I'm considering starting at Ohlone College and then transferring to UC Berkeley. Does anyone have experience with this process? What should I be aware of in terms of GPA requirements and ensuring my credits transfer smoothly?
Transferring from a community college like Ohlone College to UC Berkeley is not an uncommon path, and in fact, there's a system in place to facilitate such transfers.
First, consider the prerequisite courses you'll need to take at Ohlone for your desired major at UC Berkeley. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is a series of courses California community college students can use to satisfy lower-division general education (GE) requirements at any UC or CSU campus. You will want to complete this package of courses to make the transferring process smoother. Also, be aware of the major-specific prerequisites - these can be found on assist.org, the official repository of articulation information for California’s public colleges and universities.
As for GPA requirements, UC Berkeley does not have a set minimum GPA requirement for transfers. However, competition for transfer spots is tough, and generally, successful applicants have GPAs of 3.5 and above. For impacted majors like Computer Science or Engineering, the average GPA may be even higher.
Please also note the presence of programs like the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) in the UC system, but it is worth mentioning that not all UC campuses participate - UC Berkeley is one that doesn't.
Lastly, UC Berkeley and other UC schools offer fall admission for transfer students, and the application period is usually through the month of November the year prior. You can apply after completing at least 60 semester (or 90 quarter) units of transferrable coursework.
It's a good idea to work with the advisors at both Ohlone College and UC Berkeley to ensure you meet all requirements and that your chosen courses are transferable. Good luck with your transfer plans!
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