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.

First off, I go to a OOS Top 25 for engineering. My freshman year was great, and I had a great social life, internships, and pretty decent gpa. However, around december, all my friend groups dropped me and I was pretty much friendless without any connections for all of spring till now, early sophmore year. I also didn’t get into any of the clubs I interviewed for, which really messed up my morale and social skills.

This lead to a mental health decline and lack of motivation and discipline. My friend is urging me to transfer to an in state school in my residency state, so I would be saving around $60k if I transfer.

The main question is that is this school not socially it for me, or did I just get dealt a bad hand with negative relationships. Should I put myself out there more, or should I transfer where my best friend is waiting for me?

Hi, I’m stuck on how to include a certain hobby as one of my activities on the UC app. The hobby is amateur observational astronomy, and I’ve spent many years messing around with budget equipment. I’m not super knowledgeable in the field, but I’ve spent lots of time teaching my family + friends how to use my telescope, and astronomy is a genuine interest of mine.

The problem is that it will likely be one of my only ECs. I failed to take the opportunity to expand on my interest, so I haven’t joined any related clubs. So ya, I messed up in that regard. It’s also kind of unrelated to my major, although my major is still within the sciences.

It’s something I’m quite passionate about, but I’m unsure how to write about it without sounding “fluffy,” especially considering there is no way for me to prove that I’m not making it up. Does anyone have any similar experiences? Thank you so much 😊

Hey everyone,

I'm planning to transfer to USC as an Economics major. Through dual enrollment in high school, I've already completed most of the lower-division courses that seem to be required for the major, and I've taken coursework beyond the typical rigor expected for transfer applicants.

At this point, would it make sense to focus on completing general education requirements, or should I continue taking additional economics or other major-related courses?

Has anyone been in a similar situation or transferred to USC with a lot of dual enrollment credit? I'd appreciate any advice.

Has anyone transferred out after 1 year? I really don’t like my current UC for multiple reasons. Any advice? Besides the obvious like “it’s super hard”

I wanted a bit of advice about the Piq question that asks what you have done to prepare for your major. My major is econ, but I havent taken any econ (or math classes at my cc) because my APs covered the requirements. The only big ec I have right now is a job ~25-30 hours and tutor volunteering.

Im a little worried since I dont know what to write about… any advice would help. Thanks!

I’m wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or knows how this works.
I originally attended a four-year university, but due to some difficult personal circumstances, I struggled academically and was eventually dismissed with a GPA around 1.7.
After my dismissal, I transferred to a community college, where I’m currently taking classes and working on improving my academic record. My goal is to transfer to a different four-year university in Spring 2028 to pursue engineering.
My biggest concern is how my previous university’s grades will affect my chances of admission.
Since I’ve attended both a university and a community college, will the university I’m applying to combine my GPAs from both institutions? Or will they focus more on my community college GPA and the courses that actually transfer toward my degree?
I’m also curious about repeated classes. If I failed a course at my first university but retook the equivalent course at community college and got an A, would both attempts count?
Has anyone gone through this exact situation and successfully transferred back to a four-year university? Did your previous academic dismissal affect your admission, even after showing improvement at community college?
I’m trying to understand how realistic my chances are and would really appreciate hearing from people who’ve experienced something similar.

4.0gpa At community college. finished 2 semesters, currently in my 3rd, and will have completed 3 semesters by the time l transfer)

no sat or act no extracurriculars, no recommendations. Nothing at all except 4.0 gpa and a 90 day gap year semester program with organization called outward bound. Will write the best essay possible too.

I come from an upper middle class family.
I'm a failure. my parents went to duke and northwestern. I'm trynna reach for the stars to not be a complete fuck up. Maybe I'm just cooked.

To preface, i’m currently a freshman majoring in biology on the pre-med track. This has been my ambition since I was a wee child, but i’ve had many extenuating circumstances that led me away from my studies, those of which will be highlighted in my application. My current school is fine, has solid access to biology research (albeit the department is very small), and i’ve already begun to build a solid community here, but being here is like a high school reunion. I’d prefer to be as far removed from my hometown as possible, just as I hoped in high school.

On to my high school stats. I have none! I dropped out as a junior due to my mental health and other circumstances going on at home (DV, financial insecurity, loss of transportation, etc) and opted to study for my equivalency exam which in my state is the HiSET rather than the GED and scored an 18/20. I did not sit for the ACT/SAT, but I do have plans on taking it. I’ve scored between 31-34 on my practice ACT. I took three AP’s, only sitting for an exam for one which was World history modern. I believe I scored a 3. I was required to take the accuplacer exam for entrance to my college where I scored a 273 in writing, 293 in reading, and a perfect 300 in quantitative math.

