<p>Hello everyone! After receiving my spring semester grades, I am worried about my chances of transferring into the top 2 UC schools in the system which of course are UCB or UCLA. I am now majoring in philosophy (Long story why) but I fell in love with it and don't know if Im still competitive enough with other students. Anyways here are some of my academic history! I am currently in the scholars program offered here in my school which might give me a boost in the TAP program for UCLA.</p>
<p>My current grades are:
Statistics- A
Philosophy- A
Political science- A
Physics- A
English 1- B
Psychology- B (2% away from a A -.-)
Biology- C
Sociology- C</p>
<p>As you can see, the reason why I am so worried is because of my 2 C's I have received for Biology and Sociology... I swear I had a 87% walking into the final for Biology but my professor decided to give me a C because I decided not to study for the final since I couldn't get a A in the class either way... So I will be talking to the ministrations about this if they will be able to do anything about this. And with the C in Sociology, well it was my fault in hand because I didn't follow the instructions for the extra credit. (I literally couldn't get over it).</p>
<p>So this summer I will be taking
Philosophy 2 and Political Science 1</p>
<p>For Fall, I will be taking three Philosophy. Then two other Political Science classes.</p>
<p>Based on my current stats and my future classes, what are my chances of getting into the two universities? Am i still competitive enough or am I currently out of the picture for these schools? Please be nice.. Im really worried and scared about this.. Thank you.</p>
<p>Outside of that, meet with your counselor and set the best path to achieve 60 units, all of IGETC and your major prereqs completed so you can apply this Fall for next Fall 2015 admissions. Also, I don’t see your Spring 2015 schedule listed. Remember you have until the end of Spring to complete your prereqs, so don’t kill yourself.</p>
<p>Aside from grades/ courses, what else do you have going for yourself? You basically are marketing yourself to your chosen schools. There are many items in the shelf right next to you? Why should they choose you? </p>
<p>Do you have any ECs - volunteer work, student government, job, internships, etc? If your grades aren’t the best, you have to sell your other attributes even harder.</p>
<p>@fullload My spring semester will be similar but more towards the IGETC but I only few more to go so it will be English 2, some art, and more philosophy courses. (Same with winter after fall this year) and @2016Candles I just volunteered at my local hospital (over 100 hours), Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society in our school), and I will be interning at a lawyers office this year… Im not sure if that will be enough or need more… </p>
<p>You need to accept responsibility for your grades. How can you be mad at your professor for not bumping you up when you earned the grade you deserved in that biology class? </p>
<p>As long as you have solid EC’s, a GPA about 3.4 or 3.5 or higher, and TAP on your side, you should get in at UCLA. Berkeley is a different story, though.</p>
<p>Their requirements are slightly higher, GPA-wise. UCLA will join Berkeley in emphasizing EC’s more ,starting with Fall 2015 applicants, from what I’ve heard. Good luck.</p>
<p>I’m a philosophy major who got admitted to both schools(And TAP-certified for UCLA), so if you need any additional advice, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>@calbro My overall grade even with a 0 on my final is a low B but even though I got points on my final, he decided to give me a C in the class… I thought it wasn’t worth studying for since it was impossible for me to get a A in the class and needed to focus on my other finals.</p>
<p>@cayton So i need to do a lot more of EC’s showing my interest in my major correct? Or is there something else that they are looking for?</p>
<p>I think your ECs are fine. I did some volunteer work myself and that seemed to be enough. In addition, there isn’t much in regards to ECs that are directly relevant to philosophy as a major, other than being in a philosophy club at school, or, better yet, being in an officer position at such a club. Still, your ECs are good for a philosophy major, especially if you can explain why they’re relevant to your major in your personal statement.</p>
<p>@calbro I was writing down the grade distribution but after reading your edit, I thought it was unnecessary. And I do accept the fact that it was my fault for not studying ahead of time or at least reviewing for the final but Im really worried that it will affect my chance of getting into the university. Although it is not a prerequisite for my major, it is my overall gpa, which is the most important out of all. This will definitely be something that I will hold to study harder and get better grades. Thank you!</p>
<p>Your EC’s are fine, just knock those prompts out of the ballpark. I think if you get A’s from here out, UCLA is a target and Cal is a reach. But apply to both of course, you never know. But I think one or two more B’s and even just one more C, and you’re looking at a reach for UCLA and out for Cal.</p>
<p>I’m opposed, personally, to the chance me stuff that goes on. Basically just try to get A’s on out, which you really can do if you study. As Cayton said ECs related to major. But you know, no one can really chance you when all is said and done. UCLA or UCB choose based on numerous factors - sometimes they simply don’t have enough room in a particular major, it’s as simple as that. So just keep working hard. And the idea that well, I’m not getting an A, so why study? You now know that’s not a good plan. </p>
</p>
</p>