<p>Hello, everyone. I am a graduating senior this year and my dream college is UCLA. However I am worried that I may not get accepted. I am really determined to go to a reputable college. I live in the Inland Empire and our local universities are UCR and CSUSB. I hear SMC is the best community college in America.</p>
<p>Should I go to CSUSB for one year and then go to SMC?
Should I go to UCR and transfer to SMC?
Should I just go to SMC for 2 years?</p>
<p>Or should I do something totally different?</p>
<p>If you are going to UCR just for the purpose of transferring out of it, i would not advice you to go since it will be expensive. My opinion on both UCR and SMC (assuming you are talking about santa monica college) is that they are both awesome school. From personal experience, UCR is on the level of what a university should be (class difficulties, faculty, facilities, opportunities, etc), and after spending a few weeks at a higher tier UC, i was glad that i picked UCR. On the other hand, SMC looks and feels like a very nice school, especially your ultimate goal will probably be going to UCLA. But one thing that i heard about SMC is that a friend of mine is having difficulties getting classes, especially after the recent budget cut.</p>
<p>As you see, community college students get admitted more than UC students. So, if you really really want to go to UCLA, I would suggest you to go to Santa Monica College. If you don’t mind, come to UCR. UCR is awesome :D</p>
<p>I’m an (is it ‘a’ or ‘an’ in this case?) UCR alumni. Original plan was to transfer out too. never happened. I went to UCLA for summer courses and ended up not liking it as much as I thought due to class size, increase number of “pricks” who held their nose high because of the school they go to, foot and car traffic…not saying that I would’ve gotten in anyway. My grades were not spectacular, it was good, but UCLA competition is fierce. UCR was a great school and I realized it after going to a different campus (also went to UCI for a quarter) </p>
<p>As a UCR graduate I got a good job afterwards. But it was hard work, long hours and dedication that allowed me to climb that corporate ladder, build my resume and move on to greener pastures…a pasture that looks at your accomplishments AFTER college. College is USUALLY the thing that gets you that first job, 5-10 years down the line, HR is not going to care where you went to school. They want your employment track record.</p>
<p>If your ultimate goal is to transfer out, you also have to take finance into consideration. a community college will save you/your parents a load of money especially with all the increases these days. Just make sure you do well enough to get to UCLA or you would’ve wasted 2-3 years! Best of luck to your future.</p>
<p>Go to SMC . you really want to keep your options open , and you can transfer to any UC from SMC, plus you’ll save money .
Actually I think the Community College route is the way to go, see at a 4 year you can’t drop a class if it puts you below full time, even if the class is a nightmare and may ruin your GPA .
I’m at UCR now and while the school is nice , rivrside sucks so much. If you can work hard and transfer anywhere else .</p>