<p>I think there is a UC-Transfers thread, where you might get better traction.</p>
<p>California spells out what they are looking for pretty explicitly. For UC’s, often it is certifying IGETC (Inter-segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum), plus completion of requirements for the major (lower division courses) with 60 or more (but no more than 90) semester credits.</p>
<p>High school is not considered- not GPA, not SATs, not anything It is a good idea to embrace the CC- join the Honors program and go in immediately to map out a plan. Some community colleges give you priority enrollment to entice you to complete a 2-year plan as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Also, know that some CCs have high transfer rates (and are considered ‘better’ CCs) than others- you can look up transfer rates with a simple google search- , and some of the CC’s have agreements with the UC that is geographically closest (for example, UCLA has an outreach program staffed with students and special programming for Santa Monica College; Santa Barbara City College feeds UCSB, and I think Foothill College feeds UC Berkeley- check these, totally off the top of my head). You may wish to look at the UC you will want to attend and decide whether to attend your local Community College (for obvious reasons of cost and familiarity), or to attend the “feeder CC” to that UC. The UC will have information on CC outreach on their website.</p>
<p>Similarly for CSU, though I have no experience with that part of the system.</p>
<p>Know that transfer rates to CSU or UC is much higher than transfer CSU –> UC or even UC –> UC, and may even be higher than acceptance as a freshman.</p>
<p>Subjects that UCs and CSUs accept and their equivalents are systematized and categorized unambiguously through the ASSIST website: <a href=“http://www.assist.org”>www.assist.org</a></p>
<p>The advantage of community college is cost, class size, passionate professors in General Education courses that are a joy to teach in CC, but considered by some the short stick booby prize at CSU or UC with masses of unmotivated students trying to fill a requirement. If done right, you may never see a class of over 40 students, since once you get to CSU or UC you will be in upper division classes. the advantage of CSU/UC for 4 years is that much more time to have a residential “college experience,” and to feel “at-home” at the larger school. There may or may not be a cost advantage, depending on how much financial aid you require.</p>