Junior College vs Universities

Mariposa123 · August 2019

Hi. It is about that time when I have to start applying for college. So far, I have applied to 6 UCs and will be applying to Cal Poly SLO. UCSC and Cal Poly Pomona are my safety schools, but as I think about my future, I begin to wonder if I would truly be happy at Pomona seeing as I have little interest in the engineering field. I am still unsure of what career path I would like to choose, but I am slightly leaning towards the medical field. Should I just not apply to Pomona and only have one safety school, and if I do not get in go to a JC? What is campus life like at JCs (ohlone preferably). I am scared that I will miss out on all the fun freshman and sophomore experiences of college life, but at the same time, aside UCB,UCD,UCSB,UCI,UCSD,Cal Poly SLO, and UCSC, where else should I apply that is a decent school in Cali (because leaving the state is too expensive).

Gumbymom · August 2019

@Mariposal123: What is your UW GPA, Capped weighted UC GPA, test scores, EC’s? What major are you applying at each school? Are you local to CPP or SLO? College budget?
CPP is not just an Engineering school and they offer many majors. Also depending upon your intended major, SLO is far from being a safety school for most applicants.
Cannot offer any advice until you answer the questions in my post.

NCalRent · August 2019

agree - hard to offer much guidance without your stats.

Mariposa123 · August 2019

My unweighted GPA sis a 3.8 and I only took one AP, giving me a 3.89 weighted. I got a 1360 on SAT an did 4 years of gymnastics and won a national title for it. I also taught swimming for 2 years (fresh and soph) and then volunteered for my junior and senior. I did not take an sat subject. I am applying as a biology major and at UCLA I was thinking premed. Also, SLO is a target for me not a safety. Cal Poly Pomona is my safety.

Gumbymom · August 2019

Are there few AP options at your school or did you choose not to take many AP’s? If many AP’s are not available at your HS, then you will not be penalized. If many are available, then it will impact your chances negatively since you did not take advantage of these courses. If your UC GPA capped weighted or fully weighted is 3.89, the majority of the UC’s will be tough admits especially for Biology. SLO uses 9-11th grades for the GPA calculation and the UC’s use 10-11th grades. Here is the UC GPA calculator and you can use it to calculate both SLO GPA, Capped Weighted UC GPA=CSU Capped weighted GPA (for CPP) and the Fully Weighted UC GPA: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Some UC admit data below just to help gauge your chances. Although UC’s tend to be very GPA focused, your test scores, essays, EC’s and any unique/compelling circumstances will all contribute to your chances. If local, CPP would be a good safety. Target schools would be UC Merced, Riverside and Santa Cruz. Other possible but still slight Reach schools would be UCI/UCSB and UCD. UCSD/UCLA and UCB would be Reach schools. I would add CSU Fullerton or CSU Long Beach as possible safety schools and SDSU as a Target school. Community college is a great backup in case you are not happy with choices in the end.

2018 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 10%
UCLA: 9%
UCSD: 34%
UCSB: 38%
UCD: 41%
UCI: 38%
UCSC: 70%
UCR: 84%
UCM: 95%

2019 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCB: 4.23
UCLA: 4.25
UCSD: 4.23
UCSB: 4.16
UCI: 4.13
UCD: 4.13
UCSC: 3.96
UCR: 3.90
UCM: 3.73

2019 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT totals:
UCB: 1340-1540
UCLA: 1330-1550
UCSD: 1300-1520
UCSB: 1280-1520
UCD: 1230-1490
UCI: 1250-1510
UCSC: 1200-1450
UCR: 1130-1400
UCM: 1020-1290

Gumbymom · August 2019

SLO would also be a Reach school since Biology has about an 8% acceptance rate. SLO does not list average SLO GPA and test scores by major but for the College of Science and Mathematics.

Average for 2018 Freshman was a SLO GPA of 4.18 and SAT of 1420.

As a possible Pre-med student, Biology is not a wise major option since there are way too many Biology majors in the job market and as a Pre-Med student you want a solid backup major in case Medical school does not happen.

Are you being recruited for Gymnastics? If so, it will change your chances dramatically.

NCalRent · August 2019

UCR and UCM are your best shot in the UC system. Any CSU by SLO is likely to accept you. Because you note you are looking for fun in your college experience, I'd suggest you apply to broadly and see what happens before ruling CC in or out. See where you get in, tour some schools and see what you like. SDSU, CSULB CPP and Chico would be on my ap list.
good luck

Mariposa123 · August 2019

Should I change my major to have a better chance of getting in?

Mariposa123 · August 2019

Schools like Long Beach and Fullerton are also not the best in terms of ranking And I do not want to settle so do you think a two year and then transferring would be the better option. I don’t have a lot of money and applying to so many schools starts getting pricey

Gumbymom · August 2019

CC to UC/CSU transfer is a great option if you want a specific UC/CSU and want to save money. 6 UC’s have TAG which guarantees you an acceptance if you meet all the TAG requirements for one of the UC Campuses (UCM/UCR/UCSC/UCD/UCI and UCSB).

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/transfer-requirements/transfer-admission-guarantee-tag.html

CSU’s offer the AS-T/AA-T which guarantees admission to one of the CSU campuses (not particularly your choice campus).

If you are thinking of going into the Medical Field, either MD/PA/Dental etc... Prestige/Ranking of your Undergrad school will make little difference. You want to attend a school with your Major, chance for a High GPA, access to Medically related EC’s and good Pre-Professional advising. CSU Fullerton and Long Beach can offer you these things so do not write them off since they are viable options.

Biology majors are a dime a dozen, so I would reconsider and select another major option depending upon where in the Health/Medical field you have interest.

MYOS1634 · August 2019

Why not apply for Food Science? It's much easier to get into than Biology, it has lots of Biology and Chemistry courses, and it'd be a good plan B if need be.

Mariposa123 · August 2019

What is another major for premed? Also UCs don’t accept by majors right?

Mariposa123 · August 2019

I want to go into either orthopedics or pediatrics

Gumbymom · August 2019

Some UC’s admit by major so it will depend upon which UC’s and which major you apply. You can major in any subject as long you complete the Medical school requirements. Science based majors are popular since the major requirements overlap with Med school requirements. You should select a major which you find interesting and is a good backup in case Medical school does not happen. What are your favorite HS subjects?

First things first. You need to get into college, then Medical school and Residency for your specialty so 8 years+ away.

MYOS1634 · August 2019

As I said, Food science is both a good backup and good science (lots of Biology and chemistry).

Junior College vs Universities

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