<p>Nemesis, you will be a transfer student. But you will also have priority in the UC system over transfers from other colleges - in fact some of the UC's, like Berkeley, will ONLY take transfers from the community colleges - or at least that was the case last year when spaces were very limited. </p>
<p>So basically the way it works is:</p>
<p>2 years community college with GPA meeting UC eligibility requirements = transfer into UC system guaranteed</p>
<p>2 years any other college = transfer into UC system unlikely</p>
<p>I think right now community colleges charge $26 per unit - so 15 semester units at a community college would cost $390. Add in a few miscellaneous charges for various services - you are still talking less than $500/semester to attend community college full time. </p>
<p>Anyone can enroll at a cc - you don't have to apply to be admitted, you just have to show up to register by their deadlines. They do require placement test for certain courses - that is, you'd have to take a placement test in math before you could sign up for calculus or physics. </p>
<p>The community colleges clearly indicate which of the courses they offer are transferable to the UC system, so you really don't have to worry about that. Many people feel that they get a better education at the community colleges for the basic courses than they would at a UC, because of the smaller class sizes and more personal attention. </p>
<p>When you are over 18, your residency will be determined by where YOU live. It isn't relevant where your aunt and uncle live, but if you are actually living at their house, that will be your residence. If you rent your own apartment in a different city, then that will be your residence. </p>
<p>You don't have to establish residency in order to attend a community college. People usually just go to whatever college is nearest to where they live. </p>
<p>Here are the rules for establishing residency for purposes of the UC system:
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To be considered a California resident for purposes of fees, an out-of-state student must have lived in California for more than one year preceding the residence determination date, relinquish residence in other states, show an intent to establish residency in California and demonstrate financial independence. Unmarried undergraduates from other states qualify as financially independent if they were not claimed by their parents or others as dependents for tax purposes for two preceding tax years and if their annual income is sufficient to meet their needs. </p>
<p>Other out-of-state students who qualify as financially independent include veterans of the U.S. armed services, students with legal dependents other than a spouse, students with both parents deceased, students who are wards of the court, and students who are at least 24 years of age by December 31 of the year they seek to be classified as residents.
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<p>The truth is that the community colleges are the best bargain around, and they are an excellent choice for any young person in California who needs to be self-supporting.</p>