25 y/o Out of State UC Berkeley Transfer Chances

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

Hello all,
I was interested in seeing if people here think I have any realistic shot of getting into my dream school of UC Berkeley. I do want to preface my stats with a little bit of context as I have a rather unusual case.

I enrolled in my local community college in Colorado when I was 19 under an associate of arts program with the intention of majoring in Journalism. Around a year later I got into a car accident and received a severe concussion. To make a long story short I had a sensitive head to start with due to multiple surgeries from a cranial facial syndrome I was born with, and the incident left a slew of post-concussion syndrome symptoms that were severely debilitating for me. I spent most of my early twenties unable to work or go to school much, as every day was exceedingly hard just to function. The symptoms very gradually lessened on their own, and this last year I was able to finally finish up my associate of arts degree. I graduated my community college magna cum laude with a 3.84 GPA. However, I realized Journalism no longer seemed like a good fit, and I had been mulling over a business degree for quite some time. I would need a few more courses in Calculus and statistics to meet the pre-reqs for the Haas School of Business, but I could likely have them done by this Spring semester.

So to wrap this all up, I have two main questions. First, do I have even a slight chance of getting into UC Berkeley for Fall 2016 under my circumstances (age, took me several years to obtain my associate degree, don’t have a lot of work experience, still need to get some pre-req courses, etc). Of course I understand it would be an uphill battle just as an out of state transfer alone, but I would try to write a great personal statement giving some context as to what was going on those 3 years or so I didn’t do much (I certainly wasn’t out partying). Is it worth the time and effort to apply or am I just dreaming and wasting my time? My other question is would it be better for me to stay at my community college to get those pre-req classes I would need, even though I have my associate of arts already? Or would taking them at a 4 year school be better? I appreciate anyone who took the time to read this and wants to respond back.

2

Try here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/

3

OK, thanks. Relocated the thread there.

4

@JacobsFritz For the last 10 years Haas has only taken transfers from a CA community college. There was one exception about ten years ago - from then on 100% from a CCC. So I would say your chances are almost nil.

Secondly, Haas really likes to see a high major GPA and puts a huge amount of weight on it. Your not completing so many of the major course req until spring puts you at a profound disadvantage (if that’s even possible as you’re not from a CCC).

That aside, you have a compelling story - one Berkeley would like - plus you have a strong GPA. They do admit OOS in other majors. Maybe consider Media Studies as it’s PR and marketing-related (as well as journalism). You can also take some Haas courses while in Media Studies.

Congratulations on your progress. It’s very inspiring.

5

@lindyk8 Thank you very much, I appreciate your response. I knew Haas would be very difficult given such a prestigious standing in the academic world to begin with, but I did not know that Haas was that exclusively in state transfers. So that’s very helpful to learn. I guess that’s not a route I can take if I hope to get in. I appreciate the other major suggestions, I will have to look into that. I think I owe it to myself to at least try to get in, but if I can find a major that I have a better chance at and still feel suits me I think that’s definitely worth looking into.

6

You also need to consider costs since OOS students receive little to no financial aid. That’s an expensive transfer at $55k per year.