Question not exclusive to UCSD, but regarding all UCs: If I drop a class during the spring semester prior to my transfer in fall, do I need to notify the schools to which I applied? Note: The class is a major class but does not have to be completed prior to transferring.
@UCbound77 Hey do you mind telling us what campuses you applied to? I feel like one of your campuses is eager to find out your grades for winter and they submitted that request. Are you a first year transfer or second?
@gool456 I was accepted on March 11th and did not receive that email. Did you commit already?
Whoever said only UCLA and Cal are the only that use a holistic review is wrong. UCI also does a holistic review. In fact, most campuses do, and a 2 second google search will provide you with more information.
Furthermore, a GPA preference comes into play when making decisions between extremely similar people that cannot both be admitted (sometimes a student will be placed in a waitlist instead of rejected due to their strong app.) A high GPA is not more important than extracurriculars or a good essay (well, personal insight questions now) because a GPA only says so much. This is why holistic reviews are so important to the UC.
@gabyitzelq1 Only UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCI and UCM read personal insight questions for the purpose of selecting transfer applicants, making it seem as if the level of “holistic review” varies between UCs. GPA matters a lot more compared to freshman applicants since transfer applicants have already proven they can/cannot handle college level coursework for their majors.
Oh wow just 13 days left until I find out what I’m doing with my life 8-> 8->
@Princetonian9 I am a 2nd year transfer from a 4 year OOS university, but I am California resident. I applied to Berkeley, Davis, San Diego, and Santa Barbara.
@HeardWell I’ve heard that it’s kind of the opposite of what you said. UCSD focuses more on GPA and major prep than anything else. The essays are pretty much if you’re a borderline candidate.
Per the UC Transfer Matrix;
Schools that use Personal Statements for admission decisions;
UCB
UCLA
UCI
UC Merced
One also does not know how much weight UCI and Merced give to personal statements.
@LynAmmo True, I’ve heard that as well. What I wrote was based on what I read online. I met with a UCB transfer rep awhile ago asking about essays (this was right before the personal insight questions were introduced), and he said that UCSD was becoming a bit more holistic.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/quick-reference-2016.pdf Page 43, if anyone was wondering where I got the info regarding the essays from.
UCSD doesn’t care about essays. If your GPA is high enough they will accept you. Last year I applied during the last day of the extension and did my essays in a couple of days. I still got accepted! Major was EE. So I don’t think they care about essays or EC’s since I had only a few. If your GPA is high enough you will get in. essays or EC are for people that are borderline well at least at UCSD. UCLA and UCB are another story good luck!
@anxious65 I was in a similar situation and they said it’s fine as long as it’s not required major prep that needs to be completed by the spring semester. That’s the response I got but I would advise you to call/email for your own case as it may vary for majors.
@HeardWell this is a transfer thread so the freshman GPA bit is irrelevant js.
@aldfig0 @fcb1010 I went to UCSD open house for transfers and I recall them say they do a holistic review for transfers, unless something has changed since the 2016-2017 school year. I had a friend that applied with a really low GPA and was accepted but her essays were pretty good. She was rejected at Cal and UCLA so??? I think it depends
@ald6191 yeah they def have become more holistic, and we have to consider this is the first year that personal insight questions are being used, so schools may be changing their admissions review process without straight up telling us. Honestly, I feel like if you’re a well rounded student and feel confident on all aspects of your app you shouldn’t worry too much? Unless your major is capped? A lot of people on here sound v stressed, if we made it this far we gotta relax, soon we’ll know where we’re going.
@gabyitzelq1. I doubt they got more holistic, it’s that each year they get more and more applicants. So they look at applications a little more but overall especially at UCSD GPA is the key!
@gabyitzelq1 yes I know this is a transfer thread… The point I was making is that GPA is much more important than other parts of your application. It’s more focused on numbers because students have already taken coursework in their intended majors. I compared it to freshman GPA because it’s harder to judge if they can succeed in their intended majors when they have limited experience in them.
I agree.
Yikes. College confidential is def an informal resource that pretty much lives off of hopeful souls that can do without the patronizing that comes attatched with many reps, fairs, and so forth. A productive conversation starts when someone thinks you’re wrong and that’s cool. We got lots to learn here by dispelling myths.
I know I wasn’t involved in this thread today, but dang, I really felt the vibe change. We’re all in the same position, trying to get by and help others if we can. Transferring is already hard enough as is. This isn’t a competition to prove who is right and be hostile to those you think are wrong. Not naming names, or attacking, it’s just an observation. I don’t know if this person knew they were coming off as condescending from their posts, but that’s what I’m (and I can see others too are) picking up. The last thing I want is for this thread to become an unfriendly place. 