My parents came up with this idea. I am an out of state student.
For my first year, I can attend UT-Dallas or UC Riverside. Later on, I can try to transfer into UC Berkeley or UT-Austin. Berkeley and UT Austin are amongst the best schools for my programs. I’d love to go to them. However, the out of state acceptance rates are immensely low. However, the OOS acceptance rates for UT Dallas and UC Riverside are still reasonable.
I guess my question is: Does attending UT Dallas increase my odds of getting into UT Austin via transfer? And same for UC: Does going to UC Riverside (or any other UC) increase my odds of getting into UC Berkeley as a transfer?
Note: I’m not committed to pursuing this strategy. I just want to learn about it’s practicality and odds of working. I’m not looking for responses detailing finances and fit of these schools. I’m just trying to discuss about the viability of the theory I proposed.
Not by much, if at all. The UCs prioritize transfer students coming from California Community Colleges, less so from other UCs. It is of course possible to transfer between UCs, and it does happen, but far from a easy feat because of the community college transfer priority.
The odd of transferring from one UC to UCB is less than admitting from HS to UCB. Not recommend your strategy. I would pick the best school accepting you with your desired major. Good Luck.
If I went to UConn for my first year, I’d have the same chances of transferring into UC Berkeley as if I were transferring from UC Santa Barbara or another UC? So going to another UC for my first year did not increase my chances of getting into Berkeley over if I transferred from UConn?
Assuming my motivations for transferring are the same from both UConn and another UC (better opportunities, etc.). Again, I highly doubt I’m actually going to try the strategy mentioned above but I just want to learn more about it.
As an aside, I don’t like the idea of starting at a college with the intent of transferring. This mindset can get in the way of a student developing friendships, creating relationships with professors, getting involved in ECs, etc.
I’d choose a college with the expectation of staying there four years. Even if you ultimately decide to throw in a few transfer applications, don’t count on a transfer working out.
First of all for UC Berkeley specifically, they only accept Junior level transfers so unless you have significant AP/IB or DE UC transferable credit from HS, you would be attending UConn, UCR or UTD for 2 years prior to transferring. (60 semester/90 quarter units).
Also as stated, 95% of the transfers for UC Berkeley came from the California community colleges, so that leaves 5% from UC to UC, CSU to UC, CA private colleges to UC and OOS/International transfers to make up the rest.
You want to attend any of these schools, apply as a Freshman admit or consider a CC to 4 year transfer.
To flip it, on average your chances of transferring into Berkeley from anywhere other than a CCC are around 5%. Total long shot strategy.
Wherever you start, you should be prepared to stay for 4 years, so make sure you like it.
Of that remaining 5%, does transferring from another UC confer a significant advantage over transferring from an out of state school? According to forum responses, I don’t think so. Compared to out of state applications, people applying for transfer from another UC don’t have an advantage when trying to get into Berkeley.
I don’t think your odds are 5% coming from a non-CC.
I think 5% of the transfers are from non-CCs. You don’t know what % get in from that set that apply.
You don’t game. You pick the college you intend to be four years or go to a CC.
And frankly, in many cases, while some schools have better outcomes, one can get to the same place from any school - it will depend on your hustle.
That’s my kid - he turned down a top tier engineering school for a safety - and yet he works with those same kids - and there’s also kids who went to regional schools working with the top tier kids too (he just chose another safety).
A school name alone won’t bring you success and a “lesser” name if there is such a thing doesn’t resign you to low levels. You can be anything from anywhere. It’s a reality and if you hustle, great things will happen.
Interesting question overall and on whether specifically going to another UC confers an advantage.
Not sure but it wouldn’t surprise me if it actually confers a disadvantage. For one thing, I don’t think the UC schools like to poach from one another. Also my understanding is that the UC’s were using OOS students to shore up budget shortfalls. Parents complained so some of that has been remedied recently. However, not saying this is the case - this is just speculation - but transfers were not the focus so for transfers, it’s possible that an out of state student or international might be preferred over in-state students for those same financial reasons. Again, I have no idea if this is the case - this is purely speculation as a possibility.
I have not found specific data for the # of UC to UC transfers vs. other transfers.
The UC Transfer Hierarchy can vary for each UC campus.
This is from Ms. Sun’s website:
Intercampus (UC-to-UC) Transfer It is possible to transfer from one UC campus to another but the requirements can be difficult to decipher since you must complete the major prerequisites for the destination UC, not your current UC, in order to be competitive for admission consideration. The UCs have published campus-by-campus list of major preparation paths for certain majors and that is a good place to start your research on intercampus transfer requirements. To minimize delays in graduation, you should also complete the general education (lower-division) requirements at your UC campus prior to the end of your sophomore year. The UC reciprocity agreement allows you to use the requirements from your UC campus to fulfill the requirements at the destination UC campus. You may still successfully transfer without completing these requirements; however, you may be required to comply with the lower-division requirements at the destination UC after transfer and that could prolong your time to graduation. Berkeley generally discourages intercampus transfer. Applicants with compelling reason for needing the transfer and those who have exceptional academic records and/or leadership potentials are more likely to be considered for admission. UCLA gives the same priority to intercampus transfer applicants as California community college transfer applicants. The rest of the UC campuses have varying degrees of preference but all will consider intercampus transfers.
The most published transfer Hierarchy listed is based on this priority which is CCC > UC to UC > CSU to UC > CA Private > OOS and International schools.
As stated by Ms. Sun, UCLA gives same priority to CCC & UC to UC transfers but that is not true for all campuses.