<p>I have so many questions. My college counselor is no help. Therefore...</p>
<p>I'm about to take my SAT again this weekend (aiming for an 1800+). Right now it's a 1520/2400 and a 990/1600. My subjects are horrible and have nothing to do with my major- 540 lit, 460 USH, 500 WH. My gpa's pretty bad also in comparison to the schools I currently have listed: 3.49 weighted, 3.31 unweighted.</p>
<p>I have a couple of privates listed but I don't really ever want to go to those schools: USD, SCU, USF, UPortland, Fordham, </p>
<p>Then I have the schools I'd love to go: UCLA, UCSD, USC</p>
<p>After all the fluff, I'm trying to weigh my options between CSUs (San Marcos, LB, SD) Community colleges. I know that is much better to go to a CC than a CSU when it comes to transferring but what if the only CC's I would want to go to would be the ones in Socal: Palomar, SD CC's,- not really LA.</p>
<p>As horrible as it sounds, I want to go to an easier CC (example Deanza vs Ohlone, nothing personal) so would I be better off at Palomar or example Santa Monica?</p>
<p>I am from the bay if that plays a part.</p>
<p>If your target schools are UCLA, UCSD and USC, then your plan to attempt to transfer after two years at a community college is your best bet for those schools. I am not sure trying to find the “easiest” community college is wise - pursuing a very “easy” curriculum will leave you poorly prepared for the challenging course work you would encounter at those schools. (And I am making no statements about the relative “ease” of any cccs named - just that looking for “easy” now is not a good way to prepare for a future challenge.)</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with the private universities you list, and the CSUs are better matches to your current qualifications than the two UCs on your list.</p>
<p>You probably know this, but I wanted to clarify that USC belongs on your list of private universities - it is a private university, not a UC, and USC does not give transfer priority to community college transfers over those from 4-year universities.</p>
<p>You have two options: 1) try to prove yourself at a 2 year college and then transfer, or 2) go to a less selective 4 year college.</p>
<p>From a social angle, it is certainly preferable to stay at the same college for 4 years. Some transfers feel left out because many people have established their main friendships in their freshman dorms.</p>
<p>If you decide to go the transfer route, look closely at the transfer policies of the college where you want to attend. There may be some colleges that have automatic transfer programs from certain 2 year colleges if you meet certain standards. Some 4 year colleges have curriculums set up in coordination with 2 year colleges.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the Calif. system, but in other states they encourage students who do not have really great quals to do 2 years at a branch campus and then transfer to the main campus. That has an advantage because many of the friends you make at the branch campus move up to the main campus with you. That system also typically provides guaranteed admissions at the main campus after 2 years. That is how it works at Penn State. By the way, Penn State does not discriminate against out of state in admissions.</p>
<p>Thanks! I was asking for easy so that I can work at the same time and not be too overwhelmed. Also, I go to a really rigorous high school right now, therefore I want some time to relax and just finish my GE’s. </p>
<p>Yes I did know the USC was a private school. I didn’t put it into that list because those were the schools I don’t want to go to.</p>
<p>So just clarifying, if I don’t get in ( most likely ) to UCLA, UCSD, USC. It’d be best to go into the transfer programs. Does each CC have it’s own transfer program or are you talking about the university?</p>
<p>Which CC would be best? I know about Santa Monica but are there any good ones around Oceanside? Best ones in San Diego? San Marcos? I’d be able to room with some friends there that’s why.</p>
<p>Remember, CC’s do not have automatic transfer programs to UCLA. If you maintain a certain GPA and fulfill the Gen Ed requirements to transfer, you are guaranteed placement at a UC, but it could be UC Merced. BTW, I find it interesting that you consider Ohlone harder than De Anza. I don’t know enough to disagree, but I’m surprised. Will have to investigate this.</p>
<p>I never said I thought Ohlone was harder than De Anza… De Anza’s way harder. But generally CC’s are easy from the classes I have taken. I heard De Anza was one of the top but I just want one that’s fairly easy-- minimal homework, minimal tests etc. Not that I’m lazy. It’s just two years where I want my GE’s done and work to pay bills. I feel pretty ready for a UC, I just slacked off at the last month of my Jr and soph yr.</p>
<p>I heard there’s two transfer programs. One for just Cal and UCLA and a TAG for the rest. I heard this from a UC rep. Guess I’ll do a bit more research on that.</p>