What are my chances of transfering to a UC?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I came to cc in Spring of 03 with a ged. In Fall the same year I ended up leaving school to take a full-time job, ignorant thinking that I would be succesful in the car buisness. I completely screwed up my first year at cc. Most of the classes that I took were remedial English and a few transferable social science's. I had dropped out of highschool my junior year and served time in a youth-detention facility. It was there where I obtained a GED.</p>

<p>These were my grades my first year; BACWBWWWWW</p>

<p>I know that I screwed up really bad my first year, all I knew was that going to college would somehow improving living in the future. However, I didn't know anything about where I was headed or what I wanted to do. At that time,part of my motivation to attend college was to leave the school I was ordered to attend, designed for people on parole who had just left the facility.</p>

<p>After about one year living much below my expectations with the full-time job, I decided to return to cc to transfer to a 4 year to earn some type of degee. Currently I have finished one year and have a 3.8 GPA. </p>

<p>These are my most recent grades, the grades I earned after returning to school; BCABAAABAA. I have a total of 29 transferable Units.</p>

<p>This past year, the thought of my chance to transfer to a University has been my passion and drive. For a long time it was an oppurtunity that I believed was no longer open to me.</p>

<p>Im a little embarassed to say this, but I want to attend either UCSD,UCB,UCLA, or UCD. UCSD and UCD at the moment seem like my most realistic choice.</p>

<p>I plan to major in either economics or some physical or biological science. I prefer majoring in sciences but I am so far behind in math. By the end of next semester, I would only finish plane trigonometry. I think that most science majors require you to finish calculus before transfering(??).</p>

<p>If I major in economics, I will be ready to apply in this coming fall, however the other route would probally require another two years in CC.</p>

<p>Given my circumstances (many W and 2 C's), what are the chances of me getting accepted to one of these schools? If I decide to do sciences, would I have to finish all the calculus classes before I apply or transfer?</p>

<p>I really appreciate anyone who has made it this far in reading this. It's just that it's been on my mind for a long time now.</p>

<p>Any advice or opinion you can offer me would be a very big help, good or bad.
Thanks</p>

2

<p>First of all, UCs care more about transferrable units, so I think many of the classes during your first year (remedial classes) don't even factor into the UC-transferrable GPA which is what the University is almost entirely concerned with. Secondly, you've clearly shown a very dramatic improvement and UCs like those kinds of applicants, because it shows you overcame obstacles. Although it's impossible to make any sort of admssion guarantee for UCLA or Cal, I think your chances are a lot better than you might believe.</p>

3

<p>You dont need to have all your math done.... For example,UCSB doesnt require any of your pre reqs to be done before hand. It all depends on how well you have done in the rest of your classes.</p>

4

<p>Well...let's see.</p>

<p>In order to transfer as a junior, you usually need to have 60 transferable units, including required courses that satisfy math,english,science,arts/humanities, social science and language areas. Fulfilling these general ed requirements is also known as IGETC. You need to check with a counselor at your community college and make sure you're on the path to completing this certification. Like I've suggested to many others wishing to transfer to a UC, check out <a href="http://www.assist.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.assist.org&lt;/a> and see what is required to declare your desired major at the college(s) you are interested in applying to. UC's like to see that you're well prepared in your major, and that you have completed most, if not all the courses needed to declare your major of choice.</p>

<p>As far as math goes, you just need to have completed a college level math course in order to transfer. I took Statistics, but I know there are several other math courses that will do. Just make sure you don't assume it works at the college you wish to transfer to - check with your counselor or an admissions officer at the four university you're applying to. </p>

<p>You have realistic chances of getting into the university of your dreams. That is the beauty of the personal statements. I would advise you to talk about the hardships you endured throughout your younger years, and how you overcame them. UC's are interested in admitting students that have obvious drive and determination, no matter what their past may be. </p>

<p>Good Luck; I wish you the best.</p>

5

<p>U can get into SB w/ 2.8-3.0.</p>

<p>Hard to tell what u have.</p>

<p>Be sure to figure out if u wanna do econ or science b4 u transfer.</p>

<p>Admissions dificulty is about the same for each, maybe Econ a little bit more dificult.</p>

6

<p>even though the grades for the remedial classes don't factor in transferable gpa, would they still see it? Thanks</p>

7

<p>Thanks for your comment. Sounds like good news.</p>

8

<p>On the UC application, you must report all the classes (and the grades you recieved in each) that you have taken at Community College - transferable and nontransferable. These classes and grades will be verified via your official transcripts later when you are accepted and decide on a university.</p>

<p>IzzieBear</p>

9

<p>I think pre-calculus is transferable. I know that most science majors require all of your math to be done before transfering (calculus I.II.III). When I apply to the school, how much would only completing pre-calculus effect their decision if I declare a science major?</p>

<p>Do you know anyone who haven't finished all their Calculus classes as a science major and got in?</p>

<p>And.. How long does the personal statement have to be (pages)? How much do people usually write, how much more or less?</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice on the personal statement along with your positive comments.</p>

10

<p>As far as Science majors go, I would not know too much because I am a humanities major (English Lit). I think the amount of courses schools would like to you complete before transfering varies school to school. You should check out each school you are interested in specifically, or just check with a counselor at your JC. I'm sure you would be able to get a direct answer that way.</p>

<p>As far as your personal statements, last year, the UC application asked for three essays. I hear the subjects vary slightly each year, but my subjects were (applied for fall '05): </p>

<ol>
<li>What is my major, why I'm interested in it and what I have done to prepare for my major. (~200 words)</li>
<li>What unique characteristic, experience, talent, or trait will I bring to the University of California. (~200 words)</li>
<li>Basically open ended. Anything not expressed in the application previously, that holds importance or significance to your academic journey. (~600 words)</li>
</ol>

<p>I'm almost positive that you need to stay within the 1000 word total frame. I'm sure a few words would be alright, but going over significantly will result in having your essay(s) cut off.</p>

<p>P.S. I believe that pre-calc is indeed transferable =)</p>