<p>I was just wondering what life is like as a student at a California community college. I've heard that, due to the sheer volume of students going to community college, it's far more difficult to be a student at one than it is in New York, where I live. I've heard that it's often hard to sign up for courses needed for graduation because they fill up so fast, and that usually, students take three years as opposed to the regular two to graduate.</p>
<p>How much of this is true? Is it really that much more of a pain in the ass to go to a community college in CA than in any other state?</p>
<p>(I'm sort of thinking of moving in with my uncle in California if I don't get into SUNY Binghamton. That or maybe go for one of the community colleges in CA where they have dormitories. =p)</p>
<p>I live in CA and my bro goes to community college. It's not only the community college classes which are impacted. The UC's courses are also very impacted because of the great amount of students. It's possible to finish in two years, you just have to be on top of your stuff.</p>
<p>I went to summer session at De Anza and I was able to get into a total of 4/5 classes, and high school students are the ABSOLUTE LAST students who get into classes...in many cases, ESL students would get in before us (no offense against them, I just found it kind of funny)</p>
<p>The point is, you can get into most classes easy, just plan ahead. The only problem is that there are maybe a few classes which are so high in demand that you might, just might, not get it.</p>
<p>Don't worry about it, it's really a small concern.</p>
<p>Tat really depends, California has the great variety of community colleges that I've seen, some feel like an adult school, some feel like a full-fledged college, and there are others that feel like an out back summer camp.</p>
<p>Most of your worries stem from metropolitian public community colleges. But just know that their are plenty of options: Ranging from Deep Springs, to California College of the Redwoods, to San Jose community college.</p>
<p>it is hard to get the times that you want, but you can most probably get the class. I go to Mt San Antonio, most cali community colleges are huge, not in campus size but student size and there is nothing really else to tell you except its boring boring and more boring. If you really want you can finish in a year if you start in the summer instead of fall. I am taking 2.5 years, but i am really completeing most of my units (47 of those) within this spring, summer and fall seasons. So if you imagine one more semester which there usually is, it is quite easy to finish in one year</p>
<p>If you register on time, you're in. If not, usually if you get yourself on the waitlist then you're good too. It really depends on how devoted you are to graduating in two years, most people aren't or have jobs that take priority.</p>
<p>if you register on time doesnt mean your going to get your class. Registration date depends on senoirity, not just how long you have attended, but how many units you have completed. You can register right on time, but if your date is late, good luck</p>
<p>Yea, but even if you get the suckiest (latest) date as your registration date, if you register as soon as you can, there is usually very little chance that you won't be able to get into the class since a lot of people register after their allotted date.</p>
<p>well i dont know where you go, but i have registered for classes at rcc and mt sac and tried at pcc and if you have a later registration date, you either have to be waitlisted and add which is hard enough becuase so many people want to add, or you take an odd time or odd class. Yes if you need bio, you can take it, but it will be like a saturday class or late night, you dont get want you want, you take what you can get</p>
<p>Yea, for the popular teachers/times, it fills up more quickly, I agree with you there, but I was just referring to being able to get the class you need. Usually that's not a problem if you're able to compromise on time/teacher.</p>
<p>Can anyone recommend a good community college in southern California? Also, I don't have a car, so how am I going to commute to college? Bike..?
Is it expensive to rent an apartment (I'll search room-mates)? I understood that I can go through a community college in a year? So if I start at summer 2005, I'd be able to go to UC already at fall 2006?</p>
<p>to transfer to a UC, you'll need the equivalent of 60 transferable semester units which can include AP/IB credits and/or other tranferable college credits; those credits must be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to enrolling. But, without possibly jeopardizing your gpa, all 60 would be difficult to obtain in one year unless you have other college/AP/IB credit.</p>
<p>Popular SoCal community colleges include: Santa Monica City College (largest transfer pop to UCLA, near the beach, lots of apartments nearby, but expensive); Orange Coast College (in The OC, but Costa Mesa is not Laguna Beach); or Santa Barbara City College (great party town, large transfer population to UCSB). To increase transfer chances, make sure you check out their Honors program. btw: the Calif jc's have OOS tuition.</p>
<p>PM Carolyn and she could probably list some San Diego jc's.</p>
<p>Where does your uncle live? I live next to chaffey college, and its the laugh of the town. all the high schoolers who couldn't go newhere else go here, or adults who want to get back into education.</p>
<p>My uncle lives in Silicon Valley. Where he lives, I'd either go to De Anza or Foothill Community college.</p>
<p>And if I end up going, I'm going to have 27 AP credits, and I intend to take a class or two over the summer session, so I should be able to finish within a single year.</p>
<p>thanks for the tips! If I should choose between L.A (santa monica college / orange coast college) and Santa Barbara, which one is better? Santa Barbara is beautiful, but is it too small? Is there anything to do?</p>
<p>I did forget Pasadena cc. The honors program at OCC has 80+% transfer rate to UC, so any of the cc honors program will prepare you well.</p>
<p>Costa Mesa is a nice burb and is a typical commuter school. I would guess Santa Barbara (and Santa Monica, for that matter), has more independents living near campus, so it's be a better college feel. With UCSB nearby, there is PLENTY to do in that town.</p>
<p>You might e-mail them and ask the question about commuters, and housing, since SB is one of the most costly housing cities in Calif.</p>
<p>we were just in Santa Barbara and visited SBCC and UCSB. SBCC has a housing office and also housing info on line. SBCC students can also live in one of the two private dorms just off the UCSB campus that house both UCSB and SBCC students. There was a wide range of costs in the apartments depending on whether in Santa Barbara or nearby and if there were roommates or not. The dorm rates include meals and while they were higher than other parts of the country, the costs did not seem off the charts to me.</p>