For those of you wondering about Ws, I had 4 over the last three semesters and was still admitted. I did carry a 4.0 over the last two years though (4 semesters). Have a good explanation ready as to why you got them.
@squidward234 Great post and many will take your experiences and be motivated by your determination, persistence, and your personal growth through adversity. You did not give up and that’s what Cal is all about, it may not be have the most “loving” environment but those that push through and persevere will be rewarded. Check out the transfer center and university health center for support and services. You will do fine, Go Bears!!
@choukevin quit playing we going to Cal bro hurry up and submit your SIR lol. Btw I can’t take Data Science during the summer because I had second-semester calc scheduled for the summer on my app and emailed my admissions officer asking him if I could dater my data- stats class in the summer instead and take calc during the fall since they’re both prereqs and he basically shot me down and said I have to take it during the summer because its on my admission offer conditions. He wouldn’t let me swap it with Fall. I’ll be taking data foundations in the Fall, it meets our calculus-based statistics prereq for applying to Econ major.
@adhyungyu123 I had 8 Ws!! Honestly, they will disregard them if you explain them in the additional comments and have an upward trend! Make sure you have your major prep done by fall, write some good PIQs, and you’ll be a shoe-in! Please let me know if you have any questions!
@GoldenState1 LOL. Yeah I say all that but I’m pretty much going to be SIRing to Cal soon. I think I’m deciding to take up data science as a minor instead of double majoring. If I double majored with data science I would have to take this many lower division classes for the two majors in my first semester:
- Data 8 (doable/easy even if you have no programming experience)
- Math 54 (linear algebra), apparently decently hard from my research
- CS 61A or CS 88 (if taken Data 8) (HARD)
- CS 61B (HARD)
- One lower-division prerequisite for the upper-div courses in the chosen domain emphasis (Depends on what emphasis you choose)
- Stats 88 (Have to take 88 if you take Data 8 to declare economics major)
- Econ 100A or 100B (Not that bad but it’s the 7th class lol)
Yeah, I don’t know if I can fit 7 classes in my first semester to declare a double major in econ and data science (you have to finish all lower division pre-requisites by the end of your first semester to declare a major right?) Not only is the course load enough to stress me out, but I have to maintain a certain GPA so I can declare econ at least.
Instead, I’m going to minor in data science, which I think means that I have up until I graduate to finish all of the classes for data science (correct me if I’m wrong). This would allow me to take less classes in my first semester and allow me to adapt to a new environment. What do you think? Are you still planning on double majoring in economics and data science?
Btw, saw that you got into Columbia. Congrats! Do you know what school you would rather go to?
@choukevin Dude, I was thinking about all of that! I love the campus of UCLA, the people are way more chill, and I really wanted to live in LA, but for my future I know Berkeley will be better because I want to go to Law School, I just need to push through these next two years. Good luck with everything! That’s true about the Silicon Valley, I heard they actively recruit at Berkeley and know people who got valuable internships and Salesforce, Google, Amazon, etc.
@thecolorblue Thank you, glad to see someone else share the same feelings as me. I’m just looking to put my head down and grind these next two years. This is just the beginning!
I will say though, I can’t stop laughing when I reply to you with a Dwight Schrute avatar lolol
@squidward234 thanks for sharing! Very inspiring!
and @choukevin I don’t think you should try to fit 7 classes in one semester lol I think that would incredibly tough especially seeing the ones that you listed. Personally for me I kinda wanna take it easy my first semester cuz I don’t know how much more difficult Cal will be lol. From what I hear Linear Algebra and the CS courses are pretty difficult at Cal.
And for everyone wondering about housing, you guys should also check out the Co-ops. I hear they are cheaper than the dorms and that they’re pretty fun to live in. Here is a link for one of their websites.
