I saw a fall '18 UC Berkeley thread and couldn’t find one for UCSD, so I created this one. If there are any aspiring UCSD transfer students that want to discuss anything pertaining to major stats (gpa, ec’s, etc), the application process as a whole, or anything else regarding UCSD—you have found your destination!
Quick question, this thread might not be the best place to ask this but… I am a freshman at Baylor University and I am looking to transfer ASAP. I would like to go to either UCI or UCSD, I know that a minimum of 60 semester units must be completed to transfer in, and I am on track to complete those by the end of Spring 2018. If I were to have all my transferable units completed by the end of Spring 2018, would I have a chance at Fall 2018 admission? I know I will have to do my absolute best GPA wise and for the personal insight questions, If I were to do well on both would I have any chance at fall 2018 admission, or would my status of only one year at university have bearing on my application? I am a California resident and I was admitted to a UC - Santa Barbara to be exact, as a high school senior. Any help or advice would be great thank you
Out of state 4 year transfers get low priority. CA CC to UC transfers have the highest priority, followed by UC to UC, CSU to UC, 4 year CA privates and then OOS. If you have a competitive GPA and have met all the transfer requirements and the minimum unit requirements by Spring 2018, you stand a decent chance at the transfer.
Here are some links for UC Transfer GPA admits by major and campus and another for UC transfers by source school to help you gauge your chances.
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/admissions-source-school
Thank you!
One more question if you don’t mind, if I finished my second semester at a California community college, reached 30 units completed from there between winter and spring sessions, would I have a better chance of admission since I am applying from a CCC?
@calcuca: If you complete 30 or more units at a CA CCC then you would have a higher priority in the transfer process. You could even TAG to any of the 6 UC’s that accept TAG.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/guarantee/index.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/tag-matrix.pdf
Would technically being a freshman, and only having one semester worth of grades and classes to submit with my app have a negative impact on my review? I have completed several concurrent enrollment courses, passed 6 AP tests, and completed 15 units this fall semester, however those are the only solidified grades they would receive on the applications. The rest of the units would be planned and in progress, will this have a negative bearing?
Hello,
I’m just wondering what my chances of being accepted would be without completing all major pre reqs for UCs. I am a marine bio major currently studying at a ccc and will be applying to UCSD, UCSC, and UCSB for Fall 2018. By the end of the spring semester I will still be missing the entire physics series and calc 2 and 3. My gpa is a 3.40 and I am also currently working as a vet assistant and interning at an aquarium.
The earlier the better, here are my stats
CC student transferring after 1 year at CSU and 1 year at CCC
GPA: 3.40, hopefully 3.5 by the end of the fall
Major: Marine Biology
Recommended Prerequisites left: Calc II and III, missing physics series
ECs: Worked around 20 hours a week as veterinarian assistant , 6 month internship as part of animal care staff at Aquarium of The Bay in SF (around 16 hours a week), Youth Leader at local church, Treasurer of Environmental Action Club
Also applying to: UCSC, UCSB, CSULB, and SDSU
I’m relying mostly on my ECs and my personal statement. My GPA is a result of working during the semester and a lack of motivation at times. I also have some APs from high school, probably won’t matter too much at this point.
are you using TAG for UCSC
couldnt tag because one of the course i took at the CSU i attended did not articulate to the cc so i had less then 30 units, which is one of the tag requirement
my guess is that you’ll get into UCSC but, probably not the others. LB and SD States both give significant preference to local applicants, which makes it really hard to transfer in. I’d add a couple of less selective schools to your ap list so you don’t get shut out. Monterrey, Humboldt and Sonoma are candidates.
good luck.
Never too soon I suppose:
CC student in the San Diego area.
69 Lower Division units
GPA 3.091/ Hopefully 3.29 in the next 6 weeks.
Major: Philosophy/ Poli Sci- Public Policy for alt major
Pre-requsite Remaining: All of Assist.org courses completed this fall for both majors.
EC’s: Right before I moved out of my uncle’s house, my friend and her 5 dependents and I became a family. I’ve been slaving this semester going from the solo anime watching student, to the part-time father figure/ full time student/ part-time rideshare driver. If you don’t have kids, let me tell you something, when you have a philosophy exam at the end of the week that you want to study for because you want a 4.0 in your major for transfer and the kids call you and tell you they are starving and havent eaten all day, meaning more time on the road, you may, like me, start to bang your head on your steering wheel. In the end, its worth the struggle I feel.
IGETC: I need 1 language course which I will take in the Spring
Applying:
Cal, LA; ( just because you never know)
SD (My dream school. Not to mention I get the local $10k Chancellor grant) ,
SB and a handful of CSU’s, my local SDSU for sure.
I pray I get in. I didn’t get in last year as I had a 2.6 gpa at time of application. A tough spring and Summer, and im back above 3.0. If I get the 3.2 minimum which I should, I’ll have an option of either getting a second associate degree, or simply taking random honors courses to get college honors. Not sure yet which would be more of a benefit either way, it wouldn’t be until the end of May.
