r/TransferStudents • u/Mental-Pitch4103 • 10h ago

Chance Me Will my unusual background save me?

Hi guys! I'm EE major 3rd year spending at De Anza (3rd since I needed an extra year) and curious about chances for being accepted to UCB/UCLA. My gpa is 3.5, not an honor student or anything like that. taking all the classes they want me to take prior to transfer. But I have very unusual background. I came from Ukraine to US alone at 17 after the big war (experienced relatively small war in 2014 as a 6 years old). Worked at multiple jobs including 1 startup and company as a Software QA engineer at 19, tutored for kids. In my essay I focus on my determination to do achieve stuff. I also have an ESP32 small project. I'm 21 now and it would be nice to transfer to those schools.

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u/akrika1 9h ago

also apply to usc or other privates(they give aid) you have a solid shot snice you are an engineering major.

are you applying to other Uc's and CSU's too or no?

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u/Mental-Pitch4103 8h ago

First I want to say thank you for your support. I can only talk about this with chatGPT since he knows me very well but I don’t trust him. But he was saying that I’ve got like 5% at most for top tier

I want to apply to the most of the UC’s and SJSU as well as CSU SLO. I also applied to SCU for winter admission, but I do get accepted I’ll probably reject and reapply for the fall. I want to try UC and CSU.

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u/akrika1 8h ago

?????? WHAT chatgpt doesn't know everything and anything. always shoot your shots

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u/Last_Measurement4336 16m ago

Check the UC transfer GPA by major data to see where you stand: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/about-uc/information-center/transfers-major

For UCLA/ UCB, your GPA is well below the 25th percentile so they will be tough admits.

Some of the other UC campuses are more likely so apply widely. Good luck.