UCLA biology transfer from CCC?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hi guys,
I wanted to know what you guys think are my chances on transferring to UCLA as a Molecular Cell Developmental Biology major.
Last year's average GPA accepted was a 3.67, the average applied was a 3.46 and the average enrolled was a 3.61. </p>

<p>My stats: 3.67 with all prereqs done
IGETC completed
Lots of extracurriculars such as working part time, volunteering, and presenting research. My personal statements I hope were good, they got my message across. </p>

<p>Anyways, what do you think are my chances? Last year 161 people applied and 77 got in, so almost 50%. But my gpa is RIGHT on the average, so I'm worried. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Do you have second semester or ochem or physics series done?</p>

3

<p>I’m leaving physics to take at the college that I transfer to, and I know that’s what most people do and colleges are completely fine with it since it’s “recommended” to take at CC. I’m taking the second semester of ochem in the summer.</p>

4

<p>I think you’ll get in. I had the exact same GPA last year, although I completed ochem and 2 of 3 physics courses, and was accepted to MCDB. I think you’ll be admitted granted you have strong grades in your pre-req courses and your personal statement is well-written, which it sounds like it was. Your other ECs sound strong as well, so that’s only a bonus. I’m pretty confident you’ll be admitted. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Is it a big deal that I’ll be completing the second semester of ochem in the summer? I talked to UCI admissions and they said it was fine, since on my UC app I stated that it’s a planned course. They said they’re evaluating me based on my completion of ochem in the summer.</p>

6

<p>For UCLA not as much. There are a decent number of life science transfers that are admitted without the second semester of ochem or the physics sequence completed, so it’s not a deal breaker if you’re missing them. Regardless, it definitely helps in the application process, especially if you’re below the average admitted GPA. That said, I think your ECs are very strong and go above and beyond what most applicants have done, so I think that will set you apart and make the difference.</p>

7

<p>That’s really refreshing to hear. Thank you for telling me that! UCLA has been my DREAM school since forever.
I really hope that my EC will help me shine! :)</p>

8

<p>Given that you don’t majorly screw up and that your personal statements are as good as you say…you are pretty much guaranteed. Major’s not that competitive to get into at all (do not confuse with ‘major is not competitive’ cause it’s intense!). I got in as MCDB but have since switched. Finishing up Ochem in summer is a great idea.</p>

9

<p>Chance me at UCLA?</p>

<p>Major: Human Biology and Society (Pre)
Every pre-req except for Gen Chem 2 complete.
Overall GPA: 3.32 =O (Trending Grades, REALLY high grades for pre-reqs, really low when I started College…6 years ago. haha)
Work: FULL-time
EC’s: Volunteer for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Tutor students for CSE (Presidential Award Winning program for science math and engineering majors). Feeding the Homeless, Food/Toy Drives Bi-Weekly.
Honors&Awards: Only Academic Dean’s List for 2 Semesters</p>

<p>Oh yea, and recent (like last year) Lymphoma Cancer survivor.</p>

<p>Any luck? I know my GPA totally sucks…but it’s hard raising your OVERALL GPA when you started off college with C’s in 5 Unit lower division math classes. but 6 years later A in Calc I and Calc II…raising my GPA like .1 -_-’</p>

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<p>How come MCDB’s avg admitted GPA is lower than just regular biology? I applied as regular bio major… :frowning: I didn’t know MCDB existed hmm and there are a lot more applicants for regular biology too and much more competitive… does anyone know why?</p>

11

<p>@ wintergreeen, it’s also known that MCDB is a very tough major once you are admitted, so don’t sweat it. Do what you enjoy.</p>

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<p>@wintergreeen
There’s not a huge discrepancy. You should select MCDB, if you’re more into genetics, molecular mechanisms, metabolism, developmental biology, etc. If you’re more into ecology and evolution then general biology is probably the better option. Really, the average admitted GPA’s for the life science majors fluctuate annually based on the applicant pool. So just because one major was a little lower one year doesn’t mean it will be like that for the next cycle. For example just in 2011 the MCDB avg admitted GPA was almost identical to general biology, 3.71 and 3.72. This year it fluctuated a little and there was a bigger discrepancy. Next year they may be identical again or even switch. For the most part if you can get into one of the life sciences majors, you should be good enough to get into any of the others. The average admitted GPA’s are close enough and they all have exactly the same pre-reqs. </p>

<p>@WordofTeekz
Your situation is a bit hard to predict. Did you have a chance to talk in depth about being a cancer survivor in your personal statements? If you did I think that could make up for your GPA, if you didn’t it would be a pretty long shot. Obviously, any time you’re more than a few tenths of points below the GPA average you’re at a disadvantage. But your situation is very unique and the fact that you’ve gone through so much and have even gotten to this point is amazing. You obviously have had remarkably difficult hurdles to overcome compared to almost every other applicant, so it would surprise me at all if you got into UCLA, it’s just difficult to say with certainty though. That being said, there are plenty of great UC’s for biology even if you don’t and I’m sure you’ll get into a few of them.</p>

13

<p>@dilapidatedmind</p>

<p>I did in fact write thoroughly about my experience with an advanced stage in Cancer and how it’s my main driving force to promote cancer awareness.</p>

<p>Here is a more thorough list of my academic backgrounds and other UC’s that I have applied to (I may have repeated myself from my earlier post on this thread but below is the original):</p>

<p>CCC Transfer Fall 2013 to UCSD, UCD, UCI, UCB, UCLA,</p>

<p>UCSD - Physiology and Neuroscience
UCD - Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
UCLA - Human Biology and Society (Pre)
UCB - Integrative Biology
UCI - Biological Sciences</p>

