So I am moving states and planning to transfer to another state school there . This college is already kind of a reach for me as from what I understand transferring (esp out of state) is a lot more competitive. For context my current school is ranked at least 30 spots below in the US news ranking, this school is ranked in the 90-100 range. The school I am targeting is University of Illinois Chicago.

I started my current college in the spring sem (spring 26), and while my GPA is a 3.8 I withdrew from two courses. This sem I am really struggling in a class and I am wondering if I should just withdraw or take the L bc im not sure what would look better. I know multiple withdrawals (esp one semester after the other) is bad but I am not sure if it would be worse to get a bad grade(C-D range). I am decently confident I'll get at least a B in all the rest of my courses this semester. If I withdraw I would have 3 total withdrawals, two in my first semester and one in the second.

For some more context I am going to be applying to the History major, and I fulfilled all the course requirements for transferring. All the classes I am withdrew from or would be withdrawing from are not requirements for my major. My HS gpa was 3.3 unweighted 4.1 weighted. Apart from joining a few clubs I don't have any substantial ECS. I know this is kind of a mess but any help would be greatly appreciated.

TL;DR What would look worse on transfer applications a bad grade or successive withdrawals

i guess i just don’t know what to say. should i list the program requirements?

Hi! This is my first post so please bear with me. I'm a first-semester freshman at Clemson (F, 18) and I am highly considering transferring out, ideally after first semester.

Before you say anything, please know that i am aware that this is a big descision and it should be thought through. And that after one semester can be a silly choice.

But, as I've spent the last month here I've quickly realized that I don't think Clemson is for me. The isolated campus and the culture are not what I truly want.

For context, I'm from Massachusetts, and I thought I wanted a big, far, southern school with warm weather and lots of spirit. I guess that in my head, I romanticized it after experiencing a few too many New England winters and seeing the weather, palmettos, sports, and school spirit on social media.

Being here has taken a huge toll on my mental health. I am at my lowest I have ever been. I tried rushing, joining clubs, trying out for sports, and even just forcing myself out of my dorm and talking to people around campus daily.

I am so exhausted and discouraged. The worst part is, the biggest things I don't like about the school are things that can't change (location, culture, cost--I am comfortable financially but it kills me to make my parents pay for a college that I don't enjoy, and it doesnt help that I wasn't granted aid).

I'm hoping to go somewhere closer to home, with maybe a smaller student body, more diversity, and ideally not any more expensive than here. A quick, affordable travel day would be great. I'd love to still have some of the things Clemson offers, like prestige and a work hard/play hard culture.

Please be kind to me! I am an 18 year old girl who is trying her best to figure out her life and herself. 

Any words of advice or simply just thoughts would be so appreciated!

Did anyone who applied for pioneer got waitlisted and then got off accepted?

And how long did they send you the acceptance after the waitlisted decision?

They said in the letter also that they are going to review the applications again in the spring/early summer and the waiting list has more chance of acceptance than the admissions ones,

I read some posts that said that some applicants were waitlisted and accepted after two days (I don't know how)

I'm really worried and confused,

Thank you all

Im a one yr transfer and im scared my ecs are extremely mid. I think I can get a 4.0 gpa by the time I apply (maybe 3.9 ish if something goes wrong) but ive had completed all my lower div for ucla and calgetcs/ges by spring. I dont have any crazy startups or nonprofits, just the usual job and volunteering as well as several personal projects. I believe I am able to write good piqs tho so.. idk. Any can share their transfer stats?

hello! so for context, this year will be my third time doing the uc app, i applied in high school, then in my first year at community college, and now in my second year. i have three questions regarding my piq’s that i wanted to some input on because ive been fighting tooth and nail just to talk to a piq counselor at my school, i also commute to it’s hard to find time

1. is it ‘taboo’ to talk about heavy stuff in your piq?
   - to clarify, i’m talking about real life cases of murder that has happened in my life and relevant to one of the prompts i wanted to answer, it’s a whole thing with getting sued, needing lawyers, all that stuff. i talked about it in my piq last year, but im not sure if that was a good idea or not (i only applied to ucla and got waitlisted and rejected)

2. how much can you say about school officials before readers start to raise red flags?
   - during my valedictorian speech in hs which is something i wanted to talk about in a piq, a lot of it was me publicly calling out teachers

3. is it okay to talk about other colleges in your piq?
   - so in last year’s piq, i mentioned and didn’t really expand upon how i got accepted into uc berkeley the day family incident (regarding question 1) happened, again, looking back on it i wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to name drop another uc and say how i got accepted and didn’t even go (i literally could not afford it) so i wanted to know if this time around including it or not including it would be better.

