Currently an HS senior. Thinking about taking the CC route.

<p>Hello, I am currently a high school senior and right now I am interested in going to UCLA or UCB. Both schools are extremely competitive and I am sure that it will be impossible to get into either of them as a freshman. Recently I have learned that AP credit can be used to fulfill the 60 semester units or the 90 quarter units that one would need to transfer into the UCs as a junior. I e-mailed UCLA undergraduate admissions and that is how I found out. I also learned that if I were to undergo the CC route that I would only be at CC for about a year.</p>

<p>I currently have 24 semester units thanks to the AP credit that I earned and some UC reps have even told me in person that if I were to attend a UC that I would go in as an official freshman but with sophomore standing.</p>

<p>Here are the AP scores that I have earned and what they have rewarded me according to UCLA's College of Letters and Science AP catalog.</p>

<p>English - Language/Composition 3 ENGL Unassigned 8.0 SA
History - US 3-5 (I earned a 3) HIST United States 8.0 AH
Spanish Language 3 SPAN 4 8.0 FL</p>

<p>So I am assuming that since UC reps have told me that I qualify for sophomore standing that those 24 units must be semester units and not quarter units.</p>

<p>In May I will be taking the Calculus AB, Macroeconomics, and US Government AP tests. I am aiming for a 5 on the Macroeconomics and 4s on the Calculus AB and US Government tests. The reason I got 3s on my previous tests was because I did no prep for them. Those tests should give me 4 units each which in the end accumulates to 4x3 = 12 semester units.</p>

<p>So after May I should have 24 + 12 = 36 semester units. I e-mailed UCLA about my scenario asking them if I could just finish getting the rest of the credits at a CC in order to have 60 transferable credits and they said yes.</p>

<p>So I have a few questions. When would I need to apply if I wanted to transfer during Winter 2006 or Spring 2007? I understand that applications for Fall 2006 just ended (I applied to UCLA and UCSB). Now does anyone think that UCLA or UCB will discriminate against my 3s? I can take the AP Spanish test again and score a 4, I'm also taking the AP English Lit test and if I get a 4 I could send that score in instead of my AP English Lang score that was a 3. I'm not sure if I can do anything about US History (maybe I can ask my old AP US History teacher to assist me in preparing for it though). Oh and can anyone give me general advice about what I should do during CC? Thanks.</p>

<p>Anyone care to help?</p>

<p>When would I need to apply if I wanted to transfer during Winter 2006 or Spring 2007? </p>

<p>** U can't apply to UCLA or UCB for winter or Spring. It's only Fall admission.</p>

<p>Now does anyone think that UCLA or UCB will discriminate against my 3s? </p>

<p>Proly not.
Oh and can anyone give me general advice about what I should do during CC? Thanks.</p>

<p>Sign up for TAP, which gives u priority admission to UCLA. Join clubs b/c u might some EC. See a counselor about what u need to do finish ur general, called IGETC.</p>

<p>Go to assist.org and c what classes u need for ur major.
Pick a major that doesn't have many prepreqs b.c u want to have as much as possible done b4 u transfer and u want to stay away from competative majors...</p>

<p>This is a good page to go to for UCLA
<a href="http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/Adm_tr/Tr_Prof.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/Adm_tr/Tr_Prof.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>good luck</p>

<p>UC Deadlines:
<a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html&lt;/a>
AP Credit @ UCLA:
<a href="http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/APCreditLS.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/Prospect/APCreditLS.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>UCLA is on a quarter system; that means they use quarter units.</p>

<p>Semester = Quarter
1 = 1.5
30 = 45
60 = 90
90 = 135
120 = 180</p>

<p>So that means as of now, you have 24 quarter units or 11 semester units. I don't know what the discrepency is though, because looking at the classes you took, you would get 3 semester units for English, 3 for U.S. History and 5 for Spanish.</p>

<p>I'm not sure how the UCs look at the AP scores, but really, you'd be better off taking a lot of these classes at a university/college level than at high school. For me, I'd be perfectly fine not ever having to take a history class again, so I'd submit all the history AP scores I can (if I took or passed any anyway).</p>