<p>3.27 GPA Major GPA =O
3.35 Non-Major GPA</p>

<p>Junior Transfer 2013
Complete IGETC
Completed all Pre-reqs (Except Gen Chem 2 for UCD, UCI, UCLA, UCSD)</p>

<p>TAG: UCSD
TAP: UC Berkeley</p>

<p>EC:
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
AIDS Walk
Food Drives
Book Drives
Center for Science Excellence
Tutor for aspiring STEM (Science Mathematics Technology and Engineering) Majors</p>

<p>Honors:
Academic Dean’s List
Employee of the Year</p>

<p>Other:
Full-Time Worker (got bills to pay, bruh!)
Trending Grades (REALLY high grades for pre-reqs, really low when I started College…6 years ago. haha)</p>

<p>Oh yea, and a recent Lymphoma cancer survivor (like last year recent), diagnosed Fall 2011 – forced to withdraw from courses. Following Spring took two courses (one of which was Calc I) while undergoing intensive chemo and radiation therapy. Summer 2012, took Calc II (and some general ed course for an Associate’s) while undergoing radiation therapy. Fall 2013 came back with a vengeance taking 13 units, General Biology I, Organic Chemistry I, General Physics I with Calculus Supplement. All three with labs – Straight B’s (=/), this semester taking the second Semester’s version of ALL 3 of those courses. (Generaly Biology II, Ochem II, Physics w/ Calc II) Hopefully getting at least 2 A’s, praying for straight A’s.</p>

<p>Personal Statement: My story, and how I’m on a mission to uphold and promote cancer awareness! (Meaning everybody should see their personal physician and get blood tests and physicals!! Cancer doesn’t discriminate! It happened to me and I was only 21 when first diagnosed with no symptoms until it was too late and I was at a very late stage and had to suffer through chemo AND radiation therapy.) Had to insert my plug there, haha, anyways…I am driven to help young adults and children diagnosed with cancer learn more about the physiological effects that treatments like chemo and radiation may cause on the body.</p>

<p>Thanks again for your VERY thorough response @dilapidatedmind I appreciate your feedback and am crossing my fingers now until the end of April. In your above statement you wrote, “so it would surprise me at all if you got into UCLA, it’s just difficult to say with certainty though.” Did you mean it would not surprise you? Or were you being realistic and really meant that you would be surprised if I were to be accepted. Either way, I am humbled by your honesty and feedback. I know that I could just stay at community college and raise my OVERALL GPA my taking some more classes but I need to keep it moving and my TAP advisor kept on telling me to at least try to apply to UCB and UCLA. =)</p>

14

<p>Sorry, I meant to say it “wouldn’t” surprise me if you got into UCLA despite the GPA. However, I didn’t realize that you said you will not have finished General Chemistry 2, which might be a deal breaker. On Assist.org and on the UCLA website, it says that to be considered for admission you have to complete one full year of general chemistry w/ lab, in addition to one semester of organic chemistry. They tend to be fairly strict regarding this, so unfortunately that might lead to a rejection. :frowning: It may have been better if you would’ve taken that last general chemistry course this semester instead of ochem II for UCLA (although you need it for Berkeley) or had tried to squeeze both in. That said, I like your chances for both UCI and UCD. UCSD tends to be heavily GPA dependent for admissions and supposedly they don’t factor the personal statement into their decision, which is unfortunate. I would say your chances wouldn’t be as high for UCSD as for UCD or UCI. Also regarding TAG, the GPA cutoff for UCSD is 3.5 for TAG, so yours probably won’t be approved. In addition, UCSD TAG doesn’t guarantee admission into Biology majors (because the department is impacted), just the school itself. Berkeley is a bit of a mystery to me. I know they’ll factor in your personal statement, I just don’t know to what extent. Obviously, they’re extremely competitive all around and probably the most well known UC for Biology, so they’re difficult to get into for anyone. They do tend to be a little unusual with admissions though, so I’m not sure. You mentioned you’re taking General Physics II this semester, do you know if that covers the Physics 8A and 8B requirement for Berkeley? Coming from my CC Berkeley required 3 Physics courses as an equivalent to 8A and 8B and I know they’re VERY strict on pre-reqs as well. I was rejected to Berkeley last year for missing one pre-req and my stats were pretty competitive. </p>

<p>Anyway, I wish you the best of luck. I hope you post back here when you hear back from everyone as I’d be eager to see what happens. Good luck.</p>

15

<p>@dilapidatedmind
sorry I have one more question,
my major gpa is like a 3.5 and overall it’s 3.67, is that really terrible?</p>

16

<p>For your major gpa are you talking about the gpa in all of your prerequisites or just biology courses? And 3.5 for your major gpa is fine. It’s not like they’re going to overlook you because your major gpa was a little lower than your overall gpa.</p>

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<p>in all of the prerequisites, my biology classes are fine it was just calc that i got a B in </p>

<p>okay thank you :)</p>

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<p>@dilapidatedmind
you know what’s really annoying? I just realized my GPA would’ve been a 3.81 if I hadn’t gotten B’s my first semester of community college, it bull***** GE classes :frowning:
I really really hope I get into la</p>

19

<p>@dilapidatedmind</p>

<p>how hard is UCLA’s molecular cell developmental biology? i am a 2nd language student. i am super worried cuz i want to get into pharmacy with high gpa. Now i have 3.68. I just got accepted to UCLA transferring from UCSC. But I am super worried. What do you think???</p>