<p>Last year I applied to 5 UC’s and got into all of them. I was planning on attending UCSD but circumstances in my life came up that prevented me from going and left me stuck at my CC. The problem is I’ve completed IGETC, all classes for my major that are available at my CC, and I have 72 transferable units. The only thing left I could take is Calculus courses since I only had Bus Calc previously.</p>
<p>What would I tell them I’ve been doing this year besides trying to improve my math? Would they even bother admitting me again after I turned them down once before? </p>
<p>I’ve heard this before from a couple other students, and both got in with no problems. I think your situation is a common one. Just be honest in your application and use those extra areas for comments to explain your situation. You should be ok.</p>
<p>Obviously be working, preferably full time or PT with volunteer, so you don’t look like a slacker. But you got in before. It should not be a problem.</p>
<p>@fullload Don’t worry about it. They tend to forget if you denied them or not. I don’t think they keep close tap if you reject them. If you got in before and remain the same or improve, you will most likely get in anyways. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how I got accepted to some of them in the first place. I have a 3.63 GPA and I only took Bus Calc as an Econ major. I think my personal statement may have had an impact. </p>
<p>At best I’m taking 2-3 classes this entire year so like lindy suggested I’m going to do as many productive things outside of school as I can to make up for it. </p>
<p>OK, @lapseintime, if you have a hunch your PS helped you, you need to realize that you cannot submit the same PS - which I assume you already know. Focus your new PS on the circumstances that made you unable to attend last round (making sure it’s subtly in there that you were accepted) and then write a positive on how the circumstances created growth or something similar.</p>
<p>I do plan on mentioning the circumstances without making it into too much of a sob story or looking like I’m making excuses. It was partly financial and partly family issues. If I’m asked to explain any educational gaps that occur as a result of me not taking classes this semester what should I be telling them? </p>
<p>well, I think you just mention the issues that forced you to not attend, but that your heart has always been set on the UCs and you decided to wait it out to reapply. You worked FT or whatever, I would try to throw some community stuff in there, for sure. You just position it that you were willing to do whatever it took to get to the UC even if it meant more or less putting your life on hold. But you could also say that the reality was that your gap year proved beneficial in ways you never would have guessed: you learned valuable skills in ______, you learned to be independent, and you got connected with your community (e.g., visiting sick kids in hospital, whatever) the results of which have molded you into a better person.</p>
<p>Remember you’re not explaining an entire year- only from June (when you finished school) until November (when apps are due). It’s not a crazy long time. You can say you’re currently looking for employment and you’re doing XYZ in the community. They’ll never know if u actually ever get a job or care.</p>
<p>If you want to get into San Diego again, then it is not necessary to rewrite your personal statement. Last year and every other year before that, UC San Diego did not take personal statements into consideration when evaluating a applicant for admission. If are considering other colleges again, then you should rewrite your personal statement.</p>
<p>I thought it was a year, but I see it’s one semester. So, exactly what candles said. The point is make it sound like you got something out of it, if possible. That’s why I think some volunteer stuff would help, even if it’s only a couple of hours a week.</p>
<p>I just meant while the OP will be out of school for a year, they only have to account for the past, not the future so to speak. In your app you don’t talk about what you’re going to do, only what you’ve done. ( not talking about classes, just ECs and what not)</p>
<p>One last thing. I’m gonna be 24 when I apply which makes me a nontraditional student. I worked after graduating HS and started college when I was around 20. Does this make any difference when it comes to admission? </p>
<p>From what I’ve read re some folks admitting to lousy PSs, or ones that made no sense as they switched majors at the last minute and had written about their old major - and still got in - I would say they will not care, and who’s going to know? </p>