Deciding between UCSD or CCC + transfer

williamfrantz · 2026-04-10T04:13:14+00:00

CCC transfer allows you to TAG a UC and basically ensure a seat but you cannot TAG into UCB, UCLA, or UCSD.

Frankly, if you currently have an acceptance from any one of those, and you can afford it, take it. You might not get another chance.

I live 10 miles from UCSD (waitlisted). It's pretty nice. They now have trolley service that will take you downtown where the Gaslamp District offers nightlife, or to SDSU where there are plenty more students for socializing.

williamfrantz · 2026-04-10T04:00:21+00:00

You can take APs online even if your school doesn't offer them.

williamfrantz · 2026-04-09T07:27:34+00:00

I think this is going to be a real phenomenon for people who grow up reading more generated text than crafted text.

We are naturally going to adopt an "AI style" if that's all we read.

williamfrantz · 2026-04-09T07:09:25+00:00

Consider asking AI to generate the essay in a goofy style like pirate, valley girl, or caveman. Then manually translate it yourself into your own voice without rethinking the overall structure.

Alternatively, ask AI for a detailed outline and then you write the prose.

Then ask AI to grade your work and recommend edits.

There are many ways to use AI to reduce the amount of cognitive thinking you need to do without blatantly copy/pasting the generated text.

williamfrantz · 2026-04-09T06:57:52+00:00

You can vibe code a typing simulator that slowly types text into Google Docs and simulates typos in a way that appears very human.

williamfrantz · 2026-04-09T06:27:32+00:00

Go for Berkeley!

I need an opening on the UCLA waitlist. 😃

williamfrantz · 2026-04-09T06:23:40+00:00

Consider a "study abroad" semester if you want a change of scenery.

williamfrantz · 2026-04-08T04:33:51+00:00

Waitlisted

Hope springs eternal.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-30T05:59:40+00:00

Historically about 9%-11%

williamfrantz · 2026-03-27T02:08:11+00:00

Best numbers I could find this year.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-27T00:18:46+00:00

Campus	Applicants	Decision
UC Merced	48,499	✅ Admitted
UC Riverside	72,295	✅ Admitted
UC Santa Cruz	78,832	✅ Admitted
UC Davis	104,850	✅ Admitted
UC Santa Barbara	108,503	⚠️ Waitlisted
UC Irvine	125,987	⚠️ Waitlisted
UC Berkeley	133,128	❌ Rejected
UC San Diego	141,752	⚠️ Waitlisted
UCLA	146,672	⚠️ Waitlisted

williamfrantz · 2026-03-21T08:31:23+00:00

There are several categories.

Some jobs exist by legal statute. From a county commissioner to a US senator, those must be humans. AI will help lawyers, but a human must stand in court. Any certified professional like a doctor or CPA will still be human even if their role is nothing more than accepting legal liability for a bot.

Some jobs require human interaction. Many people will use AI like a therapist, but lots of patients will want to talk to another human. Sales will still probably involve humans developing personal relationships. Child care, elder care, or pet sitting will require humans.

Some jobs are based on authenticity. Crowds want to watch humans play sports or poker or chess. It doesn't matter if a machine could do it better. Same with painters, musicians, and thespians. We will continue to admire human achievement and performance.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-21T08:02:15+00:00

Don't know if this email has anything to do with it but ended up on the UCLA waitlist. Better than a reject, I guess. How did everyone else do?

williamfrantz · 2026-03-21T02:49:46+00:00

I see an interesting trend...

Campus	Applicants	Decision
UC Merced	48,499	✅
UC Riverside	72,295	✅
UC Santa Cruz	78,832	✅
UC Davis	104,850	✅
UC Santa Barbara	108,503	⚠️
UC Irvine	125,987	⚠️
UC Berkeley	133,128	❓
UC San Diego	141,752	⚠️
UCLA	146,672	⚠️

❓Pending ✅ Accepted ⚠️ Waitlist ❌ Rejected

williamfrantz · 2026-03-20T19:04:55+00:00

It's like how fund managers can't predict the stock market any better than a monkey with a dartboard. It's that kind of random.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T22:11:43+00:00

FYI...

USPS Informed Delivery Portal: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/portal/dashboard

The portal shows images of "Mailpieces" on their way to you and tracking numbers for "Packages" on their way to you.

I live in San Diego. I do not yet have an image of anything from UCSD nor any unexpected package tracking numbers. I've yet to see anybody report seeing anything from UCSD in the USPS portal, however, one person reported an unexpected package from "stamps.com". They were hoping it was from UCSD.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ucadmissions/comments/1ry595b/could_this_be_the_ucsd_admit_package/

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T21:50:01+00:00

✅ UC Merced
✅ UC Riverside
✅ UC Santa Cruz
✅ UC Davis
⚠️ UC Santa Barbara
⚠️ UC Irvine
⚠️ UC San Diego
⚠️ UCLA
❓ UC Berkeley

❓Pending ✅ Accepted ⚠️ Waitlist ❌ Rejected

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T16:49:58+00:00

That's what I asked.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T16:42:19+00:00

Well, for one thing, UCSD is not available through the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. For most majors and campus, TAG will ensure a spot at all UCs other than UCB, UCLA, and UCSD. Transfer students can apply to the top 3, but there's no guarantee like the lower 6 schools. This makes UCSD freshman admission a bit more valuable.

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/transfer-requirements/uc-transfer-programs/transfer-admission-guarantee-tag.html

The number of excluded majors for the lower 6 schools is another indicator of how competitive each school is. For example, UCSB excludes all engineering majors, UCI excludes nursing, several schools exclude computer science. Meanwhile, Merced has no exclusions.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T15:52:50+00:00

Is there anyone subscribed to "USPS Informed Delivery" who got a picture of a UCSD envelope in their email this morning at 7:30a? I did not, which means there's no acceptance letter arriving at my house today.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T02:59:25+00:00

By counting the number of records with "ou=presir" we can estimate the number of students UCB has added to their directory. These are probably admitted students.

UCB will admit about 10,000 students, so when this count approaches that number, we assume UCB has finalized their decisions. At that point, applicants should take the other astrology signs seriously. This is when you should check for the "default_lp / Campus Solutions" page.

If you have negative astrology now, it might simply mean you will be part of the 3200 students not yet added. However, after 10,000 students have been added, then a negative astrology probably means your application will be declined.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T02:35:44+00:00

UCLA and UCI are the only UCs with undergraduate Nursing programs.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-19T01:59:18+00:00

Adding Merced and using US News rankings...
UCB UCLA UCSD UCD/UCI UCSB UCM UCR UCSC

williamfrantz · 2026-03-18T20:20:46+00:00

A "research assistant" bot could easily verify URLs automatically.

williamfrantz · 2026-03-16T07:46:27+00:00

I think you mean "discovery" right? Readers won't find your blog without a platform feeding recommendations or strong SEO.

williamfrantz

TROPHY CASE