<p>Here's the situation: I'm currently a freshman at USC, nearing the completion of my first semester. I can no longer pay for college. I don't qualify for need-based aid, due to my family's high income, and am not receiving support from my family due to an impeding divorce (amongst other things). The situation is tricky, trust that I've become good friends with the financial aid office and can say with certainty I will not be receiving any financial support. I have $15,000 per year coming in from my grandmother (bless her), which could potentially be condensed and utilized to pay completely for two years at a UC. USC, minus grandma's contribution, is $45,000 a year. Thus, I'll accumulate around $135,000 in student debt over the course of the next three years, should I remain.</p>
<p>I'm left with three options:</p>
<p>A) Remain at USC, graduate with $135,000 in student debt
B) Drop-out, apply to CC then transfer to a UC
C) Transfer to CC, then to a UC</p>
<p>Option A is dead to me, so let's discuss the last two. Knowing I'm to receive poor grades this semester (2.7 - 3.2), would it be better to transfer to CC, or drop out altogether and start anew? I'm generally a great student (4.2 in HS), and will strive to achieve straight-A's throughout CC (variety of social issues dragged me down this semester). Which option looks better to the UCs, a drop out with a 4.0 CC GPA or a CC transfer with a 3.7ish GPA. Are there any issues with either of these plans?</p>
<p>TL;DR I'm a USC student who wants to know if dropping out or transferring to CC will give me a better shot at UCLA/UCB</p>
<p>I got into USC for this fall. Main reason was due to these financial reasons. I would highly recommend transferring to a CC and then a UC. UC’s understand the high tuition for private colleges so when you are ready to transfer, talk about that and how your gpa went down at USC. USC is prestigious as well so that won’t be much of a problem when you talk about your grades. I have visited the financial aid office at USC and their really stingy when it comes to giving more aid and grants ( yet they have millions of dollars to spend on construction ha…) So yeah, staying at USC with that big of a debt is not an option. Dropping out sounds worse than transferring to a CC so just transfer after you complete a year or so at a CC ( 60 units)</p>
<p>If you do drop-out, will you have room & board for community college? Working your way through CC blows ass. </p>
<p>B and C are essentially the something because CC’s have an open-door policy, you don’t apply as a transfer, you just sign up. Plus isn’t it too late to drop with Ws? </p>
<p>I would goto USC and tell them you are leaving after this semester. Make sure you leave in good-standing. Then apply to a good CC like SMC. You’ll prob need 45 or so unit semesters to get enough credits for a JR transfer. I think you need 30 units at a CC to be considered a CC transfer so you should be good on that front too. </p>
<p>UCLA and UCB are competitive tho. Even if you get 4.0 at every class at CC, they will combine your current USC GPA with the CC GPA. So depending on how bad your grades are this semester, those schools might be reaches. You will def need to explain your USC grades in the personal statement additional comments section.</p>
<p>Have you actually gone to the financial aid office and told them the situation?</p>
<p>You could possibly actually qualify as an independent student regardless of age if you were a ward of the court at any time between the age of 13 and 18.</p>
<p>Meaning a judge made a decision for your life even something as minor as a name change, parents divorce, juvenile delinquency, Foster care, adoption etc…</p>
<p>If none of those apply then check scholarships.</p>
<p>Last resort CCC, yeah they’re great but you need a place to live while going there but there’s always postings at my CCC for apartments to rent or share for as little as $500 a month Moorpark, CA.</p>
<p>It’s a good choice if you’ve exhausted all other options and I’ve heard that the UC’s are considering adopting the AAT program in the next 2 years from a couple counselors I haven’t verified it but I thought I’d mention it as being a guaranteed admission.</p>
<p>Let me start saying that I once dreamed of being a Trojan. I did get accepted to USC however I decided to do the CC route instead. I took me longer to transfer (personal decisions) however I did finally transfer to UCLA. </p>
<p>In my opinion I did the right choice, I went to a better University institution and also took very little loan debt (10k so far). Being from a first generation college family (ie. Broke and minority) I could not afford a private school and see whether college was right for me. I did make many bonehead decisions which delay my transferring however I am looking forward to being a class of 2014.</p>
<p>If you apply yourself in community college, get a decent GPA (above 3.5) you have a good chance of being a Bruin or Golden Bear. if your GPA is not as good you still have a change to transfer to a mid-tier UC which IMO are better still better than most public schools in the nation. </p>
<p>IF you want to ensure a higher GPA you will need to spread out your time at CC, the drawback is that is going to take you a little longer to transfer. If you are willing to delay graduation for a year or 2 years, then you can graduate from a UC debt free. See if that is something that you are willing to live.</p>
<p>p.s. UCLA 35 - USC 14, Go BRUINS, I went to the coliseum on saturday and it was amazing to see that we own this town!!!</p>