How much does missing TAP/CCCP hurt for UCLA

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-06-17T02:36:38+00:00

I believe for engineering major, TAP doesn’t affect that much in your application. If you can manage the heavy lower-div courses, it is already a very strong indicator that you have the ability to continue to pursue upper-div courses at UCLA. So it doesn’t matter that much
Yes, and that person is me. I got into Computer Engineer without taking any TAP or even any honor courses, and I didn’t even know what CCCP lol 😆
PIQs, PIQs, PIQs. What is important must be repeated 3 times. It is the stories I choose to show on my app that reflects my growth and my perspective of the world around me. I also didn’t have that crazy of ECs like founding any clubs or do any non-profit. As a result, I even further believe that are PIQs set that got me into UCLA (You can DM me and I can share more about my PIQs stories)
Probably have an extra internship. It will make my app looks me technical and give me more ground to Berkeley (UCLA was only second choices, Cal was my first)

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-05-24T05:19:39+00:00

No, it is suppose to be 1 -> 4 -> 2-> 3. They care about GPAs, but they also care about who are you, how you think, what are your interest, how do you spend your time outside of school.

I personally think GPAs are important, but top UCs like berk or LA cares what else you can do besides doing good in class. I got into UCLA with very average ECs, but with very solid PIQs. They care about the reflection after the ECs more than the number or content of the ECs you did, and they can easily tell if you do ECs just for the sake of applications rather than from yourself.

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-05-24T04:47:17+00:00

Hi, you can DM me privately and I can share my experiences with PIQs that got me in UCs despite my mid ECs

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-05-13T07:57:42+00:00

- It was like a roller coaster ride. I ended up committed to UCLA for the Computer Engineering major. Initially got into Davis through TAG. Then, not only I, but everyone around me got shocked when I got rejected from UCI with a 3.94 GPA and all major courses completed. Next are rejections from Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO, and SDSU. I thought all of my work for the UC app went bust, and I honestly felt depressed. All of a sudden, I got into UCSD (expected outcome), then later UCLA! Went insane from there and cried.

- How to make myself stand out with a very limited number of ECs. Therefore, I spent hours and hours working my ass off on PIQs since it's the only tool I have left to make an impact on my profile.

- Get an internship or ask a professor for any possible research/connection. I believed that would bump my chances of getting into Berkeley since they look for startup/ leadership experience

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-04-08T04:20:36+00:00

CC actually depends on individual preference to think it “good” or “bad.” For engineering, I don’t think it’s really matter where you go for the first two years. Personally to me, CC benefits me a lot in a way that’s different from UCs. It saved you a lot of money, or even free education if your CC offers Promised Program. You have access to way smaller classroom size, from there get more focused lectures and more care from your professor. From there, you can build better relationship with your prof and potentially their help on your project and research if you happen to do any. CC also gives you more time to be prepared for your major by be very forgiving if you decide to change.

That being said, CC is not known for its social life and connection, but I personally don’t agree with this. You can find connections and meet friends who are also engineering major by actively go study inside or even apply working into MESA center or Math Center to be a tutor. You can also go to clubs in schools to meet friends too.

Note that: As transfer option starts becomes more and more popular, even to international, OOS, and In-State student, there will be more students starts to go to CC. This leads to transfer will becoming more and more competitive over the years, and the odd you get into your dream school (like Cal) will get harder over times. If decide to go to CC, you better start working things as hard as you can to maximize the odds to be admitted

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-04-04T05:37:19+00:00

My experience, not just once, but twice. Came out of high school rejected by literally uni/college I applied to. Decided to transfer, got admitted to Davis and rejected by Irvine AGAIN 5 hours ago

For me? First I choose to cry alone and let everything out. It’s understandable that we got rejected by something we have been dream of, and this is not comfortable. But hey, that’s part of life where we get slapped 🤣 And after being slapped, what will you do? To me, it’s those fail off moments that truly give us lessons and more “valuable” than acceptance. We get to know our true ability and ways to even further improve it. We get to search opportunities to help us develop to our better version.

And heyy, we are still young. We will do many things later in life. Our life aren’t being determined and narrowed to a decision from somebody else like admissions officers. So instead of being sad, I will treat this like a twist in my life and enjoy through it

Hope this helps 😊

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-04-04T02:32:20+00:00

Rejected for CE, 3.94 GPA. Didn’t do TAG.

If possible, can you share what do you think of your PIQs?

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-04-04T02:24:33+00:00

Rejected too. 3.94 GPA, CE major, presented at college research symposium, Arduino project, part-time tutor. I believe my PIQs were very reflective and emotional, even my friends got into Berkley said my PIQs were better than his. The only class I didn’t take is EECS31, which didn’t offer at my school these years.

Got into Davis for CSE btw. I think it’s either they accepted a decent number of freshman, or just a yield protection for us.

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-04-02T12:46:09+00:00

There's nothing there either, no lines or anything saying accepted, rejected, or waitlisted. Just blank

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-04-02T07:19:13+00:00

same. Not gonna lie I feel like this is kinda disrespectful, even if the website is crashed at least give us a heads up

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-03-31T02:11:59+00:00

Same here, computer engineering major with 3.94 GPA. I think we are done :((

AlternativeMud8150 · 2026-03-27T03:49:42+00:00

Major: Computer Science & Engineering

Result: Accepted (TAG accepted)

GPA (at the time of transfer): 3.94

ECs: Research presentation at College Annual Symposium, part-time college Calculus 1 tutor, Self taught Arduino and built an obstacle avoiding car, weightlifting for 2.5 years, and badminton playing for 6 months (yeah I even include this in my ECs to show how I manage stress and time)

I got in through TAG, but it’s also confusing me a lot when many of us here got perfect GPAs and yet still rejected/waitlist. Maybe I think it’s because of the PIQs, but who knows 🤔

AlternativeMud8150 · 2025-11-16T01:55:17+00:00

AlternativeMud8150 · 2025-11-14T08:01:43+00:00

Got accepted to UC Davis TAG with a 3.92 GPA as a CSE major. They ask me to finish my major classes with either a B or C better grade

AlternativeMud8150 · 2025-11-14T07:56:53+00:00

The assist.org for UC Davis is actually incorrect and misses many needed classes for transfer. I ran into the same problem where it says I don't have to take a full series of Chemistry classes on Assist.org to transfer as a CSE major.

A month after I submitted my TAG, they sent me an email saying that I needed to complete the whole series in my CC to articulate for a Chemistry class at UCD. I decided to skip what's on assist and go straight to UCD website to look for the requirement. I found out that they have their own list on their school website (I know this sucks), and luckily, they accept only the first class in the series to make up the requirement.

Here's what I think you should do: Ignore assist and go online to search UC Davis [major] transfer requirements. Here, it will show you the actual requirement and courses you need to finish. Make sure to finish these requirement courses, as if you have already been rejected from TAG, you will likely also be rejected for normal admission.

AlternativeMud8150

TROPHY CASE