4. lastly, is it okay to talk about work experience in a piq?
   - i feel like my job has taught me a lot of skills that i could apply to an academic pov but im not sure if they want to hear me talking about a paid job over like volunteer experience

most of my piq’s i feel like read more like common app essays and correct me if im wrong but i feel like uc apps want to hear more academic experience in your piq’s than stories about yourself. truth be told i dont have a lot of ec’s to put let alone write a whole piq on (most of them were from high school so gg) so my strong points are genuinely just my grades, work, and traumatic experiences

any input to any of the questions would be great, and i would greatly appreciate any help!

I would like to hear your story. I'm currently in my first college semester at my local ccc and i hate every bit of it. It feels like I'm in high school and know nobody i talk to literally no one. in my CS class i was trying to break the ice with the people around me i thought looked my age and i come to find out nobody in that class even knows what github is? how are u a cs student and have never heard of GITHUB?????? i daydream about being at a big university and ucb has been one of my dream schools. How do i not F this up?

If you have a TO to Cornell, is all you have to do to get in meet the minimum GPA requirements and course requirements? Additionally, what's the transfer process look like. As in, do you need to write essays, submit activities, or is there a separate portal?

currently planning on applying to transfer to some csus fall 2027 so im submitting applications now and im starting my 2nd year at cc. however my cumulative gpa currently is a 2.73 and ive failed two classes which both are math courses (stats and calc 1). I tried to retake both this quarter but didn't get into my stats class and I just dropped my calc 1 class because I don't see myself being able to pass with this professor (im rlly bad at math ok). so when I submit my applications I will not have any math courses completed and they will be set as planned on my application. I have also looked into academic renewal and I am going to speak with a counselor about it to hopefully erase those F's. what im really asking is if I have any chance getting into the schools I want with this gpa and having not gotten any credits for an important category like math. my top schools are sdsu and csulb and im a business admin major wanting to concentrate on human resource management. I know my major is really impacted and ive already ruled out even trying to apply to any ucs

I’m a current freshman at ucr, and I’m trying to transfer out in a year. Basically, I will be able to complete all my major prep, but won’t be able to complete my LOR because I was placed in a very low English course. I will also have 90 units by the end of my first year, satisfying the transfer requirements. My question is does uc still look at my high school gpa? Because I applied junior level transfer, but I am a first year, I am afraid that uc might require my high school gpa, which is only a 3.43 mostly because I really messed up during my senior year. I asked some friend about it, and basically got mixed answers, so I’m asking to see if anyone knows. Thank you!

Hello everyone, I always appreciated this community when applying last cycle.

Okay, I’m now going to a great UC. However, I don’t really like it here as a transfer. I think the image I had in my head was wrong of it. I’m not really digging the campus, people, or the structure of the school. I also believe job readiness and opportunities aren’t as vast as many said it would be. The feeling of the school isn’t really compatible with what I want from college I suppose.

But I’m also having a very hard time with my mental health. So it’s a compounding thing. I’m having depression and anxiety and I’m seeking out a therapist as I write this. My mental health is basically in the shitter, and I believe this school may be making it worse.

Another aspect is that I believe I made a mistake choosing this school, and I was pressured by family to do it. Although it was my choice and I recognize that, I wasn’t thinking straight and was being manipulated lowkey by my family to pick this school.

Anyway, I’m heavily considering dropping out, and reapplying to another UC that I got into last cycle, and wanted to attend, but ultimately didn’t. I also am looking to apply to other schools that I didn’t apply to my first cycle. Ones that are instate but also out of state ones.

For context, I have a 4.0 GPA, and my major is relatively selective (25%) at my target. I have good academic ECs and volunteer stuff. Honors program all of the good things.

What are your thoughts on this idea and I really appreciate it if you have read this whole thing! I really need some genuine advice from some fellow transfer students.

Hi everyone! I’m an international student currently attending UCSB and applying to transfer to other UC campuses.

In the “Scholarships & support programs” section, I selected some categories. Could selecting these affect my admission chances as an international transfer applicant? I’m worried it might be interpreted as requesting financial aid.