<p>As for community college, take as many honors classes as you can and do one of those transfer agreement programs (A good majority of them, if not all, get in to the UCs they apply for, but then again, that's just hearsay). Also, talk to a transfer counselor as soon as you can so you can take the right classes that will actually transfer to a UC.</p>

<p>Go to assist.org and c what classes u need for ur major.
Pick a major that doesn't have many prepreqs b.c u want to have as much as possible done b4 u transfer and u want to stay away from competative majors...
</p>

<p>I've already finished one year of college. Why would I want to stay away from the competitive majors?</p>

<p>I'm not sure how the UCs look at the AP scores, but really, you'd be better off taking a lot of these classes at a university/college level than at high school. For me, I'd be perfectly fine not ever having to take a history class again, so I'd submit all the history AP scores I can (if I took or passed any anyway).</p>

<p>AP = College Level. But your explanation about the units I get but I am not sure if those 8 units that UCLA lists on its site are semester units or quarter units. I'll have to call UCLA undergradaute admissions office to verify that (although UCLAs e-mail seemed to agree with me on those credits being semester units.)</p>

<p>If I do end up finishing community college early looks like I'll have to take a gap year because I've missed the Fall 2006 transfer application.</p>

<p>I understand that AP is supposed to be college level, but the things you learn in high school isn't quite equivalent to a college level course. Remember how they're still teaching you to write five-paragraph essays with an Introduction with a thesis, three body paragraphs or so and a conclusing paragraph? You can toss that out the window. Unless you get an instructor who doesn't know any better, then you can keep the five-paragraph format to amuse them.</p>

<p>I've already finished one year of college. Why would I want to stay away from the competitive majors?</p>

<p>Did I miss the part where you said you were in high school, but took have 30 college semester units...?</p>

<p>I am not sure if those 8 units that UCLA lists on its site are semester units or quarter units</p>

<p>I'd like to know why UCLA would list semester units on their website. I don't know of any college that offers 8 semester units for an English class.</p>

<p>Did I miss the part where you said you were in high school, but took have 30 college semester units...?</p>

<p>Oh I was responding to highschoodla's post not yours. Although you've kinda verified that I have not finished one year of college.</p>

<p>I'd like to know why UCLA would list semester units on their website. I don't know of any college that offers 8 semester units for an English class.</p>

<p>Oh alright. You've assured me that those are quarter units and not semester units.</p>

<p>And about the AP courses, my teacher didn't even tell us to write five paragraph essays (maybe in the 9th and 10th grades I was told to write essays that way). She mostly told us that they weren't important actually. We did a lot of grammar work and we did reading too.</p>

<p>I would however like to spend as little time as possible while working through a curriculum that UCLA would find respectable. So it boils down to time vs. quality of curriculum but I'm guessing quality of curriculum is more important.</p>

<p>Curious however; what CC are you attending, where do you plan on transferring, what do you plan on majoring on, and what AP tests did you pass in high school? Thanks :)</p>

<p>I think you should make your decision when you get your acceptances from the colleges.</p>

<p>Curious however; what CC are you attending, where do you plan on transferring, what do you plan on majoring on, and what AP tests did you pass in high school?</p>

<p>Are you checking my credibility so you can go behind my back and ask other, more reputable, people? Hah! Glad you asked:
I go to Orange Coast College and Golden West College. I applied to UCB, UCLA, UCI, and UCSD, though I hope UCLA or UCB accepts me as a philosophy major. In high school, I passed Psychology (5), Microconomics (4), English Language (4). I don't find the scores of particular importance except that I got part of the IGETC cleared because of them.</p>

<p>And about the AP courses, my teacher didn't even tell us to write five paragraph essays (maybe in the 9th and 10th grades I was told to write essays that way). She mostly told us that they weren't important actually. We did a lot of grammar work and we did reading too.</p>

<p>Oh, that's good, I don't remember what grade level they stopped telling me to write the five-paragraphs, if they did stop at all. Oh well, I'm only talking about it now because one the instructors in a class at GWC told the class to write with an intro-with-thesis/body/conclusion.</p>

