<p>This may sound ridiculous but.... I'm currently a senior in HS and did not get into my various first choices of schools, so now I've basically decided on either San Diego State or a community college (then transfer to a more prestigious school). However, the only reason I'm considering a JC is because I've heard and I figure that if I transfer to a better school after the JC it will make it easier and give me a better chance of getting into a good school for whatever graduate school I may choose. I really do want to go to SDSU and get away from home and get the "college experience" but I'm just worried that it will be more difficult for me to get into a good grad. school when they could be choosing graduates from better schools over me that may have slightly lower academic merits. I know I have to work my hardest in college, but could anyone shed some light on my situation? Should I even be worried?</p>
<p>It might depend on the type of graduate school, but what you've described is absolutely the wrong thing to do if you're looking towards medical school. </p>
<p>If it's law school...it might be okay. Law schools tend to be much more numbers driven than medical school.</p>
<p>If it's graduate school in something else - particularly a PhD in the hard sciences (Bio, chem, physics, etc), then the fewer opportunities to do research may matter. Being able to build that resume, and perhaps have some publications to your name will be easier over the course of 4 years than 2 years.</p>
<p>A PhD in something less academic and more vocational - like School Psychology - it may matter less, but I still think there are issues with the lack of continuity that comes from being on campus for 4 years.</p>
<p>The bottom line, there are advantages that come from being in one place for a longer period of time - more time for campus and community involvement, more time for research and co-curricular endeavors, more time to develop the relationships with professors that lead to great LOR's and so on.</p>
<p>Which situation is the wrong thing to do for med. school-- going the JC route, or going to SDSU?</p>
<p>And...to clarify...for law school, "graduate school in something else - particularly a PhD in the hard sciences", which situation or route is the one that might be okay?</p>
<p>The smartest scientist on my staff at work graduated from SDSU. From there she went to grad school at UC Santa Barbara and earned her Ph.D. She is one of the top scientists in her field.</p>
<p>Just make sure that wherever you go to do well, get good grades, and take advantage of the opportunities offered you.</p>
<p>You could always transfer from SDSU to another school to complete your undergrad too, like a UC or something.</p>
<p>Yeah but isn't that pretty difficult..since UCs have to reserve spots for students from JCs?</p>
<p>anyone else?</p>
<p>Going to community college = bad - sorry for not being clearer about that...</p>
<p>no problem at all, thanks for clearing that up that actually really helps my decision making process though</p>
<p>True, but if you have a good gpa and are involved it shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p>go to sdsu, JC is a bad choice if ur looking to go into grad school</p>
<p>so the school that i come from isn't much of a problem (meaning a factor of my acceptance) for grad school?</p>
<p>Not nearly as important as what you actually end up accomplishing there. While possible for your "hard factors" - GPA, test scores, could end up the same, your "soft factors" will be better the longer you spend at one place, certainly enough to overcome any bias one school might receive over another.</p>
<p>thanks for your help and insight</p>