UC Santa Cruz -> Cal Transfer?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
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<p>Hello everyone, I’ve been reading through these forums for some time and I’ve found them to be enormously helpful. </p>

<p>Right now I am a first-year history major at UC Santa Cruz with sophomore standing (36 AP credit units, 45 quarter units, 81 units total) and a 3.93 GPA. I know that UC-UC transfers are often challenging but I am trying to remain optimistic. The reason I want to go to Cal is that it offers a niche major (with a 40+% acceptance rate) that I have wanted to study for a very long time which is not offered at UCSC.</p>

<p>What I’m asking from the forum community is an honest assessment of my chances.</p>

<p>I know that the University of California system is, on some levels, viewed as a singular unit. I believe that I have a strong case because of demonstrated need (my desired major is not offered at my current UC campus) and I think that I will have a fairly good essay about overcoming my disabilities and finally achieving academic success because of the UC’s disabled students policies. </p>

<p>I am also going to be corresponding with a professor in the major’s department and hopefully be doing a month of unpaid research in order to obtain some experience in the major. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

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<p>Write a convincing essay of why you want to transfer (as you said, your major), and I think you’re good IMO. I wouldn’t say a shoe-in because that word gets tossed around a lot and to be honest, no one is ever really a shoe-in, but I think you will be a very competitive candidate. Good luck.</p>

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<p>I think you have a very good shot.</p>

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<p>When transferring between UCs they want a reason of why you have to switch to another UC. It is real important to throughly explain what Berkeley can offer that UCSC can not. A major not offered at UCSC is a good reason.</p>

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<p>Canescans> What is the niche you are hoping to study at Cal?</p>

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<p>NES, a branch of ethnic studies.</p>

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<p>You have a shot. Doesn’t matter that you’re from UCSC.</p>

<p>I went to UCSC, and am transferring to Cal this fall.</p>

<p>Write a good essay though. discuss the fact that your major isn’t offered, b/c it shows you’re determined and that you’re willing to go places/do extra things to get what you want.</p>

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<p>I think you have a decent shot, like other say, I think the essay is key, and it should focus on your academic interests and goals.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the input everyone.</p>

<p>Orion8: May I inquire about your stats and how competitive of a major you applied for?</p>

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<p>Canescans,</p>

<p>I was a first-year with a lot of AP credit/community college credit.</p>

<p>My GPA first quarter was 3.75. Winter it went up to 3.8-something, but they didn’t take it b/c they said it would be unfair to the students who went to semester system schools.</p>

<p>Anyway, My major is Molecular and Cell Biology. I think it’s competitive, but there’s no cap on how many students they can accept.</p>

<p>I do know that it was on the top ten list for transfer majors this year. I found that out at CalSo. So you could say it’s competitive.</p>

<p>Do you have any extracurriculars to put on your app? Since I had only a year, I put my high school extracurriculars (which were a lot), and I think that helped me.</p>