I’m looking for some honest opinions regarding California community colleges. It looks like CC to transfer to a CSU/UC is the choice my daughter wants to do as a second chance to get into certain UC/CSUs that she was not accepted. One of the schools has a transfer guarantee type of program that she is looking into.
I’ve asked some of my friends whose children have chosen this route, and it seems that once they start at CC, it’s hard to get the classes needed to transfer in the two years. (One friend’s daughter has been at a CC for 4 years as she lost motivation and now attends part time. I don’t want that to happen to my daughter.) It’s also been suggested that with the AP courses and test credit she is may be ready after a year at CC. My daughter has a lot of AP courses to almost 30 equivalent units at a CSU, and ideally would be ready to transfer after two 15 unit semesters at a CC. IDEALLY! Is it even realistic to get the needed classes?
The HS counselor said it is very common for CC students to take 3 years to be transfer ready, but I’m not sure if that includes AP students. My daughter will not have to take any remedial level classes. Anyone want to share their transfer experience. Can this be done in one year? I don’t want to burst her bubble so I have not discouraged her by saying it’s not possible. What do you think?
@playingjenga - Delays are most frequently caused by not taking a full load of units, being picky about the time you take classes (i.e. not wanting classes at 8 am, not wanting an evening class, not taking a class during the summer); delays also occur by changing majors, and not knowing what you’re doing (i.e. not seeing an adviser and taking the wrong classes and/or not understanding the requirements for the various methods of transferring).
Try to get priority class registration (it varies at different cc’s – at my D’s cc priority is given to various groups, including those in the honors program as well as those with a student education plan). My D has never had trouble getting into a class and the only people she knows that had difficulty getting classes are those who only want to take classes at specific times (i.e. not at 8 am or after 1 pm).
A couple of my D’s close friends who are full time degree seeking students are completing their 2nd year and transferring out. One is going to UCB (and was accepted at UCD/tag), the other accepted at UCB, UCSD and UCD (tag), however her parents only want to pay for our local state college and have her commute from home….so we’ll see where she actually goes.
My D wants to stay an extra (third) year taking a few more classes and will be working this fall part time in an internship in her major (and will receive credit). She just completed her 2nd year and will be putting in applications for transfer in the fall. She has all but one class completed. She doesn’t plan on transferring to a UC or CSU. (Edited to add - she came in with about 15 units of AP credit and changed her major 3 times).
I have heard of kids on this forum who have planned on transferring from cc after one year (coming in with lots of AP’s and taking one year of cc classes). I don’t personally know anyone who has actually done so. I would suggest you read over the TAG major requirements for transfer…are there any classes that must be taken in sequence (that AP credit won’t cover). If so, it may require 3 semesters at cc to complete requirements.