<p>So I'm transferring in fall 2013. I have already applied to the UCs, though I figure that my chances are extremely slim, given how they barely even accept 3.5s nowadays. </p>
<p>Through my 2 years in CC, I've received a steady stream of Bs, with a few As and Cs, which all averaged out and leaves me with a 3.0 gpa. My major is economics, but I have received Bs in both Macro and Honors Micro. I enjoy it though. I believe I have an above average EC record, but nothing spectacular; I'm a leader in a youth group and I have a job where I research and write information everyday, about topics that can be construed as related to economics.</p>
<p>I'm looking forward to transferring next fall, in order to get the full college experience. All my life I've only considered the UCs, but the way it looks I'm not going to get into the good ones, and I don't want to go to UCR or M, given their limited resources. What are some good second tier colleges you think I should consider. I'm not looking for the Ivy's, but I'd like them to be somewhat respectable. If it helps, I reside in CA, though I don't mind going out of state, and don't much care about the difference between public and private schools. Also, one of my strengths is being able to write great essays, which might push the scales in my favor.</p>
<p>Where you go to undergraduate isn’t really all that important (or at least not as important as people make it seem), especially if you are planning on getting a masters or going to law school or anything like that. The most important thing is to go somewhere you are happy. Of course, be sure to go to a quality school, but quality doesn’t mean the school has to be on the same level as Berkeley or UCLA. There are plenty of quality regional universities that give students a great education but aren’t highly ranked nationally because that’s not what they are meant for (think of the University of California system vs California State University system, both offer high quality education but are meant for different things). None of the UCs are bad just some are better than others. UCR is not a bad school and they are doing a lot to make it better. UC Merced is just new and is feeling the effects of the California budget situation more than other schools. </p>
<p>California has a lot of good schools and a lot of options. Most of them you don’t need a 4.0 to get into. Really the only public schools in California where a really high GPA matters are UCLA and Berkeley, and then that is only for some majors (since you are transferring from a community college and assuming you are a California resident). </p>
<p>Look into Cal State schools. Cal State Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton if you are in Southern California. San Jose State University, Cal State Chico, Cal State Fresno if you are in Northern California. There is also Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. </p>
<p>There are a lot of schools you can get into. Just go to one that you are happy attending, that’s what is most important. Don’t get caught up in going to what is just the best school in rankings, go to one that you truly enjoy being at. </p>