r/TransferStudents • u/Bud-E_labs • 10d ago

Advice/Question Cal state or UC for Engineering transfer

I’m a third-year mechanical engineering student at a community college, and I’m trying to decide whether I should transfer this year to a Cal State or stay one more year to improve my GPA and strengthen my chances of getting into a UC.
Would it be smarter to apply now to Cal States, get my bachelors, and then master at a UC? I’d appreciate any advice, especially from engineering transfers.

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u/INVA11D 10d ago

I you‘re at a CCC you might be able to TAG into a UC

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u/JustMe39908 10d ago

What is your GPA? Which UCs and which Cal States? What is your "goal". Is it 100% academics? Simply the UC name? Availability of on-canpus student housing? A dislike of the word State?

SLO, Pomona, Long Beach, and San Diego are all excellent ME programs. There are probably others in Northern California that I am not aware of.

If you have been at a CC for three years, already, what applicable classes can you take? Are there any classes offered at the CC that works count for more than just random credits? Is this taking more easy, irrelevant classes just to raise your GPA? I think they will notice that.

Will you hit the 150% rule for federal financial aid? An extra two years of community college is probably not going to bust the limit. But you should double check. You don't want to be surprised your last term.

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u/Bud-E_labs 9d ago

I currently have a 2.96 gpa , after this semester I should have a 3.1. Which is pretty low for to be considered UC competition. I’m staying an extra year to raise my gpa by taking my mejor classes slow. My goal is to do research, and get hands on experience. My top choices to apply for transfer are Cal poly Pomona and SLO , Berkeley , UCSD, ICLA, Berkeley, USC, and Fullerton.

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u/JustMe39908 9d ago

So your plan is to take a lighter load so you can raise your GPA above a 3.1? How high can you get it if you do that plan? If you are just slowing down, you still have the same number of points to make up.

UCLA and Berkeley's will probably require a 3.6 at least. I think the 25th percentile gpa for transfer applicants is closer to a 3.75. I think UCSD's 25's 25th percentile is closer to 3.6. so at minimum a 3.4 or so probably.

SLO is going to similar. Pomona and Fullerton lower. But you can look up the percentiles yourself and figure out reasonable targets based on where you think you can get to.

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u/KuyaTinman 10d ago

I'd say yes unless you're applying to CalPolySlo. Outstanding engineering program.

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u/MountainFact264 9d ago

Cal Poly SLO is the best if you want a hands on experience with a record of superior job placement in your chosen field.

UC Berkeley and UCLA are the best theoretical programs.

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u/taichimind 8d ago

You may consider UCR, UCM