<p>Hey everyone. I'm a senior in high school applying to some of the UC's. I'm applying to UCLA, UCB, UCSD, UCSB, and UCD. I'm planning to get accepted to UCSD, UCSB, and UCD and rejected from UCLA and UCB (SAT's aren't high enough...everything else looks good!). I know I'd love it at UCLA! What's your opinion: Is it worth the wait to go to a CCC 2 years then transfer to UCLA, or should I just go straight to somewhere like UCSB as a freshman? Thanks for your advice!</p>
<p>I wish I could help you decide, but I'm not in a position to answer your question... I've never actually been to a CCC or visited any UC campus besides UCLA and UCB (and UCI for a short time), so I wouldn't know what it's like to be anywhere else... :(</p>
<p>I would go straight to UCSB, it's not worth turning down opportunities to go to those schools (which are really GOOD SCHOOLS bytheway :) ) even if UCLA is really where you want to go. Also, there's this program that I don't know much about, but I know it exists---where if you're a UC student, you can spend a quarter or two at any other UC campus for the same tuition-everything. </p>
<p>Plus if it helps, I know a girl tha twent to UC Riverside her first two years and transferred to UCLA this year. :)</p>
<p>Besides, I didn't think I'd get into UCLA and I did. SO the same thing might happen to you.</p>
<p>flopsy: I understand that it would be weird to do a UCSB v. UCLA situation w/o ever visiting UCSB. All I'll say about UCSB is it's right on the beach and has a great campus. Could you tell me anything I should know about UCLA? What's good about UCLA? What's bad? While you can't compare UCLA w/ UCSB, the pros and cons you could give me about UCLA would help my decision. Thanks!</p>
<p>pixiedanzer: I know UCSB is a great school, but like you said, I really would like to go to UCLA...As for the UCR to UCLA transfer example: If I decide UCLA would be worth waiting for, I wouldn't want to go pay UC tuition somewhere else for 2 years if I could go to a CCC for just about free.</p>
<p>I know this will be a very tough decision for me and I appreciate anything anyone has to offer. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>LoL you remind me so much of myself....(when I was in your position last year.) </p>
<p>Okay well here is somewhat of a comparison:
Honestly, I think whatever UCSB has, UCLA has and more, except for the fact that our campus is not RIGHT on the beach---it's still near one :). I do know UCSB has certain strengths academically that aren't necessarily UCLA's strengths. Among them: Communications, World Religions, Creative Writing (those are the ones I know of) etc... </p>
<p>Social life is different. I went up to UCSB one weekend (no NOT Halloween, though that's what its trademark event/day of the year is) and there's definitely more of a blatant party scene than at UCLA. There's lots of on-campus life, and people hang out in the town Isla Vista. Still, the school does feel isolated to me, UCLA is smack in L.A. and UCSB isn't smack in SB, and even if it were, it's not like SB is that major of a metropolitan area, its more of a touristy/residential town. </p>
<p>hmm yeah that's all I know...</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I can't believe that going to UCLA over UCSB would be a bad thing, even where UCLA doesn't have academic strengths. I'm looking at majoring in English and I would love to study creative writing, so hearing that UCLA isn't great for that isn't all that good? Is the creative writing program more along the line or "weak" or "not a strength because everything else is awesome." </p>
<p>One other thing for everyone. My CCC experience would be a unique one. I love my high school and I never want to leave lol. I'm ready to go, but I love high school. The CCC I'd attend is 2 miles from my high school and I could serve as an asst. English teacher and the a cappella vocal music director at my high school during the 2 years at the CCC. I'd probably enjoy those 2 years at the CCC, but I'd also enjoy UCSB. If I wouldn't hate my time at CCC, should I wait for UCLA, or just go to a school like UCSB/UCD as a freshman? Help!</p>
<p>What do you think would be best for you? Keep in mind that you have no assurance of stellar grades or admittance to UCLA after cc. Probably high chances of each, and a higher chance of getting in than this round, but no assurance. </p>
<p>UCR is your only UC with a pure creative writing program, although it is not as strong at English as UCB, UCLA, or UCSB is. Creative writing at schools like UCLA and UCB isn't a priority- literary criticism is. The offerings are fairly limited, and hard to use (class sizes are strictly limited).</p>
<p>DRab: Trust me when I say I would do my absolute best to get the highest GPA possible for 2 years at a CCC. I would not slack off at all. I've never had lower than a 4.2 GPA in high school and I could be much more committed. I know there's no guarantee, but I'd do everything and anything possible to make myself into the best applicant possible. What do I think would be best for me? Don't know yet...that's why I'm here right now lol. I could go either way right now. Oh, and thanks for the notes on creative writing. I'm looking at English as a whole, not just pure creative writing, so I'd be for the best overall program.</p>
<p>if you're gonna bust your ass, then bust your ass at a uc school like SB.
