<p>I see on College Board the admission rate for transfers is 35.9 percent. I’m still skeptic, but I will certainly be putting alot of time into my essays. Anyways, stats:</p>
<p>HS:
Graduated 26/720, GPA was 4.3 w, 3.7 nw
SAT reasoning 740 M, 640 CR, 620 Wr
SAT 2’s: Physics 750, Math 2c 800
extra curriculars included football for 2 years, track for 2 years, piano, karate, french club president</p>
<p>College
GPA: 3.14 after 2 years at UCLA. Major is Computer Science and I plan to continue with it. Extra curriculars include chess, piano</p>
<p>And if it helps I was baptized Catholic and I’m a French citizen (born and raised there as a kid too; might seem random to ask but I thought maybe it might be of influence given that Notre Dame does mean “Our Lady” in French).</p>
<p>Given your GPA, I am sorry to say that I think that transferring will be a stretch. That being said, you may as well apply and see what happens, especially since you are in an engineering field so they may understand the lower GPA. Have you taken the classes ND recommends from transfers? Either way, I think it is a big reach, but nevertheless I wish you the best and worst come to worst UCLA is not a bad place to have a degree from!</p>
<p>Well, thx for your opinion. Engineering, especially CS, is freakin hard compared to other majors to get a good GPA in, so I hope they would take that into account. I have in fact taken the recommended courses. </p>
<p>And either way I will try. I’m going write the most hear-felt, vintage essays for a transfer student</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t he be serious? One other thing–if they admit kids from the junior college across the street with 3.8’s in English, I’m sure they would consider you at least as good.</p>
<p>UCLA is hard no matter what your major. My brother is at Berkeley right now, and he has like a 3.3 with a double major in English and Poli-Sci. It isn’t like smaller schools or some private universities where they go around and make sure you have what you need. You have to seek out help, and work your tail off just to get a C. So you should definitely apply, and hopefully ND will take into account the level of work that is required at upper level UCs just to get decent grades.</p>
<p>And absolutely I am serious. Now I know I’m not the typical shoe-in candidate who pretentiously asks if he can get in with his 4.6 gpa and 2350 SAT, but here’s what originally made me think that it might be possible:</p>
<p>-I’m a transfer, and transfers generally have it easier. This shows over at ND with the transfer admit rate being so much higher than that for HS applicants.
I’m from UCLA, and I bet most other transfers don’t come from as prestigious schools.
Despite not having the best college GPA I did do 2 years of CS engineering, not exactly the easiest subject. Plus my college GPA is just that, a college GPA-- it’s supposed to be lower in general than my un-weighted HS GPA. I feel it’s nothing special, but still within the range of feasibility with respect to getting in (especially considering the school I am coming from).
I’m a poor, epileptic Frenchman with a deceased father (since I was 5). I was baptized Catholic haven’t really gotten into religion yet (until now, which explains why I want to transfer here so bad). So I’m not exactly the typical candidate anyways. Some potential kickers there hopefully.</p>
<p>UCLA is prestigious but it isnt that academically rigorous. If you were to come from a school like Cornell and had those stats, you would have a much better chance. Maybe if your GPA is improving this semester you would have a better shot. Its not out of the question though. My GF is applying this semester with similar stats as you actually, she attends Wake Forest, known for its grade deflation, and has a 3.1, but a 3.6 midterm this semester.</p>
<p>We have a quarter system actually, but yeah my GPA is improving recently.</p>
<p>As far as academic prestige, you speak out of your *** sir. It’s ok though, most Eastern people are like that… never giving us Western folk enough credit. Just check out our Pre-Med or Law programs. However I will give you this, UCLA’s place in this country is shaded over by other prestigious things, like sports, facilities, etc. which may make us seem like more of a well rounded school than one of those intense academic schools like MIT (CIT’s good enough too)? Granted Computer Science isn’t necessarily a forte of UCLA’s it’s still very competitive over here, and hopefully Notre Dame’s admission staff will know that. but yea Not competitive… lol our pre-Med program is essentially on par with Johns Hopkins.</p>
<p>UCLA is money, and for what it’s worth more difficult to be accepted to than Cornell or Notre Dame, and especially had for people who aren’t athletes, since it is also the most decrated athletic department in the country and they spend a lot of time getting those athletes, many of whom are smart and can read and write, unlike Oklahoma State or LSU</p>
<p>Look I’m not trying to say UCLA is on par with Cornell or anything, but it’s just plain stupid to write it off as uncompetitive academically. Anyone who does simply hasn’t done their research enough. There’s a reason it’s listed in the CC Top Universities.</p>
<p>Anyways I’m not too worried about not coming from some Ivy instead of UCLA, but I do think this is going to be tough. Are there any tips?</p>
<p>Regardless of competitiveness, you have to get the GPA up, I don’t think a 3.1 would get you in from anywhere right now. Since it is quarters though, you have more time and more ability to get it up, which is great. Try to get as close to a 3.5 as possible if not over.</p>
<p>How much does first semester GPA count for when admissions is reviewing transfer applications. If I was to get a 3.1 this semester and then drastically improve grades throughout second semester. Is there a way I can show admissions my final GPA for the year will be much higher than 3.1. I know that applications are due before final grades for second semster are finished and I do not want to not be accepted because of my first semester GPA.</p>
<p>ND will wait to see your final GPA. When I transferred I had a mid 3.1 my first semester and a high 3.9 my second to get over the 3.5 hurdle, but that was 4 years ago. I still think it can be done, especially since they understand if people struggle a bit when they first get to college, but your grades need to start moving up ASAP. Take home message: yes, it can be done.</p>