Hopeful transfer from a CSU to UC

Are you sure you want to go to UC Davis? Your GPA is definitely good enough to get into some UC’s with stronger Philosophy departments (Cal, UCLA, UCSD).

If you plan to pursue a PhD in Philosophy, it’s good to keep in mind that the prestige of your undergraduate institution has a dramatic effect on where you’re likely to be accepted. For the record, I’m applying to Philosophy PhD programs this fall, and already it’s proving to be very helpful to be at a PGR-ranked school (http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/overall.asp), in terms of the quality of my letter-writers, and the quality of help I’m getting with my writing sample.

I’m only stressing this because Philosophy is a remarkably elitist profession, so if you want to get a PhD in Philosophy, it would improve your chances to transfer to a top 10-20 PGR-ranked school.

(Source: http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2007/09/applying-to-philosophy-phd-programs.html - “To my knowledge no UCR undergraduate has ever been admitted to a top-15 philosophy Ph.D. program (certainly not in the 10 years I’ve been here), though we’ve had some students with straight A’s, very strong letters, and excellent writing samples.”)

Edit: I see that you want to major in philosophy with an emphasis in pre-law. It’s different for law school - your GPA and your LSAT is really all that matters. Prestige of undergrad does not matter, but I’ve read that students at top universities tend to do better on the LSAT (don’t have a source), and in virtue of that, they tend to get into better schools. UC Davis’ Philosophy department is perfectly good, and I’m sure you’ll get a great education there - but if you’re not set on law, and you may be interested in grad school, then it’s very much worth considering going somewhere else.