Is it smart nowadays to go to a community college first and then transfer ?

[ucbalumnus]

@ItsHydro

So would you recommend me doing 2 years at a CC and doing TAG (guaranteed admission if I get at least a 3.1-3.4 GPA in CC) at UCI or UCSB?

Check the course articulation for CS at those campuses for your local CCs on http://www.assist.org .

Also consider how your cost constraints are, and what other reasons you may have to choose starting at a CC versus a CSU or UC.