<p>I attended a California community college for a semester and ended with a 4.0 (17 credits). I then transferred to a much smaller liberal arts school in MA with a 2.8 (17 credits) in the first semester and likely less than a 2.5 this semester (14 credits). I am returning to community college for the last semester of my AA, due to financial reasons, and intending to apply to a few UCs (particularly Berkeley, Riverside and Santa Barbara) in the spring. By the end of the upcoming semester, I will have completed the majority of the IGETC (with the exception of the physical science requirement) and all of my major (Sociology and African-American Studies) requirements. While, evidently, I intend to raise my GPA this semester for better chances at admission, are Berkeley and Santa Barbara to high reaches considering the circumstances? Will I be able to transfer?</p>
<p>Other information/ECs: Entered college at 15; year-long quantitative research for a social justice center (through the sociology department); section editor of newspaper; officer position held in the BSU; 2 non-journal published articles.</p>
<p>If your cumulative GPA by the end of Fall when you apply is about 3.7+, then your chances are decent. However, if not, then you will have to sell yourself in your personal statement and extra circs. to even be considered, but the chances just become very low, unfortunately. </p>
<p>The problem as I see it is this. Even if you get a 4.0 at your CCC this semester, your trend isn’t good. Your academic trend says you’re solid at a community college, but you’re a C student at a 4 year. I’m not saying you can never get into Berkley, but I think admission for Fall 2015 is unlikely. You will need higher grades for a longer period of time. You will only have 1 more semester to show academic improvement, and IMO, it’s not enough. </p>
<p>Right. But in terms of more mid-tier schools like UCD, UCR, USB, are my chances just as low? Just context for my grades at the liberal arts school: mostly Bs and a few As, with no Cs and two Ds. </p>
read thru the “Transfer Matrix - University of California” which you can find online. None of the UCs will be accepting transfers entering in the spring semester/quarter. You can apply this fall to enter in Fall 2015.</p>
<p>OP - As 2016 Candles pointed out the Mid-Tier UC’s are still within reach so don’t give up, do the best you can possibly do in the coming semesters and if you do well they likely admit you.</p>
<p>I think UCSB, UCR, UCM are all definitely within your reach but Berkeley is a long shot, it’s not impossible, but it’s like 5,000/1 in my opinion.</p>
<p>How do you know you will complete IGETC if, thus far, you have only been at a CCC one semester? Out of state courses can be problematic transfer-wise. And if you’re finishing IGETC this upcoming semester, where have you fit in major requirements (and will they fulfill the UC list)?</p>
<p>Lindyk8- I took courses at the CC in summer 2013 and will be taking a full course load both this summer and in the fall. I will only be missing two courses for the IGETC requirements by Fall 2014 and have fulfilled the lower-division major requirements for Davis, Riverside and Santa Barbara in Sociology. </p>
<p>But, another problem has recently come up. I received my grades and had a .5 semester GPA. Much of this can be attributed to documented depression (college psychiatrist) due to a family loss. I’m sure this lowers my chances across the board. How likely is it that I can still get into Davis or Riverside, if I were have strong recs and a stronger academic record by the fall? </p>
<p>Do you feel entitled to go to a UC? The University of California is a premier collection of institutions, that is meant for premier students. I suggest you get academic renewal and start getting good grades. </p>
<p>JewBecca: No. But, I do realize my academic record during this past semester is not consistent with my past work during college or grades in high school. My low academic achievement can be attributed to incidental personal issues, all of which were documented by admin @ the LAC. In fact, despite my standing at the LAC, I still have great relationships with a few professors and have been promised excellent recs. The LAC I attended does not offer academic renewal. And as stated in the initial post, I have every intention to return to community college and boost my academic record in order to widen my options. </p>
<p>And frankly, your unwarranted condescension and protection of the institutions is ridiculous. </p>
<p>You’re on a downward trend and there are <em>tons</em> of other people who have had “incidental personal issues” who overcame and excelled. I really don’t mean to be condescending when I say this, but your extracurriculars are not special and do not make you stand out. Where is your volunteer work? Did you present at a research conference? Forensics? Music? Sports? There is no consistency with you, unfortunately.</p>
<p>The minimum transfer GPA to get into a UC is 2.4 for California residents.</p>
<p>For clarity, I have 80+ volunteer hours (over the past year) through various non-profit organizations and forgot to include my congressional internship. And yes, I presented a research project at the Bay Area Honors Research Symposium hosted in Berkeley. But regardless, you’re right, this is unlikely to make up for my academic record.</p>
<p>It’s not that it’s impossible for you to get into some of the schools you want to get into, but I think you should stay another year before applying (two total years). Show an upward trend and explain in the appropriate boxes. </p>
<p>Sorry, I am not trying to come off as an elitist at all. I am not accusing you of this, but I think this generation has a huge flaw in feeling entitled to things. It could ultimately become our demise as a nation -economically, socially, etc- if everyone was as worried about working hard to get things they want, we would all be much better off. I feel some people just think “hey, I should be accepted to a UC because I am extremely special,” yet they have a horrid GPA. I am not saying that the University of California is some benevolent supreme entity, but there is a high regard to the rigor in academics at each institution. Truth be told, the most brilliant people sometimes don’t even have a formal education; so where you went for your undergrad does not speak entirely about your mental capacity. Again, I am not bashing you or making assumptions, but I guess I am just tired of people scapegoating things on “disabilities” instead of just old fashioned work. Granted, I do think there are people that are held back because of traumatic situations in their life, and you could very well be one of them. Rant over… @starkali :)>- </p>
<p>@starkali Perhaps a problem was starting college at 15. I know this may sound out of left field, but maybe take a gap year - go do some volunteer work abroad, then come back and regroup. Get academic renewal or retake the D classes. This is a perfect example of why I think these really low-age college entries backfire. You’re probably burned out and just weren’t ready on a social level.</p>