UCSD Tag GPA increase to 3.5?

<p>@UChoepful: I do believe that no matter what major one is,they have to be the best in it even if it’s in the hard sciences or engineering majors.Yet, I believe that someone interested in those fields should with a 3.5 GPA rather focus on UCLA and Berkeley.I believe that SD has set the bar too high and should of increase their GPA requirement to 3.2 like SB did.</p>

<p>i thought i was trippin when i went on their site today, SOL on my part.</p>

<p>I can’t believe UCSD even does tag at all.</p>

<p>@ zambonibecky: well there also rumors that UCSD plans to go holistic review so may be EC’s can now mean something on your application because before,all that UCSD cared was GPA and the classes you’ve taken.</p>

<p>@ray</p>

<p>I definitely understand Berkeley, but UCSD and UCLA are equals in the Science and Engineering majors. With that said, I think this TAG increase can be viewed as UCSD trying to distinguish itself from the mid-tier UCs. Right now UCSD is the third most applied to of the UCs and this stems solely on its excellent academic reputation. In order to maintain, and even elevate, that reputation, it makes sense that the school is going to admit higher achieving students.</p>

<p>Actually, I think it’s fair to science guys too. You know why? UCSD’s TAG doesn’t even require prereqs! The only requirement to get into UCSD is you complete IGETC. </p>

<p>With a 3.5 requirement? Screw the prereqs! Go finish your IGETC+TAG first. I’d be amazed if you didn’t have a 4.0 GPA in the IGETC classes (even I do ;))</p>

<p>If this was UCI or UCD or UCSC or something, I’d consider screaming bloody murder because getting a B in say, Multivariable Calculus or any of the calc-Physics classes is far from not being capable of being an engineer. If you’re not capable of engineering you won’t stand a chance in hell of passing those classes.</p>

<p>^ definitely agree. I have a 3.87 and UCSD is the only school I got into last year because they are so relaxed about completing major requirements.</p>

<p>I think people are freaking out because they kind of associate TAG with the cut-off for competitive admission. I don’t think that will be the case. If you’re a science or engineering major and only have like a 3.0-3.2 but all the pre-reqs done you would most likely still be competitive. It’s probably good they’re bumping the requirements for GUARANTEED admission, as it was probably far too easy for science majors before. I mean before you could scrape by with all B’s in just the IGETC classes, not even take calculus and physics and still get into an engineering major, at least now with a 3.5 TAG they should be able to tell you’re at least a somewhat serious student even if you don’t have the pre-reqs done.</p>

<p>Part of the reason I gave up with UCSD was that the TAG didn’t make any sense for engineering majors. Most schools require few GE classes for Engineers and are really strict on major prereqs, it seems unreasonable that UCSD is different in that regard. </p>

<p>Oh well, that they require an engineering student to be really good in their IGETC classes sounds ok to me. An engineer that is good at English and well-versed in history and such will do much better than an engineer that can’t do anything but math. Hehe. ;)</p>

<p>I think it means you have to prepare specifically for UCSD - and that might actually be a good idea because UCSD is pretty heavy on the general ed.</p>

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<p>Yeah, because apparently they won’t still require you to take those math classes after transferring. </p>

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<p>Yes, I agree it is not ideal that science and engineering majors do not have a separate TAG in place; however, no matter what school you get into they are still going to require you to complete some sort of GE classes. By finishing IGETC as a science or engineering major, at least you will know that almost all (in my case except for two) the classes you have to take once you transfer will be associated with your major. I don’t know how you feel, but I enjoy the fact that now that I’m deep into engineering my course load I don’t have to worry about writing some BS 10-page paper for a GE class I have no interest in.</p>

<p>I think the increase is a good thing. I think a minimum 3.0 is ridiculously low given how hard it is for freshmen to gain entrance and the academic prestige of the university.</p>

<p>As for the sudden increase, given the current financial crisis, it’s only expected. That’s life. It will not always turn out as you expect it would, that is why you always have to be giving your 100%. </p>

<p>FYI, UCSD is the second most applied UC.
[UCSD</a> in high demand from applicants | La Jolla Light](<a href=“http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/01/20/ucsd-in-high-demand-from-applicants/]UCSD”>http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/01/20/ucsd-in-high-demand-from-applicants/)</p>

<p>Also, UCSD has already switched to hollistic admissions for freshmen, so I would not be surprised if the TAG program is switched to TAP in the near future.
[UCSD</a> Adopts New Admissions Process|The Guardian](<a href=“http://www.ucsdguardian.org/news/ucsd-adopts-new-admissions-process/]UCSD”>UCSD Adopts New Admissions Process – The UCSD Guardian)</p>

<p>I’m a third year Biochemistry and Cell Biology student at UCSD (was not a transfer, but a lot of my friends are), so if anyone has any questions for me, let me know.</p>

<p>Not enough funding to have enough UCs to handle the huge amount of students in California doesn’t really equate to prestige IMHO.</p>

<p>Unless your sole measure of prestige is the average GPA of entrants by looking at USNews.</p>

<p>If I have a 3.49 GPA, will I be considered as having a 3.5 GPA??</p>

<p>No, but IIRC, if you had a 3.495 you would. GPAs are only rounded if they extend to the thousandths place.</p>

<p>I’m having a 3.489… oh well fortunately I am transferring this year</p>

<p>Now I feel a little shaky and less confident about transferring Fall 2012. I currently have 43 units done with a 3.61, if I dropped to as low as 3.4 with 60 Units, IGETC and Major Prep done, what chance would I stand as a Poly Sci major at Cal and LA? Davis?</p>

<p>Oh and I forgot to add, I’m well aware the CSU system is there for “less prolific students” but come on, that is being nerfed to all hell by budget cuts too. All thanks to a buncha greedy morons in silicon valley that refuse to pay their taxes >> Sure, they love free EV charging stations… but … yea paying for it? SCREW THAT!</p>

<p>They should raise it, at least for engineering majors. They accepted wayyy too many people into non impacted engineering majors last year (in my opinion) and it seems like there are a lot of people doing really bad that weren’t prepared for the school.</p>

<p>damn this suck! its 3.5 now? i have 3.3 hopefully by end of spring 11 semester. do you guys think they will think about dropping down the gpa to 3.0??</p>

<p>I doubt they’ll ever consider dropping down the GPA requirement. They never did and they never will. I honestly don’t think it’s fair. Community college has long been advertised in high school as a soft route to get accepted into a higher university. With the new requirements, it basically puts you in the same level as being a high school student all over again. My brother is just 3 years older than me and when he transferred, the minimum was 2.8.</p>

<p>I agree, a 3.5 tag gpa for engineering and science majors is a good thing. honestly, a subpar 3.5 gpa in cc will almost surely result in failure at ucsd. Ucsd science and eng classes are known for being incredibly hard. It takes maybe 6 hours to study for a test in CC and get an A, my girlfriend is a bio major and often studies 26 hours on a test and gets a C or even a D. This also happens to all of her roomates. I read this somewhere but I think it’s pretty true. For social science and humanity majors at the UCS, your effort results in your grade (An A if you really tried), however, your grades in science and eng majors are a complementation of your intellect. To get good grades (mostly A’s) you have to be incredibly intelligent, as well as hardworking, now imagine your handicap if your not prepared to be studying 20+ hours per test and your not a genius, you will surely fail. </p>

<p>bahh I’m overall glad ucsd is raising the tag, I don’t even think they should have tag at all. What top 35 school gives you a guarantee with a 3.0 gpa from a community college, ***.</p>