@choukevin You don’t have to declare both majors first semester, only Econ requires you to apply during the first semester because were transfers and admitted as Pre-Econ. You can submit for double major up to your third semester (semester before graduating). I think what you should try is taking the courses and see how they go and then if you are in the flow keep taking courses then declare a double major after the second semester. For the linear algebra, they are coming out with a Data Science-based one where it has the concepts more closely tied to data science instead of mathematical theory which I hope will make it more manageable. The lower division Cs courses tho are going to be clutch for the workforce.
And thanks yeah I got admitted to Columbia like literally an hour after Cal it was super weird lol but unless I win a full-ride scholarship, there’s no way I could afford to attend, nor do I want to take out $60k plus in student loans to finish my undergrad degree.
@choukevin you need to complete 60 units at Cal to graduate, with Econ requirements for major I estimated ~ 40 units, so still, need to finish an additional 20 units which make at the very least a minor a no-brainer. If you use up the two courses overlap allowed you can double major with completing approx 70ish units.
Does anyone know if SIR’ing and applying for on-campus housing sooner rather than later results in a greater likelihood of receiving a housing offer?
I got into Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSB. UCSB allowed me to change my major because of the minimum prerequisites I finished but I will not be able to change my major at LA or Cal. My ultimate goal is med school but I’m scared that if it doesn’t work out, I’ll be stuck with a Philosophy degree and restricted career opportunities. But if I go to SB, i’d have a back up in a stem major. Idk what to do. PLEASE HELP!
UCLA=good med school preparation
UCB=good for grad school because of its reputation
UCSB=backup degree in stem
I’ve heard the whole “if it’s your passion it’ll work out” stories so spare me the repetition. Sometimes things don’t work out and I want to be as cautious as possible. I appreciate the help!
@transfer201831 for you student ID number click on your name icon in the top right. It took me forever to find that also but once you have that you can create the cal login. Yes on my 5th.
@GoldenState1 Wow, that’s a lot of useful info - thanks. I have a lot more research to do, I’m still very much out of the loop. Hopefully the data science-based linear algebra course comes out soon. I was going to take it during this summer at my CC or any CC around me but no schools offer the course during the summer. Do you have an idea of what your class schedule would look like next semester? I’m thinking 4 courses now - Econ 100a/b, Data 8, Stat 88, and either a class in my domain emphasis or another class that fulfills a graduation requirement.
Cool, I guess now at least I know I’ll at least go for a minor with the units requirement, but now I can see the possibility of double majoring in data science.
Yeah 60k for an undergrad degree doesn’t seem ideal, even if it’s an Ivy League uni. Hey, at least if you don’t end up going to Columbia, you’ll be happy in knowing that Berkeley is supposedly higher-ranked for economics and business.
@Mitroyo Yeah I would never take 7 classes in a semester at Berkeley, let alone my first semester - I care about my GPA way too much hahah. I just found out that I have up until my third semester to declare a double major so I can split some of the classes up into later semesters.
@iLikeIceCream It would make sense that you would have a greater chance at housing if you applied earlier - first come first serve kind of thing
Are ya guys sure about the transfer housing? It mentions something about housing for my FAFSA but…now I’m not so sure? It sounds like they’re going to have somewhere for me on campus. Anyone know more 'bout this?
Honestly, a bit worried about housing so I’m definitely going to set up a back up plan. I hope to room with people my age (~21 y/o) and maybe even similar major(s)…
Any Economics majors out there? I understand that although I applied to Economics, I’m simply admitted into the College of Letters and Science. But I’m thinking about either double majoring in Economics and Computer Science or switch to Computer Science. Anyone on a similar boat?
Not too many english majors in the thread… :)] where you all at?
@choukevin My schedule will pretty much look the same as yours since all prospective Econ majors have to take 100a/b and Stats first semester to apply. Those classes you mentioned might be the only three I take the first semester since I want to ease in and the stats 88 is a 6 unit class once you add the required connector course, its basically one 4 unit class + 2 unit connector course.
@ashxio I’m in Orange. Can you message me? The FB group is Cal Spring 2019 Transfer Admits