Hi. I am going to be soph at SJSU next year and I want to major in communications. I’m pretty unhappy at my school. I’d really prefer to go somewhere else for the environment. However, there are a lot of issues. One is that I think the comm program at sjsu is already good, so I don’t know if any of these other schools comm programs would be better. The second is, I’m trying to find out how to transfer and the process seems so impossible and daunting, the classes I need to take as well as the chances of actually being able to transfer out of a CSU. My main goal is UW, Davis, or UCSB.
What do I do…should I switch to a CC and then transfer into these schools? or is it better to stay at SJSU and hope I can get into one of these schools…
Anyone with similar experience also, advice would be appreciated
You are correct, you are already at a pretty good school. If you are miserable at SJSU, try to shake thing up when you come back. Get an on-campus job, sign up for IM sports, join a fraternity/sorority or a club that is a little out of your comfort zone, take a PE class. You get the idea. The student population there is so big, I am confident you can find a group that you’ll feel comfortable with.
If, by October, you are still convinced SJSU isn’t for you, apply to transfer.
Not much is truly impossible. If you have taken the right classes and maintain a high enough GPA, a transfer to UCD or UCSB is feasible - target a 3.5+ GPA and be sure you are taking the right courses. This tool should help with the latter.
http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html.
This table will help you compare the GPA for admitted transfers at all UCs by source school.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/admissions-source-school
Apply widely in the fall and see what happens. Perhaps, add UCR to your list.
Funny enough, it is harder to transfer into SDSU because of their preference for local students.
Most UCs and CSUs only accept Jr level transfers so, you need to have a path to 60 semester units all mapped out. They include AP credits so, you might be closer than you think. I will caution that the number of CSU to UC transfers is small (that linked table will show you the count for each UC from SJSU each year). I’d encourage you to connect with Davis and SB admissions now so you have time to adjust your class schedule next semester and understand the GPA requirements, etc.
Sorry but, I don’t know much about UW.
Good luck.