Community College Transfer or Calstate?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m trying to figure out what route I should take. I’ve been thinking of going two years at a community college before transferring to a good UC. After talking to some friends who went to community college for a year or two, I was terrified. They said that it was just an extension of high school. All of their classes were easy, their peers didn’t really care and that it just didn’t feel like the college experience. None of what they had to say was good, they sounded miserable.

I would try and go straight to a UC, but my GPA would most likely keep me from getting in. I have a 33 ACT, I’m lettered, I have plenty of extracurricular, but my weighted GPA is only about 3.6.

After hearing what my friends said, I’ve been considering two options:
A) Spend two unpleasant years at a community college before transferring to a very good school.
B) Go straight to an okay/good four year college, though, not as good as something like UCLA, Berkeley, USC, etc. (Cal state Fullerton, Cal state Long Beach, maybe Chapman, etc.)

2

With a 3.6 GPA and 33 ACT, you have a good chance at UCM/UCR/UCSC maybe some of the mid-tiers like UCI/UCD or UCSB, so I would definitely apply and see what happens. UCLA/UCB are probably out of the picture, but you can get an excellent education at any of these UC’s along with many of the Cal states and privates you listed.

Where you go for Undergrad will not define you, it is more important what you do with opportunities you are given. You should also look into the Honor’s colleges at the UCR/UCSC and Cal states which might give you some better opportunities and make your 4 years at these schools more worthwhile. UCB/UCLA is not a golden ticket. You are obviously an intelligent student so take advantage of some these good California schools and excel.