<p>Hi I’m currently a college sophomore at a no-name school in the south. I graduated from high school in the class of 2011 but I really want to go to UC Davis to study medical informatics. I know once you enter college, all your high school stats no longer matter but I just want an honest opinion as a chance as a transfer student.
Here are my stats:
URM
1790 SAT score
3.9 UW high school GPA (Class valedictorian)
Dual enrollment classes and accelerated classes
President of NHS
member of basketball and softball team beta club fbla peer tutor lots of other clubs
150 hours of volunteer work</p>
<p>Here are my college stats:
3.9 GPA
Honors program
volunteer hours
numerous chances to study abroad and publish in the undergrad journal</p>
<p>My SAT score is weak because I came from a poor neighborhood with poor school (easy high school). My mom is unemployed (even with a master’s degree) and my dad passed away due to cancer.</p>
<p>I really regret not applying to UC Davis, and even though I’m out of state, I would try my best to go to California, even though the out of state tuition is steep. BTW, is there a state grant for california residents who keep up a certain GPA?</p>
<p>As of now, my plans are to finish this semester, summer school, and fall 2012 semester where I am. I hope to transfer to UC Davis in spring 2013, when I will be a junior. If I don’t get accepted, then I will just stay where I am. It sure would have sounded better to say I was accepted to UC Davis at graduation rather than where I am now.</p>
<p>there is a grant for california high school graduates and ged earners called: “calgrant” which is based on GPA, and another grant called “The Blue and Gold Plan” which is for californians who do not qualify for CalGrant. Blue and Gold can be used in any UC school, if they can get admitted, but CalGrant based on GPA can be used at any school, in or out of state both private and public. </p>
<p>as you know, the UC system is part of the public school system in California so it is easier for Californians to attend. but you have a high GPA so you would have a good chance for admittance, but the cost of the tuition would be 35k per year. and that does not include living expenses, health insurance (required), books, etc… so it would be expensive for you, but for those who can afford it, it is a superb school. all UC schools are first class, and even the californians have to compete rigorously for admittance. it is worth applying, and hopefully you have some sort of local state grant that will help you pay for your attendance. californians are very lucky to have such superb upper education available to them. sometimes i wonder if my neighbors take it for granted. good luck.</p>
<p>Hi, Thanks for replying. I have a state grant similar to the cal grant, but it can only be used in state. I also have some institutional scholarships that can only be used at the school. Unfortunately the scholarship I needed, I did not get because I wasn’t poor enough (My mom and I live off of $22,000 a year). The only financial aid I would get is the Pell grant and maybe the FSEOG. Is there any way I could get the cal grant if I lived in California for a year before going back to school, or is it only for California high school grads?</p>
<p>well, i feel for you my friend. i could never afford to attend NYU or the University of Virginia for example, the cost would be staggering coming from out of state and trying to attend those amazing public schools. </p>
<p>but you have nothing to lose by applying to UC Davis! then you can see what they offer you on your award letter. look over loan opportunities and make a decision at that time.</p>
<p>you can also check out the “Blue and Gold” plan, but i think that you will probably not qualify for it because your family is not here, and you are perhaps still considered a “dependent” student. read the fine print, or call them, the UC people are super nice and really encourage and try to help all people to attend their schools. they are not residency snobs and they will probably inform you exactly how long it takes to become a resident, and what that would entitle you to. i will add that EVERY F@#$$&* year politicians in this state try to abolish these programs and this year we might lose 50% of calgrants–legislation is pending. so even if you were to move here, become an independent student and a california resident (would take some years) then the plans may all be gone by that time. seriously. </p>
<p>the way “Blue and Gold” seems to work is it covers people like myself who for do not qualify for CalGrant. for example: i was born here, maintained a Perfect GPA through my entire school career. SNAFU! both my parents graduated from universities (UC Schools in fact) and that means i am disqualified for a calgrant.</p>
<p>thankfully, the Blue and Gold plan covers me—but i had to get accepted into a UC first, and cannot take that grant out of state, or even to a CSU (State) school. Blue and Gold only covers me inside the UC system and UC schools are competitive to get into even for us local kiddies. </p>
<p>good luck my friend, we all deserve a decent education. apply to davis, nothing to lose. my cousins attended UC Berkeley coming from out of state, but they just paid the high cost.</p>
<p>I guess I should stay here instead of taking out almost a $80,000 in loans. I just thought UC Davis would make me more marketable to employers. @LAforlife I really didn’t think I had the SAT score to be accepted to USC.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that transfers are only accepted for fall quarters (Davis is on the quarter system). You would have to apply in fall 2012 (this fall) for fall 2013 enrollment.</p>
<p>well, i hope you apply anyway. you never know what sorts of financial aid will pop up. but you are right about the loans. those would be a burden.</p>
<p>If you have a 3.9 GPA and you really wanna transfer, there are many schools outside of the UC system that accept transfers too. I understand that Davis is your 1st choice, but I would recommend applying elsewhere as well. In other words, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Otherwise, you might be stuck at your school.</p>