then transfer to another higher-up UC. Don't take your chances with a CC, unless you're in a guaranteed transfer program</p>
<p>My high school classmate transferred from UCI to Cal after 2 years</p>
<p>I know a Computer Science and Engineering major who transferred from UCSB to UCLA because he wasn't satisfied with the former school's engineering department. He's been doing shockingly well here (actually getting A's in his EE/CS courses) while working a part-time job, so he must have carried a really strong GPA while at UCSB... He's the only UC-to-UC Engineering transfer I know here.</p>
<p>UC to UC transfers are tough. CC transfers, by law, get a huge priority. </p>
<p>I don't doubt your abilities, because, well, I don't know anything about them. Your attitude seems good for your situation, which is if you go to a cc you'll work hard so as to have the best chance of transferring to where you want to go. It's possible you'll get in, really. I have lower SAT scores than most of the admits, and look at me- got in. Hopefull you'll be so lucky, but yeah, who knows.</p>
<p>Would you be happier if you went to the CC and transfered somewhere after, or going straight to a four year? You would miss two years at a more communal campus. Would you mind this? Is going to UCLA that important to you? Do you think that is where you will happiest? Is going to a cc for that worth the sacrifice, including the slight but chance possibility that you don't get in later? For the record, UCB has the better English department. :) UCLAs is still amazing, though. I don't know about UCSD or Davis. Anyone know about these two schools' English programs for batman32c?</p>
<p>Like I said earlier, I have no intentions of doing a UC to UC transfer. UC to UC is harder than CCC to UC and I'd be at the CCC not only to increase my chances, but to save a boatload of money for my masters of PhD. </p>
<p>DRab: I'm reading over your questions. I have already been asking myself these questions and I'm posting in this board to see if anyone has anything to offer in regards to the situation. I like your questions because we share a lot of the same values. The most important thing is finding the right fit and being happy. Why this is tough for me is I'm not anti-CCC at all because of the links to my high school that I posted before. I could ethier be happy at UCSB or happy at a CCC for 2 years then transfer to UCLA. One other side note: thanks for asking about the English depts. of specific UC's. I'd be interested to know, but I know that the UC's I'm looking at are world-class universities and couldn't give me anything less than a great education! Thanks.</p>
<p>Alright, who's next?</p>
<p>Thanks for the help in this thread. I'm going to post in the UC General section to see what others think. Please, feel free to post more here or in the UC General section lol. Thanks.</p>
<p>I had to go to a CC for two years before starting at UCLA. Much like you I loved High School (did not have the grades you did though, my GPA held even at around a 3.2). I went over to the local CC, because I had honestly never put any thought into college. In the end the good part of doing the CC route is that I got my grades way up, and did end up at UCLA. The bad part is that it was nearly impossible to find any social life. Also depending on how hard you work, you may even find the work load to be a bit easier then you'd hope for... My first year I ended up with the highest grade in every class I took, including subjects that I'm not good in. It's not really because I was smarter or anything, but I'm still farily confident I was the only person in any of those classes to open a book.</p>
<p>With all that said, most of the UC's will offer you a great education. I love UCLA so far. However if you pick a school make sure your happy there. You don't want to end up hating life for 4 years just because you did not want to go to a CC to get into a different university. Just know that CC is not exactly the most fun and exciting experience you'll ever have. With your GPA you should still try for freshmen admissions.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks allena. Like you said, we both had/are having a great high school experience and are different in the fact that my grades are pretty high now. You can read my bio/stats here: </p>
<p>I understand the social life issues that could arise from attending a CCC over a school like UCSB lol. The thing that would ensure my social well-being is the fact that I have a ton of friends that are still going to be at my high school next year - I'm the youngest person in our senior class. All my friends from the age bracket sports days will still be at my high school next year. Well, I have about 4 months until UC admissions are posted, so there's plenty of time to think about it...thanks everyone.</p>
<p>You may be surprised though how quickly hanging out with high school kids becomes tiresome, even after a few months at a CC. Doesn't seem like a big difference, but CC is still college and facilitates significant maturation (I was also the youngest person in my grade). While you would probably still hang out with your high school friends, it definitely wouldn't be the same. </p>
<p>It's not impossible to make friends at a CC, but it won't be like being around 40 built-in new friends in a dorm. Also, you would want to account for having to build the social life again when you transfer. </p>
<p>I did the CC route and don't regret it at all. I actually hated high school and got out as soon as I could, with the help of CC. I value the education I got there but the social thing is still an issue for me. There's no way I would've gotten into UCLA out of high school, and I'm so so glad to be here. You do have a lot of time to make a decision, if need be. Good luck.</p>