UoP Transfer Question

[jeb]

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[beatsdre]

I am in a curious predicament that is the result of a low GPA at UC Berkeley. I mean like C's in ochem low. I'm just finishing up my 2nd year and through a combination of occurrences I have the opportunity to transfer into the dental program at UoP undergrad, which I know is unorthodox.

Considering the fact that my GPA is quite low (this semester I took ochem and physics together which didn't help) I am worried that as is after two more years at Berkeley I will just flat out not be able to get into dental school. If I transfer to UoP (which is kind of depressing because I would lose all my friends etc) I will be able to get into a "safer" program while having smaller classes that hopefully I could do better in. However, my lower GPA will look quite poor if it doesn't have a UC Berkeley degree behind it at least (IMHO).

Should I transfer to UoP for the next two years or stay at UC Berkeley? This is a really difficult decision for me. Thanks.

1) Are you sure you can transfer to UoP Dental Program. My friends all tell me that you can ONLY be accepted into the UoP Dental Program through Highschool -> UoP NOT College -> Transfer -> UoP.

2) Safer? Again, I have many friends that went to UoP (I go to a UC myself) and they always complain about teachers only giving 5 A's out of 100 kids. Apparently they like the "top 5 or top 10%" get A's in the class. (Ochem is notorious in UoP apparently) Also you have to understand that a lot of kids that attend the Pre-Dent/Pharm programs actually turned down schools like UC Berk/UCLA and other top tier schools. Why? Because of the pre-advantage program. In order to get into these programs you need a 4.0+ from high school. Therefore, the competition isn't easy at all. In fact, its just as tough, if not tougher, then you're Berkeley Classes. Also to add to this fact, they you can assume that they gun in the program due to turning down LA/Berk in order to get that advantage!

If you are looking for an easy way out, I wouldn't say UoP is the way. However, a smaller class size...might help?

 

[jeb]

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[jeb]

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[khangreen]

If you're planning to retake ochem at Pacific, it might not be the best choice. Most people say ochem is harder at Pacific and opt to take it elsewhere over the summer. I don't know how many of them have taken ochem at 2 different colleges to actually make a reliable assessment. Even then, if they took it at 2 different colleges, odds are it's because they didn't do so well the first time. Maybe they just had an easier time the second time around since, at that point, they've had prior experience. Classes will probably be difficult no matter where you take them.

As for curves, it depends on the professor. Usually, there's no curve that works against you. If you have 90% you should be guaranteed an A or A-. Some teacher's don't curve, while some curve down based on the performance of the class. Class sizes are definitely smaller and the community is very helpful. It's definitely not as competitive as I've heard Berkeley to be. Quite honestly, most people are here to get by, not to excel. There are some who excel as usual, but people usually help each other out. It almost feels like high school 2.0 merely by the fact that it's a small campus and almost everyone knows each other.

Even if you meet the requirements and it really is the Pre-Dental Advantage program that you're transferring into, you're still only guaranteed an interview. I have a friend who got mostly As, maybe a few Bs, and had DAT scores paralleling mine with scores hovering around 23 or 24, and he didn't get in this year. The "guarantee" isn't so perfect. Just a forewarning.

Again, this is just the general feeling I got around campus. Maybe I just happened to be in the right places at the right times. Maybe not. Anyways, hope I've helped. Good luck


P.S. Classes rarely reach 100 students. And if only 5 people got As, it's because only 5 people got grades deserving of As. The other 95 relied on the "curve fairy" or just wanted to pass and didn't care for the A.

P.P.S. Sorry if there are any grammar errors or spelling errors. My laptop's touchpad is very buggy and likes to click on random things as I type.

 

[bruin4life116]

How did you go about transferring into the accelerated pre-dental program? As I may be interested in doing the same from UCLA.

 

[peerless218]

I feel like you will find a better asnwer by calling UOP admissions directly rather than asking the pre-dents here on SDN. Why don't you give that a shot to see if you can actaully TRANSFER. And....I am warning ya...the UOP kids are pretty darn smart and talented when it comes to studying. Don't think just because you transferr, you're going to be able to beat out other people for those As. The people in my class form UOP undergrad..........I wish I have their brains. They social a lot and pretty much only study for exams the day before. Most of them are ranked preeeetty darn high so I doubt it'll be any eaiser than UCB.

 

[jeb]

I was mistaken. It is not allowed.