferring?
NOPE lol I live in Minnesota xD yup, good thing you’ll get them done. I think psych is hard to get into at UCLA?
@Molisha It is one of the most difficult besides Business Economics! It is extremely impacted. I’m pretty happy with my stats, but that somehow doesn’t ease my mind at all!
Lol being OOS is what makes it really scary. I saw a stat like 94% accepted are from ca community colleges…
@incogneato Yea Seattle. I am going to transfer straight out from washington. I heard it’s super tough for engineering, especially if you’re an OOS student. I’d be happy to get accepted into any of them
@Tanasta It’s true that it is difficult, but many statistics show that it isn’t impossible! For what it’s worth, all of my credits from North were counted as valid by UCLA. I still don’t think that a strong personal statement would “make up” for any lack of pre-requisites, but if anything, it will help and not hurt you. The UCs understand if you were not able to complete a class due to it not being available, but that’s also probably a big part of why it’s so hard to transfer in from OOS. If it’s just one, I can’t imagine it would hinder you TOO much, but if it’s more than that and it’s a highly competitive program, it’s really hard to say.
The more important stats gleaned from UCLA is 29.53% of CCC were accepted in 2014 and 10.18% from OOS. And you have to assume a lot of those OOS just did not get the requirements done. Your odds are still quite doable, assuming everything lines up.
Now Berkeley engineering, I have heard is harder to get into from OOS.
https://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof14.htm
would a 3.4-3.5 gpa be passable for UCSB
@Johnbush54
Well, 47% of transfers were accepted- 5% not being from a CA CC, and I believe a 3.4-.3.5 will be fine if you have more some ECs and such? I’m sure you’re qualified, but sometimes with OOS applicants it can be a coin toss :’(
@Molisha I would’ve thought they would want my out of state money lol, is the 5% statistic because not many students from out of state applied? or because its harder for out of state kids to get in?