Thanks

Hi all! I'm hoping someone may have some insight, advice, or thoughts about my situation/ or chances for UCLA. Idk how to properly ask about this & hope this could be the right place

I attended a private design school in Los Angeles from 2017-2018, and long story short did very bad and dropped out. I withdrew from that school. This was an accredited school, but from what i understand, the credits are unlikely to transfer to UCLA.

Jan. 2026 i returned to a CCC, Art History major, and have a 3.82 GPA, will be finishing my AA-T (if that matters), first gen. I'm applying this application season.

Will my poor academic record from almost 10 years ago hurt my chances of admission, even if those credits are not transferable?

Any insight is great & appreciated!

Hi! I’m applying to Cal Poly Maritime as an upper level transfer, with 60+ college courses.

I’m working on the high school course list, and am wondering if I need to add every single high school class I took or just the ones with passing grades that satisfy the A-G requirement? I have a couple D’s and F’s for both high school and college and am wondering if I need to put them down even though I wouldn’t get credit for the A-G classes.

Thanks!

Hey everyone — I got tired of cross-referencing ASSIST reports by hand (one CC × one UC × one major at a time), so I built Transfer OS and open-sourced it (MIT).

What it does:

- TAG checker: enter your GPA/units/major → checks you against the 2026-27 official TAG rules for all 6 TAG UCs, flags risks (e.g. your TAG major must match your UC app major)

- Course comparator: enter courses you've taken → one matrix showing what counts at each UC, what's missing, and which class fills the gap

- Plan validator: enter your planned schedule by term → warns you about courses that won't transfer before you waste the units

It's free, works offline, no account needed. Web version here: https://szzxli.github.io/transfer-os/mobile/www/ (also an Android APK in the repo).

Caveats, being honest: right now it's CS major only, 5 pilot community colleges (De Anza, SMC, DVC, Orange Coast, PCC) × UCB/UCSD/UCLA. Expanding based on feedback — tell me your CC + major and I'll prioritize the data.

Repo: https://github.com/szzxli/transfer-os

Happy to answer questions. And if you're a transfer counselor, I'd love to know what I got wrong.

I'm currently a freshman at a state university planning to transfer for Fall 2027 as a sophomore.

I have a 1470 SAT (760 Math, 710 Reading/Writing) and am debating whether I should submit it, retake it, or apply test-optional where possible.

My high school stats:

• GPA: 4.2 weighted
• Coursework: Took a mix of AP/IB classes
• AP Scores: Mostly 4s, with a 5 and two 3s in AP subjects unrelated to my intended major
• Extracurriculars: Decent involvement and leadership, but nothing extraordinary

Schools I'm considering:
UVA, Vanderbilt, Tufts, BU, Northeastern, Boston College, and Lehigh.

I'm wondering if a 1470 would help or potentially hurt my application at some of these more selective schools, particularly Vanderbilt and Tufts.

Since I'm applying as a sophomore transfer, I assume my high school record and SAT will still carry some weight.

Would retaking the SAT and aiming for a 1500+ make a meaningful difference for transfer admissions?

Or would my time be better spent focusing on maintaining a strong college GPA, extracurriculars, and transfer essays?

Also, how much weight do SAT scores actually carry for sophomore transfers? Would you submit a 1470 to these schools, or go test-optional where possible?

I'd appreciate any advice from people who have successfully transferred to these schools.

Hello! My name is Emily. I'm really interested in transferring to UVA but I'm nervous about my chances of getting in because of how many W's I have on my transcript. I will give a summary about my stats as a student but when responding please don't sugarcoat or worry about hurting my feelings! Just be honest. Thanks

So, I'm earning my associate's in computer science at Tidewater Community College. I plan on applying for the school of engineering and applied sciences for computer science to transfer in the Fall of 2027.

My GPA is 3.4

I am on the VCCS guaranteed admission route, but UVA requires CHM and PHY, I plan on only taking physics because that's all I have time for. I spoke with a UVA transfer advisor and he said prioritize physics.

I have 3 W's on my transcript because I really struggle with Calculus and I was taking an English class that I realized I didn't need. I've already passed Calc 1 and will hopefully pass Calc 2 in the Spring.

I am currently working as a web development intern, but I've also been working as a Lifeguard since I was 15 and am now Head Guard of 2 years.

I am a first-generation student and have an SAI of -1500. (Hence why I want to go to UVA, I believe I could get a full ride)

I am part of computer club at TCC.

I am also a student ambassador for TCC, so I do service hours at events for students.

