Hi, I’m currently a UCSC Computer Science Student going into my 2nd year in the fall. I have roughly a 3.5 GPA and
looking to transfer a bit closer to home. Personally it’s the campus environment that really bothers me. I’ve been harassed by other students and 1 professor even lowered my grade based on my political alignment. The political environment on campus simply doesn’t tolerate anyone other than full-tilt liberals. I’m interested in moving back to SoCal cause from my friends who attend UCSD, UCI, UCD, and UCSB, those colleges are far more politically even. I just wanted to know my chances of a UC to UC transfer cause I really don’t enjoy this campus that much. Here are my stats:
High School GPA: 3.14 Weighted
GPA: 3.48
Major GPA: 3.45
SAT: 2280
Credits: 100 including this quarter/180 needed for graduation
Classes:
1st Quarter: CS 12A (A+), ART 80G (A-), CRWN 79 (A), MATH 19B (B)
2nd Quarter: CS 12B (B+), CS 12M (A+), CRWN 80A (B), MATH 23A (B+)
3rd Quarter (Speculated Grades): CE 12 (A-), CE 12L (A-), CE 16 (B+), ECON 1 (B), MATH 21 (A-)
4th Quarter (Next Quarter): 2 GEs and CS 101
Extra Curriculars:
Co-Manager of Slug Gaming (eSports club)
Founder/Co-President of Web and Mobile App Development Club (CS/dev club)
Member of ACM (campus CS club)
Dunno if it’ll affect anything but I also have a summer internship at LinkedIn at one of their overseas offices.
Aside from the schools I listed above, if there are any other colleges (out of state/private) that I should look into for CS and have a shot at, feel free to mention them.
The good news is that credit transfer is a breeze, because courses between UC’s are identical. If you go through the process of transferring, you won’t have much of the woes other transfers have to experience.
The bad news is, is that while I cannot chance you accurately, I can tell you that with your somewhat low GPA, you might have to stay at your institution (eg. UCSB requires a minimum 3.60 major GPA). Also, UC’s hold California Community College students to a much, MUCH higher priority (eg. 95% of UCI’s admitted transfer class is from a California CC). California CC students also get the luxury of the TAG program (which guarantees them admission, if they have the stats).
Be prepared to provide a more compelling reason to transfer in your essays other than harassment and political alignment.
Are you interested in other schools, perhaps in nearby states?
Sure, I’m down for any schools in the nation that have a strong CS program or provide great opportunities for graduates. Where did you get the minimum major GPA? I’d like to check that out for myself to see my chances. I’d also be down to transfer for less competitive majors in the Engineering departments. From what I’ve heard CE has a higher acceptance rate for most UCs with slightly lower requirements.
Also get a UC to UC Reciprocity letter prior to transferring for the your GE’s. As stated by @TransferStalker that CC transfers have a higher priority than UC to UC transfers so that can add to the difficulty in transferring. You have a solid GPA so I think you have a chance at UCI. UC’s will not look at HS grades or test scores, but some of the private schools might use this information.
You might also might want to take a look at USC, Westmont, Chapman and University of San Diego for privates. How about Arizona State or some of the other WUE schools?
You have also accumulated a large number of credit units, so it might be an issue at some campuses when your transfer. Do those units listed (100) include AP credits?
@Gumbymom, I had also assumed that @PidAlg had too many credits for transferring, however I Googled whether his current institution is on a quarterly credit or semesterly credit system. Turns out, it’s the former, so he’s clear for transferring (as a rising junior).
In any event, I also recommend that @PidAlg look at technical institutions. It’s good you’re willing to look at other possibilities out of California, as I highly recommend that you apply broadly.
While USC Viterbi might be a bit out of your reach, since it’s extremely competitive, I do recommend you look at West Coast schools (Virginia Tech, etc…).
Overall, you have fairly solid stats, and since your EC’s are unique, they’re worth making them the crux of your essays.
My credits include all high school transfer credit from AP or community college classes on a quarterly system. The UCs seem to accept between 90 - 129 transfer credits for quarter system. I applied for ASU from high school and was accepted, I chose not to go because UCSC offered much better financial aid. However, now I’m no longer worried about the financial status of my college situation.
My friend was able to transfer last year from UCSC to UCSD with a 3.63 GPA in CS so that was why I was thinking I might be able to do the same. But, incase that doesn’t work out, what other schools might you recommend? For my high school applications I applied to the following:
U Maryland : College Park (Accepted) (Probably cause my dad went there and was one of their top students)
UCSD (Waitlisted, rejected)
UCR/UCM/UCSC (Accepted)
UCI (Accepted for Math, rejected for CS)
All other UCs (Rejected)
ASU (Accepted)
Georgia Tech (Rejected)
UIUC (Rejected)
U Mass Amherst (Accepted for Mathematics)
Carnegie Mellon (Rejected)