What are my chances of acceptance for UCSB? (Computer Engineering, 3.2 / 2.7)

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hi, I'm planning on applying this Fall to transfer. I'm attending a California community college. My major is Computer Engineering. I plan on applying to:
UC Santa Barbara (as my main),
UC Irvine (as my back up),
UC San Diego (highly unlikely and only if I'm able to get a fee waiver)
I heard all these UCs are relatively good for Engineering. </p>

<p>My current overall GPA is 3.2 and my "major preparatory" GPA is 2.7. I'm assuming that "major preparatory" courses are the courses listed on assist.org.
By the end of Fall 2011, I predict my overall GPA will be 3.3 and my major GPA will be around 2.9-3.0.
It seems I'm unqualified for TAG. </p>

<p>I've taken many classes, estimating a total of 120 units when I finish with CC. I plan to finish my IGETC this coming Spring (second English class). Total time spent at CC, 3 years.
As for the assist.org classes listed, I plan to finish the final one on the list the summer right before I transfer (Summer 2012). I should be finished with all courses listed on assist.org EXCEPT 4 courses that aren't offered at my school. ("No course articulated") In addition, one of these courses that aren't offered at my school is listed in "required UCSB preparation courses". Since it says "required" and my school doesn't offer it, how will it affect me?</p>

<p>My questions:
1) What are my chances of being accepted to UCSB?
2) Will not completing these 4 courses that aren't offered at my school put me in a disadvantage? Or do they understand that it isn't offered and give an exception?
3) Am I correct to assume that "major preparatory" courses are ONLY the courses listed on assist.org?
4) I may (although I doubt it) plan to take some of these missing 4 courses at a CC nearby before transfer, will it affect my GPA or chances? (During Winter or Spring 2012)
5) Should I apply to TAG regardless of the fact that if my definition of "major preparatory" courses are correct, I will not be able to reach the minimum GPA for TAG?
6) How will the "required" course that isn't offered for me going to affect my application?</p>

<p>Unrelated question:
1) After I transfer, can I still take courses at a nearby CC to save some money?
2) I've read that when applying for graduate school, the schools look at CC and UC GPA but CC has a lower influence on acceptance. Is that correct? And how much lower?
Thank you.</p>

2

<p>I’ll also be applying this fall to UCSB, but with a Comp Sci degree. The requirements are nearly the same as CE.</p>

<p>1) UCSB states you need a 3.2 or higher to be competitive. I believe the average GPA for last year’s transfer students was ~3.4.</p>

<p>2) I have a very similar problem, except I have two required courses that aren’t offered at my CC. From what I have been told (from the admissions department at SB), is that these required classes are just that: required. If you don’t have all of them, you are not even eligible for admission. Period. Not sure if that only applies to TAG students…</p>

<p>Take that required course at a nearby CC if you can.</p>

<p>In my case I found a college nearby (about ~25min away) that has the two courses I need, but they look extremely similar to classes I’ve already taken (that aren’t articulated). I bugged the UCSB admissions department about this and they asked for the course descriptions so that they could be assessed. Just an FYI. Keeping my fingers crossed.</p>

<p>3) Yes, but I’ve seen some colleges put elective stuff in the Assist agreements. UCSB only puts the major classes in the agreements.</p>

<p>4) It will make you more competitive if you take the classes.</p>

<p>5) If you’re sure you’re not eligible, then don’t waste your one TAG. Ask a counselor at both your CC and at UCSB about eligibility. My counselor at my CC didn’t even mention the required courses. Be careful.
[UCSB</a> TAG](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucsb.edu/pdf/UCSB%20Fall%202012-13%20TAG.pdf]UCSB”>http://www.admissions.ucsb.edu/pdf/UCSB%20Fall%202012-13%20TAG.pdf)</p>

<p>6) As I said, I don’t believe you (or I) are even eligible without the required courses. At least that’s what admissions told me. Email UCSB admissions to be sure. They tend to be pretty responsive.</p>

<p>1) Yes, but I’m not sure if they can count towards your graduation requirements. Ask a counselor.
2) Don’t know</p>

<p>Everyone I have asked says something different on this matter. Email UCSB admissions for the nit-picky details. Also, directly email the engineering department just for kicks.</p>

3

<p>I emailed them and they said last year’s major GPA of an average applicant for Computer Engineering was 3.7! They also said any classes that aren’t offered won’t be held against you, including “required” courses. It’s hopeless…</p>

4

<p>Wow 3.7 damn. 3.4 was just the overall transfer average, but thanks for the update on the required classes dilemma and the gpa.</p>

<p>As a side note have you looked into Cal Poly SLO as another option? It’s an extremely good engineering school, the average gpa for transfer students (in engineering) for fall 2011 was a 3.4, and it’s only about a 1.5 hour drive north of Santa Barbara.
[Cal</a> Poly Student Profile](<a href=“Cal Poly Admissions”>Cal Poly Admissions)</p>

<p>Get that gpa up some more and good luck! Always remember that in can never hurt to apply. Hell, I’m applying to Berkeley just out of curiosity :slight_smile: You never know.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, I’ve looked at Cal Poly Pomona and SLO. I heard it’s good. However, the major problem is the transfer courses. If you look at assist.org, there are pages of “No Articulation Established” (at least for me). From what I understand, once you transfer, you have to play catch up on the classes that weren’t offered. I’m thinking 1-2 years alone to catch up? Another 2 years for upper division? 3 (CC, for me)+2+2=7 years to get your BS. That’s pretty BS. I don’t think so.
What makes UCSB ideal for me is not just being good for Engineering, but that I would only miss 3-4 classes listed on assist, which would make catching up not bad at all. Whereas UCI and UCD, there are far more classes not offered at my school, therefore more time wasted catching up.
I don’t know what to do man… GPA is down to the dumpsters. I’ll apply to UCI, UCD, and UCSB but… the anxiety is suffocating.</p>