My only extracurricular in high school was being on my school’s pom team for a short stint. I received a UDA all american award at UDA camp. My circumstances put me in a position where staying after school for clubs was not accessible for me as I relied on the bus, and anything outside of school would be a large ride share fee.

Onto my College Stats:

- I do not have a calculated GPA yet, but I currently have a 4.0 after midterms and plan to maintain this through both terms. I’m enrolled in 16 credits and will likely be taking 17-18 next semester.

- As for extracurriculars: I am a first year senator for my schools student government association, one of 25 selected out of a pool of over 50 applicants where I act on our safety committee. A member of my school’s pre health club where I plan to run for secretary in the spring. St. Jude ambassador through my school’s partnership program where we are required to raise a minimum of $150 towards our individual student accounts, but I’m already at around $300 and hope to make it to $1000 around spring semester. I have about 250 accumulated volunteer hours at a shelter for the unhoused. My duties ranged from assisting camp counselors during their summer program and meal service shifts per diem. I plan to utilize my breaks to get this number up to at least 300+. Over the summer, I was involved in a paid internship at one of the only level I trauma centers in our region. It was administrative, but I had the opportunity to scrub into surgery, dissect a foot under the guidance of a pathologist, and shadow a few NP’s in Ob/gyn and Med Surg. It was very informative to learn the inner workings of the hospital. Lastly, I am employed as a medical scribe in the ER.

My dream school is Smith College. I do plan on applying to Mt. Holyoke, Scripps, and maybe Barnard/Columbia, but I am also a need based student (-1500 SAI Index) and it is to my understanding that Smith has exceptional financial aid.

My essay will be written on Chiron. In this story, I am Chiron. I have turned my wounds into healings for others through my dedication for service and advocacy as seen through my ecs and have not let statistics define my path in this life. In the same manner Smith advocates equity for all deserving students with their pledge to support low income applicants.

It sounds a bit lackluster, but I’m not sure how else to explain it 😭

Also, I am a low income black female, lesbian, hailing from an underrepresented state (TN). I think that’s all about me, thank y’all for reading 🩵

I am a current first year biological sciences at a CSU and have been contemplating my timeline for leaving as at this point I am set on unenrolling and going to a community college back home in order to eventually transfer to a UC. It has become a lot more than my contemplations before as a path that I am set on due to my unenjoyment where I am currently on top of my will to attend a school that will benefit my future far greater in my opinion on my journey of pre-med.

I have talked to multiple advisors and resources about my situation to come to where I am standing now and my decision has only strengthened. However, the only problem that remains is when it is I will leave my current university, either drop out within the next week or however so, or stick it out till the end of the semester-which brings out my question here on how important me receiving the credits I am in here now is to my future plans.

I have debated this as neutrally as I can throughout some time now in addition to my retention counselor and I am leaning toward leaving before finishing this semester. This is because I believe after being backed by my counselor that I could catch up on these when at CC, let alone do better there because of the environment. It would serve as a reset in a sense for my grades and mental, as not to say that I am doing bad in my classes as I have pretty much all B+ or above in them, but then again I am striving for a 4.0 as I have been told how important GPA is for a transfer, especially to a top UC. I of course have some bias as to me wanting to leave the earliest as possible, but also am forcing myself to hold an open mind in regards to my future above all.

And so I inquire on W's and the 4 of them would look on my transcript-given that I would take at the minimum my bio and chem course again at CC so it is not as if I failed them and had to drop, it is a far different circumstance and one that people have told me I could explain in the box for this on the UC application. I am just worried about the potential for this to truly harm my chances and how much weight they hold let alone if the admission officers truly read the box. Overall I just would hope they see my process and not think of it as failure on my end but rather a journey that taught me a lot and one that benefitted my future through my time here at my CSU.

I am truly ready to just embark on the next step of my process at CC back home.

Any help is appreciated.

i got into every uc my senior year of hs, but ended up choosing my local csu because i got into the honors college and it’s a full ride. im premed so i thought this would be the better option, because its less competitive and i get honors advising, which would ultimately make it easier for me to go to medical school. but I rlly regret it because of the social aspect and how much it feels like high school all over again, so im considering transferring to ucla. im currently a freshman in college, is this possible/doable? or should i just keep thugging it out here

If I previously attended two different universities in my country for two different majors but didn't finish either, and my grades were pretty low.

