<p>First, like pisces8519 said, 20k is enough for a year if you’re willing to work with it. 28k is an average and with 23,000 including work-study or 26.5k with a subsidized loan, you’re going to be fine. I took a 5k loan to be more comfortable, but I could’ve managed without it. Money should not be the issue but there are others. Money you save in tuition will be offset by living expenses at home that your mom (or you if you have a job) will be responsible for.</p>
<p>I’m a transfer student and I definitely wish I had the college dorm experience but the CC route worked for me. Personally, I saved money and was well prepared for UCSD by my community college. </p>
<p>To me, the major differences between the two are the Academics and Social Life. </p>
<p>Academically the teaching style and depth is different.</p>
<p>Socially, a transfer won’t have the roots as a junior that a student who was at UCSD since freshman year would have. </p>
<p>ACADEMICS
If you’re an independent learner and took a bunch of APs, a 300 person class will be no problem. If you’re more successful with the type of teaching where there are 30-40 students in a class, you’re going to be much happier in a community college, especially in lower division classes. You’ll have more face time with the faculty at a CC but they won’t be the established (i.e. they may have written your textbook, or a theorem in your text) names that you’ll find at UCSD. You really have to put an effort in to get to know a professor, for them to know who you are. </p>
<p>Some professors at UCSD really care but some don’t. Especially in the sciences, some are very focused on their research. CC professors generally are professors because they want to teach. Caveat: I don’t mean to say that CC professors can teach better, I’m saying teaching is where their focus is.</p>
<p>Depth-wise, most community colleges are in the semester system so the classes cover more material and you’re required to retain it for a longer period of time (16wks vs. 10wks). I feel like UCSD classes gloss over some of the stuff just out of practicality.</p>
<p>The quality of education and the level of material in any single class (say General Biology 1) between different community colleges will be more variable than at UCSD. Some community colleges such as Pasadena City College, Mesa College, and Santa Monica College are more rigorous and prepare you better for a 4 year than others – say East Los Angeles College. I went to Pasadena City College and I was very prepared for UCSD. Check the list of feeder schools to UCSD or UCLA; it gives you a good idea of which CCs will prepare you better. </p>
<p>SOCIAL LIFE
My biggest single problem when I got to UCSD was feeling lost and not at all grounded. It felt foreign and uncomfortable. My class work was suffering as a result. When I found my social footing through clubs and study groups, I started to do much better in my classes. </p>
<p>The social life is definitely different between the two. CCs are like an extension of high school as ucsandiego915 said and most people seem not to want to make friends as quickly as UCSD, not that tritons are especially social. CCs are commuter schools so most people dont invest time to build relationships. Also, the clubs are better funded, organized and social at UCSD than at my CC and they are the ticket to a social life.</p>
<p>It is harder to make friends as a transfer but if you join some clubs and are willing to talk to people, its not a big deal. If thats something you’re not comfortable/good at, UCSD and dorming is the solution. I’ve made some great friends in my year here. </p>
<p>Transferring UC to UC is not unheard of but its uncommon. It is much easier to transfer from a CC to a UC. </p>
<p>If you choose to go to a CC, choose wisely and make sure they have a TAG program with the UCs you’re interested in. </p>
<p>If you choose to go to UCSD, you won’t regret it either. It’s an awesome school. </p>
<p>Weigh your options and do what would make you the happiest and most successful. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>