transfer from ucsd to berkeley or UCLA?

[w1nstar]

i'm wondering whether i should transfer from UCSD to Berkeley or LA. I currently have a 3.85 GPA, but kind of miss the bay area atmosphere. Is Berkeley really as cut-throat as what everyone says it is? Or how about LA? Is the jump in vigor from UCSD to CAL or LA really that big?

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[CaliGirl14]

A) It's super duper uper hard to transfer from a UC to a UC.
B) Stay at UCSD, outshine everyone, go to an awesome med school, $$$, win, and profit.

 

[tartrate]

Eh, I'd stay where you are if I were you...

In terms of competitiveness: think about people from your high school who were admitted to UCLA/Berkeley (usually the top 4-10% of their high school)...most likely, they will end up being about average once they get to UCLA/Berkeley. Do you think you can score in the top 10-20% amongst a class full of people who are at that level or better?

The grass always looks greener on the other side...but is it really?

Just try to make the best of what where you are. It sounds like you are more homesick than anything else.

 

[wolverinepwns]

Why would you want to transfer anyways? UCSD is a great school, and trust me you're gonna come to UCLA or go to Cal and then regret it cuz you'll end up having to work harder and study harder for the same grade.

 

[Wafflyw]

Why would you want to transfer anyways? UCSD is a great school, and trust me you're gonna come to UCLA or go to Cal and then regret it cuz you'll end up having to work harder and study harder for the same grade.

Agreed. What's your major, by the way?

 

[Tots]

A) It's super duper uper hard to transfer from a UC to a UC.
B) Stay at UCSD, outshine everyone, go to an awesome med school, $$$, win, and profit.

Actually its not THAT difficult. The admit rates are lower than CC transfers but significantly higher than other California schools(including Cal States) and Schools outside of California. (http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/Adm_tr/Tr_Prof10.htm)

It is much harder to go from Cal State --> UC though this happens frequently.

From what I have heard if you have solid academics and can explain intelligently why you want to transfer than you have a good shot.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

A) It's super duper uper hard to transfer from a UC to a UC.
B) Stay at UCSD, outshine everyone, go to an awesome med school, $$$, win, and profit.

Ignorance at its finest. I have a 3.82 in Chemistry at UC Riverside and applied to transfer. I just got accepted into the entire UC System (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD ... ). This is a FALLACY that UC to UC transfers are hard.

In regards to OP's question, I am going through the same thing... It is such a tough choice!!!!

 

[iusesharpies]

Cal is not very cut-throat...or if it is, it's easy to ignore and still do very well. It's challenging but has a TON of resources to make sure you do well (if you use them). Also, bay area. 😍

 

[w1nstar]

sorry i should clarify. i already got into both and now just weighing my options. in a way i feel my college experience is a bit lacking, but yes grass does seem greener on the other side. But, i figured if by maintaining my work ethic I end up do well at berkeley, maybe i'd be more satisfied in the end.

so main question: is berkeley really that much harder than SD?

 

[violetchild]

Oh no! I'm looking to transfer from a CC to UCSD.... Why don't you like it????

 

[DrSmday]

sorry i should clarify. i already got into both and now just weighing my options. in a way i feel my college experience is a bit lacking, but yes grass does seem greener on the other side. But, i figured if by maintaining my work ethic I end up do well at berkeley, maybe i'd be more satisfied in the end.

so main question: is berkeley really that much harder than SD?

I transferred to Berkeley from a CC and have a close friend who transferred from SD to Berkeley her 3rd year... she loved it and never regretted the change! you already love the bay area so it won't be the "culture shock" it sometimes is for folks moving up from soCal. as far as the toughness of the school, UCSD isn't an "easy" school and the fact that you did so well there tells me you are hard working and focused... Cal is not easy but with hard work many get excellent grades... my first semester at Cal after CC was tough but i caught up and did just fine! your transition coming from an already well distinguished school will not be hard at all... like i said, my friend loved it and did great at Cal and is now going to Northwestern for law 😀

I also had many friends who transferred to UCLA from my CC... they were all happy there... but... well I am biased, I <3 Cal and, though i may have had better grades at UCLA, will never regret my decision... its an experience that differs from all other schools in Cali, IMHO

 

[CoolWhipp]

....I also had many friends who transferred to UCLA from my CC... they were all happy there... but... well I am biased, I <3 Cal and, though i may have had better grades at UCLA, will never regret my decision... its an experience that differs from all other schools in Cali, IMHO

UCLA, UCSD, and UCB are all in the same league. Doubt your GPA would have been much different.

 

[lpmarcus010]

As an alumnus from UCSD biochem/cell bio, I feel that UCSD is already about as cut-throat as it gets (with systematic grade deflation, grading curves, etc.) From the standpoint of biomed science, UCSD is as good or better than the other two schools and I don't think that Cal or UCLA are any more difficult. That being said, if you miss the Bay, then transferring to Cal may actually be easier because you will be more in your element.

 

[DrSmday]

UCLA, UCSD, and UCB are all in the same league. Doubt your GPA would have been much different.

I meant better grades because of a bigger support system in LA area... all of my friends were at UCLA and family was in LA as well... I can't compare the difficulty or quality of the academics since I haven't been to either LA or SD