<p>I would however like to spend as little time as possible while getting working through a curriculum that UCLA would find respectable. So it boils down to time vs. quality of curriculum but I'm guessing quality of curriculum is more important.</p>

<p>English is actually one of the most important classes you'll need to take at a college. If you had to do what I said, then I say take it anyway because it's a fundamental class that will carry to all the other classes you'll do writing in. At least if you get a good instructor. I did, but the students in there still wrote like crap. So I guess it just depends on the individual. It's up to you--I'm not holding a knife to your throat.</p>

<p>I think you should make your decision when you get your acceptances from the colleges.</p>

<p>Well I didn't qualify for any fee waivers and I didn't find any Cal States or some UCs appealing so I only applied to UCLA and UCSB. I applied to those knowing that UCLA would not accept me and that UCSB will probably accept me. If UCSB does accept me there is an 80% chance that I wont even go because the community college route to transfering to a better UC is much more appealing. After all I'd rather "waste" (and by waste I mean the misconceptions that people have about community college) two years of my life and attend a good university rather than attending a "this is the only university I got into" university and wasting the rest of my life.</p>

<p>I orignially planned on going to UCSB and then just transfering to UCLA but it is much harder and UCLA is where I really want to go.</p>

<p>Are you checking my credibility so you can go behind my back and ask other, more reputable, people? Hah! Glad you asked:
I go to Orange Coast College and Golden West College. I applied to UCB, UCLA, UCI, and UCSD, though I hope UCLA or UCB accepts me as a philosophy major. In high school, I passed Psychology (5), Microconomics (4), English Language (4). I don't find the scores of particular importance except that I got part of the IGETC cleared because of them.
</p>

<p>Hahaha no not at all. But I am glad to know that AP credits do help clear IGETC requirements and what not. I just learned something about something that I've been wondering for quite awhile. Thanks :)</p>

<p>English is actually one of the most important classes you'll need to take at a college. If you had to do what I said, then I say take it anyway because it's a fundamental class that will carry to all the other classes you'll do writing in. At least if you get a good instructor. I did, but the students in there still wrote like crap. So I guess it just depends on the individual. It's up to you--I'm not holding a knife to your throat.</p>

<p>I actually have thought about that. I'll probably end up taking English again in college. ... Okay, okay, you got me. I did ask for AP scores to check for credibility. You passed one of the English tests with a score higher than mine and you're taking English again. I'll take that as it being a good idea to take English again in college.</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

<p>After all I'd rather "waste" (and by waste I mean the misconceptions that people have about community college) two years of my life and attend a good university rather than attending a "this is the only university I got into" university and wasting the rest of my life.</p>

<p>Exactly my notion regarding the whole college issue. Except it depends on the amount of time you think you'll be wasting. Also, it does make sense to go to the best college that accepts you, which is a little more difficult in your case since you only applied to two that aren't exactly at par with each other. But if you think you won't be happy at UCSB or it doesn't offer what you need, then by all means, go to a community college. It's all general education anyway, plus you'll be saving yourself (or your parents) a ton of money. Do you plan to apply to any other colleges when if you transfer next year?</p>

<p>Exactly my notion regarding the whole college issue. Except it depends on the amount of time you think you'll be wasting. Also, it does make sense to go to the best college that accepts you, which is a little more difficult in your case since you only applied to two that aren't exactly at par with each other. But if you think you won't be happy at UCSB or it doesn't offer what you need, then by all means, go to a community college. It's all general education anyway, plus you'll be saving yourself (or your parents) a ton of money. Do you plan to apply to any other colleges when if you transfer next year?</p>

<p>Yeah, my AP Calculus AB teacher (who is a UCLA alumna with a Mathematics B.S. degree) told me that if she could do her college career all over again, she'd go to a community college. I've also talked to another UCLA alumna here who went to community college. It's all pretty encouraging and people like you (people who chose to go to community college for financial reasons and not because they got a 1.0 in high school) are also an encouragement.</p>

<p>When I send in my transfer applications I'll apply to UCLA, UCB, maybe some other UCs, and I'll also consider applying to USC probably, not sure.</p>

