@barbozafernando did you mention your Model UN experience from high school in your essays? I wrote one of the essays about my experience as a delegate for 3 years in high school as a contributing factor of my choice to study political science in college (I graduated in 2015, so not too long ago), but I’m worried because most of the posts here warn to only mention ECs that you completed while in college. My first choice is Berkeley but I’m worried I just screwed up my chances of getting into my dream school 
@barbozafernando Hi! Did you cite the letter of rec on your application…? I have one from the mayor but I unfortunately couldn’t use it because they don’t ask for any
39 days
You guys are trying way too hard. The UCSD admission rep showed me a table which UCSD admissions use to admit transfer students and it says they do not take either personal essay or ECs into consideration when reading applications. It’s 100% coursework, GPA, and course load. So no need to wonder about if your ECs are good enough or if your essay is touching enough 'cause they honestly don’t care. Out of all UCs, only UCLA, UC Berkeley and maybe UCSB (can’t remember) care about those things. So just relax and hope for the best.
@frkfr93 I 100% agree with this. I saw a counselor at my CC (I am local) who used to work as an admissions officer at UCSD. You want to know how many essays he told me he read? A big fat zero. I’m not sure about freshman but as a transfer, your essay means nothing to them. Berkeley and LA definitely take a more holistic approach, and I’m not sure who else.
If I can chime in, I attended MiraCosta College and the head of our transfer department (a PhD for what it is worth) in no uncertain terms that Berkeley is the only UC who reads the personal statement as part of their “holistic” approach. UCLA may go to the essays on a borderline applicant.
As a transfer student it is GPA, GPA, GPA, and major pre req’s (if required by the major), and IGETC, or completion of english, math, humanities courses, and 60 transferable units bu the spring prior to fall admission.
I did not put any EC’s on my application. I earned 60 units and an AA in December, have a 3.73 gpa, and applied to non-impacted majors and now here I am a 51 year old junior transfer to one of the elite Universities in the country.
Relax, and realize you do what you are asked to do, nothing more, nothing less. It is also a numbers game and if their are only x amount of transfer slots, and Y numbet of transfer, unless they are equal, someone is going to get left out.
@ald6191 perfectly said. It is totally a numbers game! Last year UCSD kind of under admitted and were scrambling for people and that’s why everyone got in off he wait list is they so wishes to attend.
Also people, make sure if your IGETC is complete to get it certified at your CC. I haven’t always had the best advice from counselors and almost slipped through the cracks on that one. My
IGETC is currently in the process of becoming certified.
@frkfr93 that’s good to know! Thankfully I’ve already been accepted to UCSD, my question was mostly concerning Berkeley/UCLA and how harshly they judge the essays and personal statement. I understand it’s a hollistic approach, so hopefully my GPA (3.98) will make up for me writing one of my essays about an EC from high school. There is some great information for future applicants reading the thread though! Knowing that UCSD only judges GPA definitely would have saved me some stress.
Also, lots of political science majors in this thread!! Weird coincidence?
Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone knew if they only consider transferable courses when calculating your transfer GPA? I was at CSULA last year before I transferred to a community college, and took “micro for health related sciences w/ lab,” and “intro to math models in biology,” both of which I am pretty sure are not transferable, being that they are unique to the CSU system. So I was wondering if they would be excluded from my overall GPA? (It would improve my GPA if they were excluded. lol)
Thanks, good luck everyone! 
@blue0222 your unofficial transcript will denote if your courses were uc/csu transferrable. I do not believe there is any distinction other than non-transferrable courses offered by your community.
In order to meet the 60 unit threshold those units have to be in csu/uc transferrable.
@jloomagoo i noticed the amount of poli sci majors that are on this thread and have been offered admission. We all are but a small percentage the 18k plus freshman/transfer applicants. Poli Sci may skew high on this board, however, based on the enrollement stats, it is a small %.
No I didn’t cite my Letter of Recommendation. I also didn’t mention MUN in my essay since it was not recent. What i did do is write about the Political Internship with Tony Mendoza in the UC Transfer prompt that has to do with leadership. If the UC’s need verification, they can contact him. Plus, he’s accessible to me since he lives in my city.
@barbozafernando I would think the relating of your practical political experience to the leadership prompt was viewed favorably. An interesting insight into the UCLA admission process is on youtube entitled; UCLA Admissions. This is definitely an inexact science.
I think if you were truly involved in something, you can write in your personal insight questions. Keep in mind, you would have to be truly involved and connect it to your major. In one of my essays, I honestly wrote about my deep passion for Political Science and how I always find myself reading, discussing and debating politics. What I also tied in is in the research and internship opportunities that the UC’s have such as the University of California, Washington Center (UCDC).
Another great video is “The impact of recent process changes in UC Berkeley Undergraduate Admissions”
Yes, that was my intention. 2 of most essay prompts were about Political Science, the third was about how I have matured and how I changed my attitude, study habits, and grades compared to high school. I also slipped in some Political Science. My last essay, is about my experience as a Student Ambassador and I used some anecdotes of how I personally made the my college a better place. On a another note, I am truly humbled to get accepted to UCSD, but my dream school is UCLA.
@barbozafernando I certainly hope you achieve your dream!
Thank you! I hope so too!
@MiniGrace11 Ok thanks! I’ll check it out.