Hi guys, well actually my friends and I were planning if we couldn’t get into UC for fall this year, we would like to be enrolled in one of the CSU for maybe one or Two semesters and then apply for transfer to a UC. Maybe UCSD and UCI. Is that possible? Has anyone done this before?
Thank you!
UCs only accept transfers that will be at junior standing in regard to units. CSUs are the same way, which means you will ascend beyond junior standing if you went to a CSU. In addition, priority is given to community college students.
If you and your friends are ultimately set on attending a UC, then hopefully you’ll be accepted to one this cycle. Otherwise my recommendation would be to try again next year.
You can take as many lower division units as you wish. You do not need to worry about accruing too many units at a CC. However, you can only transfer up to 70 semester units. Any excess units will still be applied toward your GPA, though (and you can still be granted credit for those excess classes; just not units).
Edit: I believe 80 units is the absolute max they will allow for someone who has attended a four-year institution (I vaguely recall that UCI may be an exception to this rule. I believe they allow people that exceed this cap to transfer still. Albeit they would cap the units that transfer [for units] at 80). So theoretically I suppose you could take 10 units and transfer. But this wouldn’t boost your GPA much (assuming you did well) and you would have much less priority than a community college transfer.
It certainly possible if you enter the CSU with the plan rather than randomly deciding to apply without taking the necessary precautions. However, it all depends on the majors that you both plan to transfer into. If you all are planning to study un- or low-impacted letter and science majors, then you have a reasonable chance assuming you focus your studies around transferable work and perform well. If you are planning to study Business or Engineering, then I would only attend a CSU if you wouldn’t mind staying there.
UCs are aware that Cal State universities are solid schools and the coursework is often times more slightly more rigorous than CC coursework. While they don’t have agreements with CSUs, there isn’t a UC that would not accept a “Intro to Psych” or “American Government” course from a CSU. For the most part basic, run of the mill, lower division GE courses will transfer to the UCs. Take the basics and there shouldn’t be any transfer issues.
UC Berkeley states which English courses from each CSU satisfies their English composition requirement and it is safe to assume those will also apply to the rest of the UCs. The only except could be UCSB, which offers very odd composition courses, but you are welcome to contact their admissions office.
Basic math courses essentially transfer everywhere.
Overall, you are going to want to have a minimum of a 3.6+ GPA regardless of the major. For many you are going to even want to shoot higher. Personal statements would be very important in these cases, so take the time to make them unique. Ultimately, it is certainly not impossible for non-Business, non-Engineering, majors, but you do have to be a much stronger applicant than the average of the CC pool.
Hi! I’m currently doing this now. I understand why some people would want to enter a CSU vs CCC because personally, I got all my courses and pre req’s done in 2 years. Most, not all CCC students my age or in their 2nd year are no where close to transferring. I agree with @TheVisionary. Take basic ge courses and you shouldn’t have a problem, also stay on top of that GPA!
My apologies, I must have misinterpreted the question.
@TheVisionary @pugzandhugz @Cheolf thank you all for the information! 
well I’m actually a transfer from a 4year foreign university. We have this program with courses which is almost similar as what students would take in a CC. Therefore I’ve completed almost all my GE with around 50 credits. So I was wondering if I transfer to CSU, and then to UC, is it possible? Because I might be entering CSU as a junior already.