Bad News for Community College Students

<p>My ochem teacher was talking about this the other day. She said it’s gonna be pretty bad because alot of the chemistry sections are gonna get cut. If I don’t get into a UC then I’m gonna have to go back to my community college and have to fight my way in to Ochem 2. It’s gonna suck cause I might not get in :(</p>

<p>There are several studies that cite various low transfer rates in the state of California.</p>

<p>Former Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill last year to make it easier for students to transfer from CC’s to CSU’s (Cal States). </p>

<p>In that press release, there is this comment:</p>

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<p>In California, most of the students studying in higher education are at community colleges. They don’t all intend on getting a higher degree. Some are there for continuing ed, or vocational/training programs.</p>

<p>However, the statement that there is only a 25% rate of transfer for those intending to transfer to a four year is a chilling one.</p>

<p>(from the link: [Hometown</a> Station AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio - Governor Signs Bill To Streamline College Transfer Process](<a href=“http://hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22130:college-transfer-clarita-2010-10-04-13-51&catid=26:local-news&Itemid=97]Hometown”>http://hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22130:college-transfer-clarita-2010-10-04-13-51&catid=26:local-news&Itemid=97))</p>

<p>I have heard various other facts, which if you do some googling, you will find:</p>

<p>17% of community college students complete their transfer requirements in CA in 2 years or less.</p>

<p>Community colleges in California serve 3 million students - far more than all of the UCs and CSU’s combined. In fact, it’s 6 times the numbers of students at all of those public four year universities in California. </p>

<p>They are also facing even more significant budget shortfalls and class offerings being cut in the coming year.</p>

<p>^really? wow.</p>

<p>lol, i thought it would be significantly higher cuz all of my classmates are getting into universities. </p>

<p>Anyways, hopefully California’s 2 billion dollar deficit will soon be relieved. I support education budget cuts to a certain degree for the good of the whole state, but not to the extent of 80 million.</p>

<p>gluck to you all who are going to be in CC next year!</p>

<p>California’s budget deficit is nearly 28 billion dollars, not 2 billion.</p>

<p>The budget cuts facing community colleges is 800 million, not 80 million.</p>

<p>It’s staggering. </p>

<p>Your friends were lucky they all got into universities. :)</p>

<p>800 MILLION!!!</p>

<p>… holy ****.</p>

<p>Yep, holy ***** is right.</p>

<p>Lots of problems. I don’t envy our legislators or governor trying to figure out the solutions. Unfortunately, it’s the kids who will suffer.</p>

<p>Anybody know where I can find extracts of the type data referenced by SamuraiLandshark by individual CC or by CC district?</p>

<p>hesdjjim is correct that my son could complete all of his prerequisites for transfer to a UC as a Physics major if he is able to get into all of those classes during the semester listed. The thing is that that is a mighty big IF in light of coming cuts in the budget for the CCC system. Even now one often sees threads on this forum posted by students who can not get into the classes they need to finish in time to transfer in two or even three years. Unless something drastic changes it is about to get unimaginably worse. The Los Rios College District, which my son would attend if he goes the CC route, has said it already plans to eliminate over 1,000 courses which will reduce enrollment by 18,000 students. Since all Engineering majors have to take all the classes my son will have to take and pre-meds could take some of them as well, they are likely to be heavily oversubscribed and a lot of students are not going to get in even if they try to crash the courses.</p>

<p>On the Los Rios website they had been saying that the schedule for Summer 2011 classes would be posted on April 4. Now they are saying it will be the week of April 4. If they end up cancelling the Summer 2011 semester it will be an indication that the situation is indeed dire. Even if they do have a summer session if far fewer classes are offered this summer than in 2010 it will be cause for great concern and a harbinger of what the Fall 2011 semester course offerings will be like.</p>

<p>^</p>

<p>Go schedule an appointment with a community college counselor before school starts. Thats what i did and I had all of my questions answered and courses planned. Its much more convenient. </p>

<p>Your son can also take classes in other CCs as well. Thats what a lot of people do in order to have a full schedule. If he sticks to one CC, he probably wont be able to transfer in 2-3 years time. </p>

<p>gluck!</p>

<p>RSBuletz,</p>

<p>You can probably find the stats in some of the reports on this link. There is a ton of data here if you want to sift through the reports.</p>

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<p>From another article:</p>

<p>[Panel</a> looks to raise graduation rates at California community colleges - ContraCostaTimes.com](<a href=“http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17197815?nclick_check=1]Panel”>http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17197815?nclick_check=1)</p>

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<p>I just have to say that those who went to the CC’s before 2008 seem to have gotten it much easier than most of us today.What I remember in Fall 2008(my first year at a CC) was that one could of transfer at any quarter(Fall,Winter,Spring) at a UC or CSU.At that time,I said to myself,“CC isn’t bad as they make it.I’ll probably transfer out in probably 2.5 years.” But later in November 2008,counselors around campus told the sad news that students could no longer transfer unless it was Fall.I was like “b<em>ll</em>****!!!..now we’re competing with HS seniors?”.Now I’m wondering how are future generations of CC students going to accomplish successful transfer with the budget cuts?should the UC’s become a private institution branch?what the heck is going with the future of the UC’s,the state,the CSU system,and even CC’s?</p>

<p>I hate to sound like a dick, but this is great news for me if I don’t get into my #1 this year and decide to apply again for Fall 2012 admission.</p>

<p>How do you figure?</p>

<p>His reasoning is that more competition for classes at the CCC system will mean that there are fewer applicants who are more qualified than him. This dramatically increases the likely hood that he will be accepted.</p>

<p>It is however hinging on a few assumptions:</p>

<p>If the CSU or UC system reduce their acceptance this year, or anounce that they are dropping it next year, then a dramatic increase in the number of applicants should be expected regardless of their qualifications.</p>

<p>Transfer acceptance rate is also determined by the available classes in the upper division classes and the drop out rate of the freshman crowd, if there are fewer classes for us or the freshmen/sophomores realize that now is a really, really bad time to drop out of college and go to work, this also hurts the transfer rates.</p>

<p>Well with CCs cutting classes, less people will be able to apply this year (thus making it less competitive) because they won’t finish all of their requirements. It’s a cynical way of looking at this situation, I know. I’m very fortunate to have finished all of my classes before these cuts.</p>

<p>@ray50117 i was in the same situation i wanted to transfer out of my CC for winter 2010 but then i had to wait a whole year to transfer. i feel bad for the people that started fall 08 and then transfer fall 12 because of the GPA raise.</p>

<p>@shinra I wouldn’t bank on that. Serious students will expand the number of schools they apply to in order to increase their probability of acceptance. They are not going to take the hit lying down. Bottom line: get good grades.</p>

<p>CSU and UC have also had an influx of applications and yet didn’t increase admissions.</p>

<p>I am not sure where I see any advantage to any student wishing to transfer in because of this situation. </p>

<p>If you apply through the TAG program you might have a chance of getting into your school, if they participate. Not every UC does, unfortunately. UCSD is tightening up transfer standards.</p>