Schools What to look for in a university as a transfer

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When considering a transfer to a California university, especially for a math major, it's essential to explore the campus environment and academic offerings. Visiting schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego is crucial, but also consider other UC campuses like UCSB, UCD, UCI, and UCSC. During visits, prospective students should look for dedicated mathematics facilities, inquire about general tours, and seek opportunities to sit in on classes or meet professors, despite concerns about accessibility at larger universities. Engaging in open houses and events tailored for transfer students can provide valuable insights. It's also advised to stay proactive in researching campus activities and to focus on solidifying academic goals without rushing the transfer process.
TheKracken
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Hello everyone, I am currently a California Community College student. I have a 3.7 GPA and rising, so I have great chance in almost all state schools in my state. The top schools here seem to be UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego. In a program in my state we get guaranteed admission to any UC except for those three if you meet a certain GPA requirement.

When I go visit school what should I be looking for? I am looking to be a math major and I don't know if schools really have a Mathematics building or if it is kinda just spread out through physical science department.

Should I get a general tour of the school? Can I ask to sit in on a course? How about meet with a professor? I feel like at these large universities they don't care too much about a "Potential Transfer" and would not take time to meet with me. How should I analyze campuses and decide what fits me best?

Thank you, I appreciate your time.
 
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Kracken, the UCs have open houses, events, other such things going on all the time for transfer students/ specific majors. Just the other week I hoped on a bus to UC Davis for a premed conference. I'm not a premed,but who can turn down a road trip?

In short, look to see if your school posts such events and troll around the UC pages to see what's going on. Get off the internet and finish your homework first. ;)

Also you should add UCSB, UCD, UCI, UCSC to your list, they're all good schools.
 
UCSB, and UCD are definitely on my list. Possibly UCI, and I don't think UCSC offers what I am interested in. Did you take a bus from far away? I did not know that buses went that far? The bus system I use is my county specifically. Could you link me to the bus system you use?

Also, should I go to maybe one of those graduate seminars? I feel like they will be way to advanced for me to even comprehend.
 
The bus was from ucsd to ucd, it was an interesting trip. The point is, there is always stuff like that going on you just need to look. Take my earlier advice and decide on your major by summer 2014. You're to early in the game to be worrying so much about transfer.
 
Hey, I am Andreas from Germany. I am currently 35 years old and I want to relearn math and physics. This is not one of these regular questions when it comes to this matter. So... I am very realistic about it. I know that there are severe contraints when it comes to selfstudy compared to a regular school and/or university (structure, peers, teachers, learning groups, tests, access to papers and so on) . I will never get a job in this field and I will never be taken serious by "real"...
Yesterday, 9/5/2025, when I was surfing, I found an article The Schwarzschild solution contains three problems, which can be easily solved - Journal of King Saud University - Science ABUNDANCE ESTIMATION IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT https://jksus.org/the-schwarzschild-solution-contains-three-problems-which-can-be-easily-solved/ that has the derivation of a line element as a corrected version of the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein’s field equation. This article's date received is 2022-11-15...

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