UCMerced to UCDavis?

Colleges & Universities University of California - Merced
1

<p>What do I have to do to transfer from UCM to UCD?
I am an incoming freshman going in undeclared/psychology major.</p>

<p>In reality I am probably thinking of switching it to something in business because it is more practical and dare i say “easy”.</p>

<p>UCD is suppose to have one of the easier acceptances into the business undergrad. I also like where it is, but I suppose UCLA,UCSD,UCB would be fine too, although I doubt I have the academic strength to survive.</p>

<p>What classes will I have to take, what programs do I sign up with, etc. in order to transfer to Davis after sophomore year?</p>

<p>Also what GPA will I require, and is it a good idea to transfer down to a less challenging class if I start to get bad grades?</p>

2

<p>Those are all good questions to ask your counselor during orientation.</p>

3

<p>When I asked the assistant director of undergraduate admissions what I had to do to transfer to UCD, his answers were vague at best. Perhaps I shouldn’t have sent…nevermind. :]</p>

<p>Hmm, it might not be a good idea to tell your counselor you plan on switching schools unless you absolutely have to. They are employed by UCM and although their job description relates to helping you achieve your goals, they want you to achieve those goals AT Merced, not at another institution. Why do they want you to stay? They want more students to make UCM grow although I doubt this noble cause will sway the minds of many determined on transferring.</p>

<p>We must remember that counselors are people as well and they have emotions just like you or me. What do you think they will feel when you basically tell them “I’m using your school as a launchpad, then I’m going to leave because your institution sucks and can’t give me a good job,”? It may be in your best interest to not reveal your plans until you are GUARANTEED transfer admission to the school of your choice, which will probably be at the end of your sophomore year. Also, it may be wise not to get on your counselor’s “bad side” as they do wield authoritative power over us students.</p>

<p>Now, here’s what the admissions officer said to my questions through a series of four emails.</p>

<p>1) What are the requirements for transferring to UC Davis from another UC?</p>

<p>1) In response to your question on transferring, UC students can apply to transfer to Davis after at least one year at another campus. The highest priority for transferring is given, however, to California Community College students at the junior level. Transfer students must have completed two courses in English composition and at least one transferrable math course prior to transfer. If you apply for transfer to UC Davis as a sophomore, you must apply for a major within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.</p>

<hr>

<p>I applied to UCD as Undeclared major within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences but I want to now change my major to Political Science. I wondered if I would still be eligible to transfer to UC Davis so I asked in another email.</p>

<hr>

<p>2) If I were to transfer after one year, what kind of chance would I have in getting accepted? I assume GPA and extracurricular will factor in the transfer decision but would you recommend waiting after sophomore year to transfer?</p>

<p>2) As a sophomore transfer applicant, there are several factors that are taken into account. Among other factors are:</p>

<pre><code>*Your GPA
*Your required courses
*Your units
*The available spaces after the eligible junior level community college applicants have been accomodated
</code></pre>

<hr>

<p>As if we couldn’t figure that one out by ourselves…sigh. Here was my next question.</p>

<hr>

<p>3) Just to get this straight, a sophomore applicant relates to transferring after freshman year, correct? I know most people transfer, or attempt to, after sophomore year before entering their junior term and I just wanted to make sure we were both talking about the same method.</p>

<p>From a personal standpoint, which would you choose and is there a penalty for trying both times (after freshman and after sophomore)? Additionally, if my major is changed at the college I will be attending (UC Merced), will I still be required to enter as an Agricultural Sciences major although my interests lay elsewhere? I have the intention to change my major to political science but I do not want it to hurt my hopes in transferring as I have heard law schools do not require students to take specific majors, rather they merely recommend courses of study.</p>

<p>3) Sophomore transfer means that the student transfers after completing their freshman year. However, the vast majority of students transfer after completing their sophomore year. They are then juniors when they begin at the university. There is no penalty for trying multiple times. It would not hurt a student to apply after the freshman year, and then to try again, if not admitted, after the sophomore year.</p>

<hr>

<p>Having ignored my question regarding changing my major, I had to send another email. Here it is below. Also, I’m not cutting anything out of this email as the entire text of his response is really one sentence. </p>

<hr>

<p>4) Just to clarify, a transfer student needs to have completed two English composition courses and a transferable math course to be considered for admission, correct? Nothing else is required?</p>

<p>Also, if my major has changed during my stay at my first school (UC Merced), how would I go about applying freshman year if I am still required to be an Agricultural Sciences major? No changes may be made under any circumstance whatsoever?</p>

<p>4) Transfer students must also complete any courses required by their major, together with at least two courses outside of their major area.</p>

<hr>

<p>After looking back on his answers in retrospect, it seems like he did NOT want to help me in any way possible. Hey, I understand the man’s job can be tough at times but that is not an excuse to dodge questions totally and when he does muster up a response, it is a one sentence answer.</p>

<p>Before you sign up with your business courses, make sure you can transfer as a business major to the school of your choice. The admissions officers at those respective schools should be able to tell you if your are eligible or not. In terms of programs, I think UCM has a business club (or something of the sort) to join. If I’m wrong and there is no such club, start it. Although this isn’t high school anymore, extracurricular activities still matter. </p>

<p>To answer your question about GPA, a ballpark estimate from those I talked to and from what I have seen on this forum suggest one would have to maintain at least a 3.6 to be “safe” for transfer. Make sure your strongest grades are within your major. </p>