Hey everybody
CA Resident applying from OOS 4 year (Arizona State)
GPA: 3.5 (best case)
Major: Economics
Alt. Major: International Economics
Prereqs: Finished by Spring 2018
Applied: UCSD and SDSU
Essays: Decent (I think)
EC’s:
- Actively Involved (1000+ hours total) in and helping run a rescue organization in the San Diego area currently and since freshman year of HS
- Other misc. volunteer work in a state run summer program in California
- Worked as a competitive gymnastics coach throughout high school and beginning of college
- Currently working at a science museum 25 hrs/week
Other things that probably won’t help but I added in my application anyways:
- Graduated from a California HS in 3 years
- Worked and grew up in the San Diego area
- Was a competitive gymnast throughout HS
I know I have a pretty low priority coming from and OOS 4-year, but i’m hoping I have a reasonable chance at my alternate major since it’s GPA range is pretty low and it isn’t capped. I also think I had some unique topic for my essays, but I’m sure most people do and I wasn’t under the impression UCSD put too much value in them. I’m hoping that at least living, working, volunteering, and going to school in the greater San Diego helps my chances.
CCC Student - Major: PoliSci
GPA: 3.84
IGETC & Prereqs: Done Fall 2017
Applying: UCB, UCLA (TAP), UCSD
My question is about the essays. I have been looking for quality examples of UC transfer application essays online, but I am having a hard time finding ones that are geared towards nontraditional students. Are there any resources out there that approach the transfer essays from a nontraditional, older student perspective?
I am a CCC student from Foothill College, just submitted my application.
Schools applied:
UCB, UCLA, UCSD, UCD (with TAG), UCSB, UCI
Will apply to John Hopkins (might also give Stanford a shot)
Foothill:
Overall GPA: 3.919 (might become 3.92 after this quarter)
Major GPA: 3.91
I also did attend to an university in Taiwan for half year then dropped out, was majoring in Entomology.
(GPA 3.556/4.00, 18 transferable units).Hopefully it would not affect my chance for admission 
Major: Neurobiology (human bio as alternative)
IGETC: Will be completed before 2018 spring, 2 GE classes left
Major course:
Finish most of them (3 bio, 1 physics, 2 math, 3 gen chem, 2 ochem); 1 math and 1 English class in progress.
Still 3 classes left (2 physics,1 ochem), will complete all of them by 2018 spring
TAP: YES
EC’s/work:
Working around 30 hr per week in a Chinese restaurant
Private tutor
Internship in a lab at UCSF (2017 summer)
Secretary at Chemistry Club (2016-2017)
Communication director at Neuroscience Club (2016)
Inter-club council representative at Neuroscience Club (2016)
Inter-club council representative at Philosophy Club (2017)
President at neuroscience Club (2017)
Participation in ACS annual conference
Always on the Dean’s List
Honors Program
Member of school’s volleyball team in Taiwan’s university
Free tutor for low-income students in Taiwan
And being self-supported (I am very poor if that counts lol)
About me:
Asian American, new immigrant, ESL
Got through domestic abuse, came to USA alone to pursue my dream
Personal Insight Questions: Revised it for thousands of times. Seems pretty strong (hopefully)
Chance me if you can, or you could post your status too
Again, Good Luck !!! 
Transferring from CCC
Major-Philosophy
GPA-3.7
Major GPA-4.0
EC’s-camp counselor, math tutor
I’ve applied to Cal, UCLA, UCSB, & Davis
Then to SDSU, Long Beach, & SFSU
I was a math major till a semester ago, so it’s a weird transition, but I’m ready to transfer.
My personal statements aren’t that bomb because I’m not much of a writer, yet.
Good luck to everyone, it makes it easier to wait for decisions knowing that other people are suffering too! Ha.
I am taking Calc this semester as a P/NP so that I could focus on O chem and bio…fearing that I may not pass it. What happens if you don’t pass a class after you’ve submitted your application? Will this greatly affect my chances of being accepted?
But my stats are:
Transferring from CCC
Major-Environmental Systems:Ecology/Evolutionary Bio and my alternate was Marine Bio
GPA-getting a C in one of my bio classes…probably going to be a 3.2 
EC’s: Work. Tons of work experience in a veterinary clinic. Worked two jobs this semester and summer- working up to 7 days a week. Also, volunteering at my local zoo. Too busy Otherwise…not any other awards or anything.
Recommended Pre-Reqs: Done, except Physics, Calc II amd III. Taking o chem part 2 in the summer.
I am so anxious about all of this, and I fear that I won’t be accepted and spend another year at my CC.
CCC transfer (Nearest UC to me is UCSD)
60 UC-transferable credits
GPA 3.9 (3.93 after fall 2018)
Major: Political Science
Pre-Reqs: All finished by spring
ECs: political campaign internship, VP of Democrats club for one year, and working part-time for 3 years.
I’m a low-income student, also. I’m very confident in my essays, and I believe they’ll reflect my application positively.
IGETC: Completed
I’m very positive that I’ll get into UCSD, and I do plan on going there regardless of which other UCs I get into. It’s the closest to my family, and I love the area of San Diego.