xhopefulxx

Hi guys!

I haven't done well in high school (2000+ SAT, 3.2 GPA), but I did end up getting a scholarship to Chapman University. I've been here for a month, and I am just not happy here. I don't fit in and I am just miserable. I really want to transfer to Berkeley because that was my dream school when I was in high school.

As of now I am majoring in International Business and I'm looking to also major in psychology. I was wondering if I should try to transfer to Berkeley this year or wait one more year. And do you have any advice for me?

P.S. now that I am a Business major here, is it guaranteed I will be in enrolled in HAAS? Should I try to take all the prereqs here? I am taking mostly major-related courses here because my AP scores waived me out of a lot of my GEs.

Your help is very much appreciated.

P.S.S.
I am not really involved in stuff on campus but I am really involved in my community. I have a job tutoring on the weekends and I also do a lot of volunteer-work and community service. I haven't had time to really get involved on campus yet as it has only been one month since I have been here.

emprex

Some others know a lot more than me but I'm also a business major applying to various uc's so I'll chime in a little.

Haas is without a doubt one of the hardest schools to get into. Not just for California but nationally. It's a very good program and extremely competitive. Something like 90% of transfer GPAs were between 3.7-4.0. Haas is the kind of school where you can have a 4.0 good essays, solid ECs, and still get rejected. Haas also puts strong emphasis on completing prereqs.

The lowest GPA I have ever seen transfer into Haas was a 3.4 but this was an older student with 14 years of business related experience.

You're at a disadvantage not being a CCC transfer but you can still do it. You basically need a 4.0 or as close as you can, very strong ECs related to business or showing you have leadership qualities, and a killer essay. Good luck.

xhopefulxx

thank you very much for your insight! I really appreciate it! Best of luck to you

oceanpartier

The Haas School of Business is notoriously difficult to get into. The transfer acceptance rate is 6.7% according to:

What It Takes To Get Into UC Berkeley - Forbes

You need to wait one year before applying, unless you are sure your AP units will give you the required 60 semester credits before transferring. Berkley does not take lower division transfers. No, being an International Business major at Chapman will do nothing for you as far as admissions go. In fact, being a student at a non-UC, 4-year institution actually puts you at a HUGE disadvantage for admissions to UC's in general. CCC students make up the University's target applicant pool, and even their acceptance rates are pretty bad. Chapman is also a CA school so you aren't exactly lucrative compared to out of state students who bring in big $$$ for the school.

Just like everyone else, you will need to finish the pre-reqs for the major. It's a horrible idea to focus on GE's because 1). GE's aren't required for admissions and 2). there is no course articulation between Berkley and Chapaman so for all you know, you could be wasting your time (i.e. not getting any UC credit at all for GE classes). This also hurts your chances further because your pre-reqs might not even be accepted. Perhaps you will not even meet the required unit minimum for transfer. There are all kinds of these unforeseen hurtles that you cannot prepare for in any way.

Also, you've been at Chapman for a month, and a month is not enough for you to definitively say you hate the place. You should get more involved on campus, so that you will feel more comfortable at Chapman. You have plenty of time left before applying. I can tell you (knowing pretty much nothing about business) that you are not getting into Haas with a tutoring gig and some volunteer work, as worthwhile and valuable as I think those activities are. You are just competing with so many people that are way above and beyond that. I honestly do not think you can get in as a transfer, unless, you drop out of Chapman and enroll in a CCC (that just being the very, very first step). If the school is truly making you THAT unhappy, you should just leave. IMO, you have a great opportunity at Chapaman with the scholarship and all. If you are willing to work hard, you may be going to Haas for your MBA.

xhopefulxx

thank you for your insight, it was really helpful. I will take your advice, and I just want to see what it takes and keep my options open on what to do. It's just been really rough for me for these past weeks. Thank you again! Also, I've only been here a month, so I will try to get more ECs like internships and stuff.

oceanpartier

^It's always tough. I had a pretty bad start to college too. It's so lonely sometimes, but you'll be able to find your place eventually. I've had trouble making friends all my life but in college, I forged strong friendships with people I never ever thought I would associate with. I don't know your specific situation or if this is even relevant, but my point is just that, things work themselves out eventually. I really wish that will happen for you too!

xhopefulxx

Thanks, you're right it's been hard for me to make new friends because all my friends are at UCs. I don't really fit in here But thank you for your well wishes and information.

AskMsSun

I want to point out that it is not difficult, but rather virtually impossible to transfer into Haas unless you are from a CCC. In the last few years, almost 100% of the transfer applicants accepted to Haas were from CCC, so if you are serious about transferring, switch to a CCC.

xhopefulxx

I am pretty serious about transferring to HAAS but also other schools as well. In case it doesn't work out I don't want to throw away the education I have here. Say I don't drop out and switch to a CC, what is something I should definitely do. I mean HAAS is not my only option for transferring. I have never heard of anyone transferring into HAAS from a private university that's why I started this thread. I just want to try. Thanks for your input though

xhopefulxx

bump please answer!!

AskMsSun

Haas requires that you complete ALL major prerequisite requirements to be eligible for admission consideration (so missing requirements = application won't be reviewed). In order for you to fulfill the major prerequisite requirements, your coursework must be deemed identical to those approved by the Haas faculty committee (or something along that line). CCC courses are articulated (approved by Haas faculty committee) and private college courses are not, thus the impossibility of transfer.

I talked to a contact at Cal earlier this month and was told that Haas actually admitted one OOS applicant this year (first in the last decade or something?). Of the 20+ international applicants admitted for Fall 2012, ALL were from CCC. So basically everyone who was admitted this year (91 total) except one person came from CCC. That's some pretty slim odds!

xhopefulxx

Yeah I go to an in-state private institution and I am working on the prereqs but yeah I know the chances are slim, but it doesn't help me if I go to a CC and don't make it. So thanks for your insight!

xhopefulxx

bump bumpity bump bump

AskMsSun

Well, you might want to cross Haas off the list then, since it's extremely unlikely for you to fulfill the major prerequisite requirements to the satisfaction of the admissions committee. What other colleges are you considering? I'm sure most of them would be fine with you coming in from a CCC, so it's not a complete waste to switch, especially since you are miserable at your current college.

xhopefulxx

well I want to try to transfer to USC as well. I'm also considering some east coast schools and most of them are top-tier private schools. I don't really want to spend money and transfer unless I'm transferring to a good school like USC, UPENN, or NYU.

sorry i took so long i was busy focusing on my midterms