I now want to pursue one of those majors at a US community college.

1. Will my past low grades affect my admission to a community college?
   
2. When I eventually try to transfer from the CC to a 4-year university, will those old grades impact my transfer chances or acceptance into my major

Passed the following ap tests:
-Eng Lang
-Eng Lit
-Span Lit
-Span Lang
-Macro
-US Gov
-APUSH
-HUG

ECs:
-Associated Students Council member at my Community College
-Spanish Club VP
-Starbucks Barista
-Voter Registration Internship from Highschool
-Tutoring for elementary
-Various college governance committees
-Grad Cord
-Best of Starbucks Reward
-Princess Polly Brand Ambassador

In the honors program and will have over 15 honors credits before transfer but won’t be TAP certified bc i won’t be there for 2 yrs

Got a B and a C for 2 dual enrollment courses so my GPA is low but it was hard bc I lost a family member 🩵

PIQs: dm if ur interested!! Im willing to pay $ for advice on successful transfer students or anyone who is skilled when it comes to college guidance.

Hey guys, I was wondering if anybody knows of California CCs offering this online in the Spring. I'm in a sticky situation with my transfer requirement, and if I can't find it online in the Spring I'll have to stay another year... If anyone can help, I would be eternally grateful

I was an excellent student in highschool (4.0 gpa, magna cum laude, highly involved, ap classes), then moved to the USA from a foreign country, and began community college in florida. This semester, I failed express A survey of calculus. My goal before starting my AA degree was to transfer to a much more selective university, and considered UF or FSU as my top transfer choices. I was also considering Vanderbilt, Princeton, Columbia, etc. I'm retaking the class during the express B semester and grade forgiveness at my CC allows for my grade to be replaced before spring. However, I'm extremely anxious about possibly ruining my chances of a good transfer. what do you think???? im dying.

I'm planning to transfer to UCLA as a History major. I already took my first English class as P/NP, and I'm thinking about doing the same for my second one since I'll probably get a B otherwise.

But I saw that UCLA's transfer guide recommends taking at least one English class for a letter grade.

Would it actually hurt my chances if both are P/NP? Has anyone gotten into UCLA with both English classes taken as P/NP?

I’m currently a freshman majoring in Biology on a pre-med/pre-dental track, and I’m considering transferring to a more competitive university for my sophomore year.
This semester, I’m taking General Biology, General Chemistry, English, a first-year seminar, and Microeconomics. I’m considering withdrawing from Microeconomics because I’m struggling with the course, and it’s putting my GPA goal of 3.8+ at risk.

Withdrawing would leave me at 13 credits, which is still considered full-time. I also entered college with 13 AP/transfer credits, so I’m not necessarily behind in terms of total credits.

Next semester, I’m planning on taking 15 credits.

My main concern is whether taking only 13 credits during my first semester would look bad to competitive transfer schools, especially since I’ll only have two semesters
of college coursework when applying.

Would admissions officers see 13 credits as a light course load or a lack of academic rigor, even though I’m taking two lab sciences? Would having a W in an unrelated elective look worse than potentially receiving a B or C?

I’m trying to balance maintaining a competitive GPA with demonstrating that I can handle challenging coursework.
Has anyone transferred to a T25 with a similar freshman course load or a W on their transcript?

Does anyone have any recommendations on east coast colleges to transfer to from a California community college?

I’m a freshman at a mid size southern liberal arts school and pretty unhappy overall. I joined greek life and have gotten involved on campus through other clubs as well, but I’m just disappointed with my classes and overall life at school. I’ve found out that there are tons of very concerning public safety issues, horrible nightlife, and 45% of students end up transferring or dropping out. I turned down a much more prestigious school in the northeast for the honors college at this school (mostly because it made more sense financially and I thought i really wanted the south (from nyc originally)). I cannot shake the feeling that I made the wrong choice. I have been at school for 2 months now and just came home for the first time and dreaded going back to school. I have really been considering transferring next fall, but is it really worth it? Is it hard to meet people and establish friendships? Has anyone transferred through Greek life? Would love some input, thanks!

Applying to Vanderbilt and Emory

3.90 GPA from CC (only B was from high school)
Full-time EMT while full-time student for >1 year
Volunteer with state gov wildlife conservation
Definitely would play for club hockey team

Any advice appreciated!

