Better to be a transfer student or 4-year

<p>My options for college are transfer to a UC preferably Cal, or go to a CSU. I plan to go to graduate school after and I want to get into the best grad school that I can. Should I transfer to a UC or go to a CSU. I'm just wondering because I feel like I would have greater opportunities to talk to advisers if I go to a CSU for 4 years rather than a CC then transfer to a UC. What would the best plan be?</p>

<p>CC then UC. What matters are your upper-division grades and research opportunities, and there is much more research activity at the UCs than there is at the Cal State schools.</p>

<p>I would say to decide based on financial considerations first. Lots of people want to go to grad school and either change their minds or don’t get in, and professors don’t make enough to pay off big debt. (You just said grad school; I’m assuming PhD, but most professions don’t really make enough to pay off big debt…)</p>

<p>Assuming that you can easily afford both options, the CC to UC option will be more competitive. While I do believe a dedicated enough person could go to grad school from anywhere, top schools do give you a bit of an edge and the UC will likely have better research opportunities.</p>

<p>I diagree with the above posters. There’s so many variables here that it seems unwise of us to make a blanket recommendation.</p>

<p>The OP did not say anything about his or her background and aspirations. For example, if the OP wanted to major in math and had already taken AP calculus, he or she would probably be better off at a CSU. CCs don’t usually teach upper-level math courses (which he/she might start taking in his/her sophomore year at a 4-year college) and math is so highly sequential that it would be nearly impossible to close the gap to his or her peers after transferring to a UC. Graduating from a UC might be beneficial but not if you are behind the curve.</p>

<p>I plan on majoring in sociology and pursuing a career in law after getting my masters or phd. I’m not concerned about paying for my education.</p>

<p>You want to get a Ph.D in sociology, then go to law school? You’re looking at spending the better part of a decade in graduate studies - and that’s after you finish your bachelor’s degree.</p>