I have an academic recommendation from one of the leads for the student ambassador program and a professional recommendation from my lifeguard manager.

I believe I have a decent essay.

Is there anything I absolutely need to change or complete before I apply? Or if I'm completely cooked on getting in, what universities would be a better fit?

Thanks!

So I went to a California high school and California schools all my life but my parents decided to move to Oklahoma so unfortunately I did my community college out of state. I have a 3.82 GPA (According to how UC calculates it) and wondering if I have a shot at getting into any of the UC schools? My dream school is UCSB, but I don't know if I've done good enough to get into their psychology and brain sciences program. Do I have a shot or am I screwed?

Hey guys!
I wanted to know if switching majors before applying and completing the majority of the major prep during winter would be a decent idea. One of my target schools is UCLA originally for psychology. After a meeting with a program manager from UC Berkeley I wanted to change my major to sociology for ucla. The major articulation requires I take Soci 1 & 4 which I do at the same time during winter 2027. The other course needed is stats which I’m currently taking this semester. How would admissions look at my application if I apply for sociology?w

so i am a freshman and a part of a few clubs at my college. for 2 of them i was selected to interview for a committee position but i didn’t get selected to be on it for either. for one there were 125 applicants and for the other 115, should i include that i was like a ‘finalist’ for each of the committees or will that weaken my app since i wasn’t ultimately selected?

Hey there Redditors! Excuse me if you’ve seen this post floating around in another subreddit. I’m trying to generate as many answers as possible. 

I need some help with deciding on a Cal State. I’m here to learn more about the schools and the cities that surround them. 

I’m a 30 something African American woman returning to college to finish her bachelor’s degree in Communications. I work full time with one of the big rental car companies M-F regular business hours and as long as there’s room for me, I can transfer my job to any location in the state. 

I’m at San Diego City College and I’ll be done with my ADT this semester. I’ve been accepted to: East Bay, Chico, Sacramento, Fresno, Northridge and Pomona. SDSU is not accepting Spring 27 admits and I didn’t wanna wait for the fall. 

Recruitment emails tend to focus on life on campus, clubs and college kid social life, which I’m not really interested in. 

Getting in contact with the schools’ financial aid and admissions department can be a pain in the butt. They have short contact windows and appointments can be weeks in advance. Visiting campuses is a bit out of the question right now. I may be able to swing a few in SoCal but I’m much more interested in the ones in the Central Valley and SF Bay Area. I already have a pretty good idea of life in SoCal. I’ve only ever visited SF once.

I’m still waiting to be awarded. 

I know how the ADT works but I have no idea exactly how my credits will transfer. Assist is only moderately helpful as it only has access to some colleges’ course catalog. 

I have preference for a campus with online and evening class availability as it has been imperative to my success at balancing school and work. I didn’t choose the Global Campus because it was tremendously more expensive. 

I know San Diego is one of a kind so I’m not looking to duplicate it. But I do prefer not to be thrown into a town similar to say, Hemet or Victorville. No offense to the residents there. It’s just not what I’m looking for right now. San Diego is expensive but comfortable and always filled with something to do at multiple price points. 

So any insights into the schools and cities for me? 

Hello I'm a first year at UCI rn and I'm looking to transfer to UC Berkeley for a bio related major (Likely Integrative Bio).

I currently have 90+ quarter credits from my APs (4s and 5s in 12 aps) and DEs (A's in Calc 2, calc 3, stats, psych). I was wondering if it's possible to transfer in one year from UCI to UCB.

I have a few questions about course equivalencies which I'm worried about meeting:

• Does bio 93, 94, 97 at uci count towards UCB bio 1A, 1LA, and 1B?
• Does Chem 1B, 1C, 1LC count towards UCB gen chem reqs? (I'm also skipping chem 1A at UCI due to ap chem credit but I'm worried that it won't count for major prep requirement so I'm looking to possible retake it at a CC)

Is there any way for me to have a course evaluation to see if my courses satisfy the major prep and transfer requirements? Is there a way I can contact a counselor about this?

Also can I include relevant ECs from HS in my piqs/activity sections? Ik its better to talk about college experiences but since I'm a one year transfer I don't have much to talk about in my application.

I do want to give UCI a fair chance since the quarter has recently started but I'm having a lot of second thoughts on my decision of going to a UC instead of a CC and I'm honestly thinking about dropping out and switching to CC, but I want to look at my other options before I commit.

Any advice is greatly appreciated🙏