Fullofpop

I'm an ancient (27) non-traditional transfer student with an abysmal GPA thanks to some bad decisions when I first attended college. I will be transferring from a CCC as a biology major. I'll be applying to some CSUs this fall and I want to make sure I have my bases covered. Is there any true safety for me? I think I should eliminate one of my reach campuses for the sake of finances, but I can't decide which.

*Current Total GPA: 2.807
*Current CSU applicable GPA: 2.660
*Total Units Completed: 56
*CSU-transfer units completed: 44

Planned Courses:

*Fall 2012 (14 units)
Biology 11A-Biology for Science Majors 1
Chem 1A-General Chemistry
Math 4B-Precalculus

*Spring 2013 (13 units)
Biology 11B-Biology for Science Majors 2
Chem 1B-General Chemistry
History 12-U.S. Since 1877

*ECs? Am I too old for ECs? Do they even care?
2011-Present: Zoo Docent (zoo education volunteer)
Member: Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents
2009-2010: Co-chair of local 501(c)(3) transgender organization
Weird hobby: Showing rabbits, 12 years
Ancient history: Four years of FFA in high school

*I currently write for a living, so that's cool, right?

*Colleges under consideration:
CSU Channel Islands
CSU Long Beach
CSU Monterey Bay
Fresno State (my local college)
Humboldt State University
San Diego State University

CSUMB and Humboldt State, if I recall, both accept over 80% of applicants. For my low GPA are those still safeties? Since I'm in Fresno State's local area, does that increase my odds of getting in (even though I really don't want to)?

SDSU and CSULB are both very selective, and while I think I like both of them it doesn't make sense to me to spend money to apply to two colleges I likely won't get into. Do I have better odds at one or the other? Does anyone know if one is better than the other for a slightly older transfer student, or a bio major with an interest in marine biology?

Thanks for you time, CC!

emberjed

I don't think that 20% of the applicants to schools like CSUMB and Humboldt State have GPAs lower than yours, so it might be a tough sell. That said, I don't know any of these colleges that well, so who knows?

Do you have any standardized test scores to show them? If I understand the situation correctly, transfer applicants are typically supposed to provide them. My 30-year-old uncle is taking the ACT in the fall.

Fullofpop

Typically as an upper-division transfer, I don't believe you submit any test scores. I never took the SAT, just the practice test. I am unsure if taking it now would boost my chances, though I know I'd do well (I did the PSAT in high school and had one of the top five scores, if I recall correctly).

Here's HSU's page on upper division transfers: Humboldt State University - Admissions - Apply - Upper Division Transfer Requirements
And CSULB's for comparison: Transfer Application and Admission

Fullofpop

A bump. I've been digging for info and I still can't find anything about SAT scores for transfers. I wouldn't mind taking the test, but it would be a waste of time and money if the score isn't even considered.

CalDud

You do not need to take the SAT to be a junior transfer.

CSUMB and Humboldt should be super easy to get in. Probably CSU Channel Islands as well. Since you're a local at Fresno State, you have priority over other applicants there. See if the biology program is impacted there. I applied as a math major there and had no problem getting in. My friend also applied as an engineering major there with a 2.7 GPA and got in easily. Fresno doesn't actually get too many applicants.

SDSU and CSULB would be hard to get into because they receive 50,000+ applications. I would say you would not be able to get into those universities. I'd say you'd have a better chance at CSULB but with money problems going on they're cutting classes there left and right and reducing enrollment. San Diego is extremely popular as a location and I think if you were a local you still might get rejected there. Life is not without risks though, so who knows?

If you search hard enough you might be able to find individual statistics for the majors at whatever college on how many were admitted/denied.

You do not need any EC's. Going into the CSU system it is strictly a numbers game. Your GPA is of the highest importance. UC's are more holistic but they are also more difficult to get into.

If you don't pull your GPA way up, I think you'll have a hard time trying to find a job as a marine biologist. Even then, I think it'd be a struggle unless you wanted to teach at a university. Most people who go into biology intend to be doctors, pharmacists, or researchers.

CSU Northridge would be easy to get into. I feel like anyone with a pulse could get in there, but it'd be hard to graduate on time or get the classes you need. But the same thing goes with every CSU.