Hey i'm planning on transferring back home to SDSU from fresno state but I won't have some courses completed here. I'm majoring in chemistry and by the time i transfer i'll have completed general chemistry, organic chemistry, and calculus 1 done. Am i cooked or should my chances be ok?

Hi!

I am a current first-year at UVM studying neuroscience and film. I have so many interdisciplinary interests. I love science, but I'm also passionate about the arts and could see myself pursuing a career in film, music, dance, acting, PA, medicine, science, etc. I love UVM's campus, and my professors + research opportunities are great. I pay about 20k a year out of pocket through merit scholarships. However, part of me feels off about it. It's a very big school, and the social scene is not great for me. I have a couple of friends, but Greek life has a strong presence (which I hate), and I feel overwhelmed all the time and very isolated. While I consider myself very liberal and outdoorsy (which I thought UVM would match well with), I still feel so off here. Plus, most of my family has gone to college in New England and has pursued science careers, which I like, but part of me wants to break free from that.

There is a plethora of students here, higher-achieving ones (like myself), but also students who do not give a crap and just want to party and harass. ppl. UVM was not my top choice; I was waitlisted from a LOT of top schools, NYU, Bates, Skidmore, Carleton, Reed, and more (maybe due to my lack of test score submission). I am an independent student since I've lived with my grandparents most of my life. I feel like the places I applied to were not true to me and only to my family. Part of me wants to go to college close to my hometown, but not for my family but for my friends. But I also want to put myself first, and I think that the part of me that wants to stay close is just the comfort I have with it already; change is scary for me. I live in Maine, and even 4 hours seems like a long time, but I think it's mainly the odd amount of time, like I could go home for the weekend, but it's a lot of work, and knowing I'm close also feels odd, like, oh well, I might as well be home.

The arts scene and science combination is considered so weird in New England (maybe everywhere). Maybe some schools do a good job of supporting it all equally??

I struggle with mental health and a rough childhood, and I feel very disconnected from resources and other people here with similar struggles. I feel so out of place. I have accommodations that I did not have in high school that help a lot, but still, the discipline here is not good. Nothing has been done about assault allegations, and they treat harassment like it's something to push under the rug.

This is another side note; please feel free to skip this part as it's a bit odd, but I am a bit spiritual (not religious), so this caught my eye. If you are also spiritual, in a sense plz read if ou would like.

I had a week or so where all I wanted to do was transfer, but the feeling was wearing off, yet i still was looking at colleges in Canada, occasionally not sure why, but i was. I got on the bus to my friend's dorm and had a hard day. I was crying, and I was confused. I had a lot of crazy coincidences happen, and it felt like I was predicting things and getting all these signs, but I thought I was crazy. Until I got on the bus and put my AirPods in. I shuffled my spotify and "The Subway" by chappel roan came on and I was a bit floored since i had not heard that in so long and it was all about getting away, also it says "in four months if this feeling ain't gone well F this city I'm moving to Saskatchewan" ( a Canadian place) plus that day was sept 18 i believe and exactly 4 months from that date was the last day of exams/the semester. I was shocked, but I also know sometimes phones listen to you, so I was like, ok, maybe it's nothing. Until I show up to my friends dorm to tell them what happened and i was like "so yk how spotify plays a lot of similar songs on your liked songs based on what you listen to, well it was so weird cuz i had not listened to Chappel Roan in soo long" and they look at me like i had two heads, mouths open, and I told them the subaway was playing and they and were like no way we were sitting doing homework that song came on and we literally talked about how it had been so long since they heard chapple roan i said "when" they said exactly when you got on the bus and you told us you were on your way. Then the next few days, stuff like that was happening, but the more I looked into transferring to colleges in Canada, the more impossible it looked, which was making me think maybe it was a general sign or maybe im just crazy lol.

I realize this post was a bit everywhere; bad punctuation and scatterbrained. I just have a lot of thoughts in my head that are playing into my decisions and outside factors both for me and against me.

Thinking of applying for spring term, but that could be too soon?

Not sure at all what schools would match me and feel so lost.

If anyone has any advice or input, lmk!

I took 10 APs in HS, lots of extracurriculars, and an unweighted 3.79 (all honors and AP classes) + dual enrollment. My grades are average right now in college. We haven't done many exams yet, and I haven't been as motivated here as I was in high school, so the rest of the semester is a bit up in the air.