<p>And yeah it is a good idea to save money with community seeing as some people find themselves in major debt after college.</p>

<p>It's all pretty encouraging and people like you (people who chose to go to community college for financial reasons and not because they got a 1.0 in high school) are also an encouragement.</p>

<p>Hehe, that part made me laugh out loud. I never wanted to go to a community college. How shall I explain it...? My last two years of high school were awful. I received poor grades in my junior year, didn't care about anything and ended up panicking the summer before I had to apply for college. I tried to find places that might accept me, but they were all "sub-par" compared to where I wanted to go (UCLA), so I decided I might as well go to a community college.</p>

<p>Turned out to be not quite that big of deal. I'll be depressed and quite the whiner wherever I go anyway. :)</p>

<p>And yeah it is a good idea to save money with community seeing as some people find themselves in major debt after college.</p>

<p>Given my financial situation, the state is pretty much paying me to go to school. Yay. Also, instead of being maybe $45,000 in debt, I guess it'll be around $22,000 depending on how long it takes me to graduate.</p>

<p>Given my financial situation, the state is pretty much paying me to go to school. Yay. Also, instead of being maybe $45,000 in debt, I guess it'll be around $22,000 depending on how long it takes me to graduate.</p>

<p>How is the state paying you to go to school? But yeah, good luck with getting into UCLA because undergrad really matters when trying to get into a top tier graduate school. I know that's why I'm going to community college. I actually began to find it tempting to attend one but was a little shy of telling everyone. Now I've come to find community college a sort of blessing.</p>

<p>
[quote]

I've already finished one year of college. Why would I want to stay away from the competitive majors?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>B/c it's plain and simple that when u apply to a competetive major ur chances are not as good as when u apply to a non competetive major. W/ ur situation it's possible u might be able to switch majors when u get back.</p>

<p>Although, u say u completed a year of college, a counselor say that UC want to see grades in college classes and want to see all prereqs done. I have no idea what ur major is b/c if u were do a science majors, but i don't think ur ap classes will fill many of these prereqs especially if u're a science major. </p>

<p>*If u have ur mind set on Berk or LA finishing all the preqs are essential. Don't think about how many units u have, think about how many prereqs u have *</p>

<p>Hmm, the Pell Grant gives a maximum of approximately $2,000 per semester and they say it's for things like "living expenses", "transportation" and "computer" stuff, I think. I'm not sure, but it's nice to have in case something really does happen.</p>

<p>highschoolda, username01 is assuming that he'll have a year's worth of credits by the time he receives his AP scores for his senior year (he's only a few months into his senior year actually, so he barely knows what he's learning for the exams in May/June).</p>

<p>He's also decided he'll most likely go to a community college right after high school and transfer after a year or two. I guess he knows he needs to see a transfer counselor about the IGETC courses and prerequisites for his major and the TAP as soon as he gets to a CCC. </p>

<p>By the way, what do you plan to major in, username01?</p>

<p>I'm thinking of doing either Business Economics B.A. or Mathematics/Applied Science B.S., both offered by the College of Letters and Science. Definitely got what you said about prereq stuff.</p>

<p>I only asked about why I should not apply to a competitive major because I recently found out that someone I know got into UCB as a transfer and he applied for an engineering major. He is a phillipine immigrant and he only knows rudimentary English, that's what I found fascinating. Not only that but he is considered asian and well... UCB "discriminates" against asians because there are too many of them there, and seeing that he got in is pretty fascinating.</p>

<p>And I probably don't qualify for any federal grants :(</p>

<p>UCB "discriminates" against asians because there are too many of them there, and seeing that he got in is pretty fascinating.</p>

<p>Yes, but he's a South Asian! They only discriminate against Chinese people!</p>

<p>And I probably don't qualify for any federal grants</p>

<p>Is this one of those middle-class situations where you get screwed both ways because (1) your family makes too much money and (2) your family makes too little money to get away without debt?</p>

<p>i assumed username01 wants to only spend ONLY year at ccc, which is very possible. </p>

<p>But it's tough and applying for a noncompet major in that situation would be ideal.</p>