<p>@ CruxSC: Wow, you really came on at the right time and to the right forum. Also, I’m really similar to you I think. Allow me to begin by saying that I’m a current CC student who will be transferring to UC ____ in the fall. I need to wait until April 30 to hear from Berkeley, and that’s where I really want to go.</p>
<p>I have been accepted to UCSC as a Psych major.
My apps are still pending for: UCD, UCSD, UCLA, and UCB.
I applied to all schools as a Psych major except UCSD - Human Dev. and UCB - Phil. Wherever I go, I plan on switching into Psych anyway.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing: UCR and UCSC are good schools. UCSC is actually very strong in research and odds are, if you’re trying to go premed and become a psychiatrist or something, you will probably get a higher GPA at UCSC than somewhere like UCLA or UCB.
Strategically speaking, if you want to get into med school…which is really difficult, then it would prob be best to not go to the most rigorous academic institution for undergrad. </p>
<p>However, UCLA and UCSD have tons of notoriety, and their names will help in finding a job. Although, if it’s an MD you seek, you won’t really be out scouring for jobs. </p>
<p>I actually was premed, but honestly I just don’t have any passion for medicine. I wanted to be a child psychiatrist, but chemistry and physics are incredibly bland to me. No offense to anyone else who feels otherwise. Thus, I’m planning on getting my BA in Psych and then going onto a Ph.D in Org. Behavior or Child Development (totally different things, I know) lol. </p>
<p>Anyways, to understand your situation, you really need to consider 2 things:</p>
<p>Do you feel like you’re settling for UCSC or UCR? Do you feel like you could do better?</p>
<p>If you do, then I would highly recommend going to a community college and then transferring to a university. Just to highlight some of the perks of this system:</p>
<p>1) With a TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) you are guaranteed admission to UCD, UCSD, UCSB, UCI, UCSC, etc. You only need a 3.0+ and your major prereqs done to be eligible. I have TAG’s with UCSC, UCD, and UCSD…meaning I should be guaranteed an acceptance into these colleges. I’ll find out within the next month.</p>
<p>2) UCLA has TAP (Transfer Alliance Program). Basically, 89% of students in TAP are admitted to UCLA. If that’s not sweet, iono what is. My school doesn’t have this option, but your prospective CC may. You said it has an Honors Program, and that’s what TAP is (an Honors Program) so that could be it.</p>
<p>3) CC gives you a MUCH MUCH cheaper option, and much more time to figure out what you want to major in and how you want to go about doing it. This was invaluable for me because I am probably the same age as you (18) and as a young college student, I needed time to adjust and figure things out. We all do.</p>
<p>4) CC is easy. This can be a perk or a drawback. However, in terms of GPA, generally your CC classes will be easier than UC, and you should be able to get a pretty high GPA at CC if you’re serious about transferring into a UC. That being said, I have a 3.74 at the CC I’m at…Just to put it into perspective, I dropped out of high school. Although that was because I had alot of emotional issues.</p>
<p>Anyways, there are some things you need to know if you want to transfer from a comm. college to a UC. You need to have completed 60 transferrable units by the end of the spring (your last semester) b4 you transfer. At my school, 12+ units is full time. At 12 units per semester, that would take 2.5 or 3 years to transfer. I recommend starting with 12, but then bumping to 16+ after a couple semesters. Summer school is also a great way to nab units. I did 10 last summer.</p>
<p>Ok now I’m going to answer your questions sequentially:</p>
<p>1) I recommend CC. I only say this because of the $$$$ you’ll save, and because I don’t think you’ll be very happy settling for somewhere you don’t like or don’t like as much. Plus, Psych at UCSC isn’t all that great. To rank them: Psych at UCB/UCLA = Top 10 in nation. UCSD = 12th. UCD = 23rd. UCSC is somewhere far after those; I don’t remember where though. Those stats are according to USNWR.</p>
<p>2) At CC, you’ll need to fulfill IGETC. Basically IGETC is a fancy acronym for “do certain courses to transfer”. You’ll need a physical science, a biological science (with lab), 2 humanities courses, 2 social sciences, 2 englishes, 1 math, and 2 years of foreign language (can be satisfied with hs completion of 2 years). Essentially, this is a guided path toward the UC system. If you fulfill this path, your chances of getting in skyrocket. </p>
<p>Your prereqs for your major are a bit different. As a Psych major to UCLA I would need: Psych 1, a chem class with lab, a stats class, and a couple other things. These classes are all transferrable and count towards IGETC fulfillment as well. The more prereqs you have done, the better chance you have of getting in. Fortunately, I’m lucky enough to have IGETC and prereqs done for UCLA Psych.</p>
<p>3) GPA in comm. college is (in my opinion) easier than high school. You’re around students who are older, often don’t care (and aren’t bragging about their college admissions exploits like hs kids do…as a senior in hs you know what Im talking about lol), and there’s less competition. Getting a good GPA if you are motivated and have a strong work ethic should be fairly fine for you. I failed tons of classes in hs, but the UC’s don’t even look at your GPA or SAT’s from hs when evaluating you for admission. That’s why a CC was right for me at the time. I messed up big time, but I’ve been fortunate enough to turn things around. Many of us on here have similar stories.</p>
<p>4) CC can take however long you need. You can go and transfer in 1 year (extremely hard and I don’t recommend it), 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, w.e. lol. You can go as long as you want. I would shoot for 2 years, so that way you’re with your graduating class and you’re not rushing ot finish in one year or anything.</p>
<p>5) Nah, the UC’s don’t even look at your hs GPA or SAT’s when you’re transferring in.</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re ignorant at all. In fact, just by coming on here and asking these important questions you’re already figuring out the right things. PM me or reply if you need to know anything else or need clarification. I know much of this can seem overwhelming. I didn’t have a clue when I began at my CC. </p>
<p>Btw, just an interesting aside: My Psych teacher at my CC was the head of neuroscience at NASA and he has agreed to write a letter of rec for me to work as an RA (research assistant) in a lab wherever I end up in the fall…Hoping for Campos’ Child Development Lab up at Berkeley. Ironically, he went to UCSC, and now he is writing my letter for Berkeley. On top of this, he claims that as an RA, he made more money working at the university than he did paying tuition at the same time. I just find it interesting how various circumstances can have such unique interplay lol. </p>
<p>Anyways I wish you all the best and please ask away if you need to know anything else! ttys.</p>
There are a lot of stories I hear of students (who had their sights on transferring out of their current 4-yrs) becoming ‘complacent’ and ‘lazy’ to apply for transfer because they figure they’re already half-way done with the school they’re at. So if you do choose R or SC, make sure that isn’t you (unless you really do grow to love it).</p>
Haha, and yes these smart kids are ridiculously smart/competitive -.- Anyway! What is the difference between doing the IGETC and a TAG? Also, if I were to major in Psych how would I know what pre-reqs to fulfill? Is there a link/site out there? Again, many thanks to your post! Helps a lot. Congratulations on getting that letter! I’m sure you’ll be making the $$ :D</p>