<p>I hope this helped. :]</p>

4

<p>Oops, looks like I forgot one of your questions. Here goes…</p>

<p>Is it a good idea to transfer down to a less challenging class if I start to get bad grades? Yes and no. Yes if you do not need the class and no if it is required by your major, although there may be other tactics to avoid that dreaded class and its dreaded grade.</p>

<p>It really just depends on your situation. Remember, you have to get all of your lower division courses completed by the end of your sophomore year if you have any hopes of transferring. Some of those lower division courses WILL be challenging without any other alternative class to take. If you are getting bad grades in your major courses, that may be the time to reconsider what is the best major for you. I don’t know what the UCM time limit to drop a class is but there is usually ample time to get a “feel” for the class before grades come out. </p>

<p>Is it a good idea to take easy classes? Yes, but in moderation. There is not an unlimited supply of “easy” courses and sooner or later you will have to face a challenging class. Honestly, I would like to take up the challenge as soon as possible as the other “easier” courses will only seem that much more effortless after such a demanding course. </p>

<p>Also, it seems like you are hesitant about your “academic strength”. Let’s assume you are able to transfer to UCB by taking easy courses all throughout college. You’ve fulfilled your requirements as set by the school but what about the unspoken requirements set by your new classmates and professors? You would get in without any knowledge of what difficult courses actually demand and you would effectively nullify your whole reason of transferring at all, to better yourself. After all, this is the goal of education right? I tried taking shortcuts in high school and now I am paying the price for my lack of initiative. As one of my old friends told me, college is the ultimate filter to see who will actually succeed in life. Sooner or later, there will be no easier course. Just something to keep in mind.</p>

5

<p>Wow, thank you very much for your help!</p>

<p>Two english courses in composition means I would have to double up on classes freshman year if I attempt to transfer after a year right? Or would they both be semester classes?</p>

<p>What does transferable math class mean?</p>

<p>Although I’m sure those questions can be asked at my orientation.
May I ask you for the email address you were asking these questions to? I suppose I should look into the transfer requirements for business major.</p>

<p>I guess I should have a better outlook on challenging myself. High school I didn’t exactly take shortcuts and as a result I had many C’s and ended up with a 2.9GPA. I started thinking that if I dropped down and raised my GPA to over 3.0 that I may have made it into the other UCs. I’m just afraid that I may end up in a similar situation again where I am unable to raise my GPA to that sweet 3.6</p>

6

<p>No problem at all. I’ll try to see if I can answer you other questions.</p>

<p>Two english courses in composition means I would have to double up on classes freshman year if I attempt to transfer after a year right? Or would they both be semester classes?</p>

<p>It depends. I’m no adviser but it would seem the only way to do this is to be exempt from certain writing courses. Additionally, since UCM is on the semester system (which probably requires a different amount of units for graduation as opposed to other UC’s). Also, if you double up on english courses, your lower division coursework would be neglected. Although transferring after one year might sound appealing, a more viable modus operandi is to make sure your lower division work is done before worrying about transferring. You must map out a plan to take and follow it. Why should UCD take you in your major if you don’t even have your lower division work done? The school has no incentive to take you and your attempt would just be a wasted effort. </p>

<p>What does transferable math class mean?</p>

<p>This most likely means the lowest math course offered at the transfer school of your choice, probably any math course over 100 ( i.e. “MATH 101”, etc.)</p>

<p>May I ask you for the email address you were asking these questions to? I suppose I should look into the transfer requirements for business major.</p>

<p>The admissions advisers are sorted by area. You can find your area and email here.</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/contact/#Admissions]Contacts[/url”>http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/contact/#Admissions]Contacts[/url</a>]</p>

<p>I guess I should have a better outlook on challenging myself. High school I didn’t exactly take shortcuts and as a result I had many C’s and ended up with a 2.9GPA. I started thinking that if I dropped down and raised my GPA to over 3.0 that I may have made it into the other UCs. I’m just afraid that I may end up in a similar situation again where I am unable to raise my GPA to that sweet 3.6</p>

<p>Don’t be afraid. College is a clean slate and your study habits can be improved. Ultimately, we all want the same thing: the achieve. If you have the drive to succeed and use the tools around you, you will not have the need to down rank yourself.</p>

7

<p>Perhaps I should have consulted the website since the start but I didn’t think a school employee could be so vague. </p>

<p>Taken from this site: [Transfers:</a> Admission Requirements](<a href=“http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/admissions/tr_adm_reqt.cfm]Transfers:”>Undergraduate Admissions)</p>

<p>Subject Requirement</p>

<p>These courses, along with any prerequisite courses for your major, must be completed by the end of the spring term before your transfer to UC Davis for fall enrollment.</p>

<p>You must complete UC eligibility requirements in English and math with grades of C or better, which include:</p>

<pre><code>* two transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in English composition

  • one transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in mathematical concepts or quantitative reasoning
    </code></pre>

<p>You must also complete four transferable courses with grades of C or better from at least two of the following subject areas:</p>

<pre><code>* arts and humanities

  • social and behavioral sciences
  • physical and biological sciences
    </code></pre>

<p>These courses, along with any prerequisite courses for your major, must be completed by the end of the spring term before your fall quarter transfer to UC Davis.</p>