Warning about transferring AP credits + my transfer experience to UCLA

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>So when I was a CC student I unknowingly made the huge mistake of transferring all of my AP credits from high school which jeopardized my chance at getting into UC Berkeley. </p>

<p>As soon as I started CC I decided to transfer my AP credits to fulfill the English and some of the History portions of my IGETC. English and History are not my best subjects and I wanted minimal contact with them as possible. But little did I know that this would bite me in the rear later on. My #1 school was UC Berkeley (Haas to be specific) and I knew I had to get a near perfect GPA to have a chance at getting in. So I did it and I got the glorious 4.0. But as I was going through the process of applying to Haas I realized my horrifying mistake. My basic English course had to be fulfilled with a letter grade not credit from an AP exam. But not only that, I had only received a 4 on that AP English Exam. AND on top of that, I couldn't retake the English course for a letter grade at my CC because it was a "violation" to retake any class that I had technically "passed". So I panicked. I contacted at least 5 different community colleges around my area even ones that were 50 miles away because I was crazy enough to drive just for the stupid English class. That's how bad I wanted to get into Haas. But it was all too late.. my best option was to petition my situation to the board members at the CC. I petitioned and sat in these impacted English classes that I couldn't enroll in due to the restriction. So even if I got the approval, begging would have been futile for a PTE number. So as I expected, I got the approval long after the deadline which made me pretty ****ed.. but anyways. Berkeley rejected me for not having my requirements fulfilled.</p>

<p>I got into UCLA and I'm a Bus. Econ senior now, doing very well. I'm actually so glad I went to UCLA over Berkeley because it's a lot better than I thought in many aspects--the weather, the people, the parties, the city life.. I love it all. So maybe all of this happened for a reason. Not to mention I met my fiance indirectly through some other crazy events that happened there.. but I'm getting off topic. </p>

<p>So that's my crazy story, lesson definitely learned and maybe a helpful warning to some of you guys that are planning to transfer to UC Berkeley. What sucked was that the counselors were too oblivious, they didn't help me at all (although they tried to) and were completely unreliable. Bottom line: THINK BEFORE YOU TRANSFER ALL OF YOUR APs! and don't just rely on your counselors.. do your own research.</p>

2

<p>Damn…</p>

<p>This should be stickied on the UC transfers forum for all Haas applicants to see. Pretty valuable and interesting story for all the Haas applicants out there.</p>

3

<p>This happened to me in a different way.</p>

<p>I initially wanted to apply to Haas and was cleared of all calc by my counselor at my CC.</p>

<p>I luckily caught that Haas doesn’t take AP credit for AP Calc AB or BC unless you get a 5 on BC and you still have to take Calc II even if you get a 5.</p>

<p>I didn’t even end up applying to Haas and had to retake both Calc classes which I already had credit for, and ended up getting a C in Calc II so it has screwed up my chances for Econ or Math at either UCLA or UCB.</p>

<p>I also had AP credit for English but needed honors credit for TAP and took English anyways. They require in 101H and I didn’t want to risk it.</p>

<p>The biggest lesson is not to ever trust your counselor, make sure to cross reference and also that trying to apply broadly as possible won’t work unless you are definitive on a major the second you start at CC.</p>

4

<p>Haas’ AP policy is here: [Exam</a> Credit, Undergraduate Programs, Berkeley-Haas](<a href=“Application Process - Undergraduate Program - Berkeley Haas”>Application Process - Undergraduate Program - Berkeley Haas)</p>

<p>A 4 on AP English (either) fulfills English R1A; you would still need to take English R1B or equivalent. This is also true for other divisions and majors at Berkeley.</p>

<p>Note also that Haas’ weird rules about AP calculus are not a problem if you take Math 53 (multivariable calculus) or Math 54 (linear algebra and differential equations).</p>