Introductory letters for college applications and UC questions

[Guest amb]

I'm currently a student at BCC (community college in Florida) and am hoping to transfer into a good Chem Engineering or Chemistry program, preferrably in Southern California. It seems that all of these schools want a letter describing you, and what you can bring to the school. Has anyone written these types of letters, or reviewed them? Any tips on how extensive/brief the letter should be, the types of things they want to know/hear, etc?

 

I know I need to have pretty competative stats to transfer to one of these schools from out of state. I have a 3.6 with 60+ credits thusfar. Does it help to get the actual AA degree? I am missing some writing credit even after next Fall, so i'd need to take an add'l crap class in order to get another 3000 words (stupid "Gordon Rule"). Anyone know what kind of chance I have at getting in out of state, and if they count your entire gpa, or only the transferrable courses in their decision? I am doing better if you only count transferrable courses. I will probably apply to a bunch of schools there in order to increase my chances, anyone have anything to say about these schools, or my chances of getting in? -- UCSD, USC, UCLA, UC Berkely, CalPoly, CalTech(?), UCI-- anyone i'm forgetting? How about other states, i'm willing to consider other good schools (although we'd love to move to Cali), so please recommend if you can.

 

Thanks.

Angela.

[blike]

It seems that all of these schools want a letter describing you, and what you can bring to the school. Has anyone written these types of letters, or reviewed them?

 

I'm going to write a few this week, I'll let you know how I approach it.

 

And yes, being from florida myself, the gordon rule sucks.

 

Anyone know what kind of chance I have at getting in out of state, and if they count your entire gpa, or only the transferrable courses in their decision?

 

You really need to look online or call the admissions office and ask. State schools are required to meet an in-state quota, but private schools typically don't have such quotas.

[Guest amb]

Cool, i'd be interested to hear back from you. I viewed your profile and noticed you are a USF student. Where are you looking to transfer to? More specifically, which schools are you writing letters to?

 

All replies are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks:)

Angela.

[blike]

I'm applying to medical schools, but most of the secondary applications I have received have an essay:

 

"What personal qualities do you feel you bring to _______?"

 

and

 

"Why should _______ accept you over other qualified applicants?"

[bloodhound]

I really hate those questions. I find very hard to answer those. luckily i didnt have to take any interviews for my uni application.

[zhuam]

I have amny friends taht have been admitted and rejected from different UC's. Here is a profile of your chances:

 

UC Berkeley: With 3.6 and out-of-state. You'd have to win a national chemistry or math competition in order to get in!

UCLA: So-so chance, I knew a girl with 3.7 in-state (with all her classes being honor math classes) who did not get it. On the other hand, there was a guy with 3.4 that got in.

UCSD: A little bit easier than UCLA, so I would say in your case is 50/50

UCD: I am getting into this one! (Nobody knows about it, but according to USNEWS its chem eng program is supposed to be better than UCSD's) to get in is easier than UCSD.

UCI: Same as UCD

USC: Money money money!