<p>I'm going to start CC this Fall and was thinking about a list of schools to transfer to. I will be doing the TAG with UCSC and was thinking about applying to UCM as well. My intended major will be Economics, but I'd like to try to double major or minor in Political Science (not sure if that's even possible at UCM since both are BA) or Applied Mathematics.</p>
<p>A few things:
1. I'm a veteran and will plan to use my GI Bill benefits for UCM, so hopefully I will graduate debt free, so I'm not worried about the "Paying the same cost for UCM as UCB and UCLA not being worth it" argument.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I currently live in the bay area and will attend CC here too, but I graduated from a HS in Stockton, so I know how the geography can be in the Central Valley (farms and cows galore). I've lived in a hugely populous city for the last 6 years, but am not afraid about getting back to my small-town roots. Never actually been to Merced though.</p></li>
<li><p>Being older, and a transfer, I care absolutely nothing for housing or food standards. I'm a big boy and will be paying for my own rent and food, so for the few amount of times I will need to be exposed to these facets, I will deal with it. I am also not for the party scene. I'm of drinking age already so a) it's not a taboo for me and b) I'm mature enough to know that it shouldn't play that big a part in my life.</p></li>
<li><p>I don't have plans to go on to graduate education. I know what type of profession I want to get into, and specifically which positions, and they do not require an advanced degree - even for advancement (to qualify for those positions the degree just needs to be from an accredited institution). Maybe much much later in life just for the heck of it, or if I ever do get to a spot in my career where it will make me more competitive.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Things I like so far about UCM:
1. It's a smaller UC (that is now accredited!), so I like how the student/faculty ratio will be lower giving that more personal feel and also fosters more research opportunities.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Being such a new school a student can really forge their own path and plant their own footprint there. I'm not sure how active the student body is though.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm sort of drawn to the mistique of the unknown of the school. Most people have negative things about it, but I've always favored an underdog, and I'm willing to put in the effort to make my own opportunities - even if all the right tools aren't there. I've made something out of nothing before, figuratively, of course. I'm not a wizard.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Things I don't like so far about UCM:
I can't honestly think about anything that personally turns me off to the school. I've heard many negative things, but I find they either don't hold as much weight with me, or it's the "It's a new and untested UC so a degree from there doesn't mean much" stance. To this I think, "Well it's accredited and it's a UC so it can't be all that bad."</p>
<p>So does UCM seem like a school for me to apply to as a transfer? Are there any new things about UCM that a potential student should know about? Does anyone have any cons that they'd like to point out for me to consider?</p>
<p>All the insights are greatly appreciated. Thanks a ton.</p>