I didn’t get into all the schools I wish I had (namely my dream school UCLA) and I don’t have 30k a year to afford one of the better schools I got into. I’m hoping to apply to USC, UCLA, UC Berkley, UCI, UI, UC Santa Barbara, and some others to transfer into as a sophomore. I’m going into CS and I am trying to get the best education and connections I can. My financial package is pretty large for the school I may attend in San Francisco (i only have to pay 15k out of 60k per year. 10k of which will be student loans); however, I’m hearing that money doesn’t transfer too well with me if I decide to transfer out. The benefit of going to that school is that it’s in San Fran, but their CS program isn’t too strong.
My other option is a free state school in Kentucky. Their CS program isn’t amazing, but it’s not close to where I want to be. I’m afraid that I’ll be limited in my future career opportunities by staying in Kentucky.
Should I just goto a middle of the road university for 4 years (Kentucky/ San Fran) or does it not matter because transferring is actually a viable option for me?
Also can you speak on any transferring knowledge you know of? Thanks!
Are you a CA resident? If so then transferring from a CCC to a UC is the right (low cost) way to go. And UCs don’t take sophomore transfers. You need two years before you can transfer in.
Sounds like OP is a Kentucky resident (“My other option is a free state school in Kentucky… afraid that I’ll be limited in my future career opportunities by staying in Kentucky”). If that is indeed the case, any public school in California will likely offer little, if any, financial aid other than federal entitlements.
I don’t see what’s wrong with the school in SF.
If you’re motivated, you’ll learn a lot there, and you don’t have to limit your networking to within your school.
(1) The UC’s don’t accept sophomore year transfers.
(2) The UC’s don’t provide financial aid to out-of-state students.
Stay in Kentucky!
California isn’t the only place in the country with jobs for CS graduates. Your best shot at a successful CS career is excelling at whatever college you attend, and graduating debt-free.
^ Sheesh, if the SF school is affordable, I’m not sure why you’re so keen on him staying in KY. Networking and interviewing for jobs in SF would be easier, as you can imagine, if you are already there.
Getting out of Kentucky is a smart idea. Really, what good schools are there?
The reputation of their CS program isn’t that great and they have half as many CS teachers than the Kentucky school.
I’m not a Cali resident, is it hard to get residency?
It is very hard unless your parents move to California.
Re: #7, how would you know their CS program isn’t that great? Are you already at a Master’s level? If you aren’t, with all due respect, you can’t actually say anything about their undergrad education.
And does the KY school have twice or even more CS students than the SF schools?
And yes, it’s essentially impossible to gain CA residency for in-state rates at UC’s.
Because I’m not so sure it is affordable. The cost is $15k/year . . . and it’s not clear from the original post whether that $15k is in addition to the $10k in loans, or includes 10k in loans (which is still more than the OP is eligible for on his own).
And there’s no reason the OP can’t do this . . . after he’s graduated debt-free from a Kentucky school!
The SF school apparently isn’t known for its CS program, and it’s one of the most expensive cities in the country to live in . . . so how does it help this low-income CS student to attend school there? His out-of-pocket expenses are likely to be far more than he’s anticipating, and Silicon Valley recruiters are not going to be knocking down the door looking for candidates from a mediocre CS program. I see absolutely no upside to this scenario.
And there will be recruiters at the Kentucky state school - they won’t be Google or Apple, but they’ll be companies looking to hire CS grad’s, and that’s all he really needs to start his career.
$10k in loans each year is more than you can borrow on your own. And it is simply too much to borrow when you have a solid free option.
Go to the free place in KY. Do the internships and summer jobs in your field. Get really good grades and recommendations from your professors and the supervisors of those internships and jobs. Then look for a job wherever you feel like after you graduate. You will be so much happier to not be up past your eyeballs in debt while you are job hunting. You will have a lot more options because you won’t have any debt.
Go to the free place in KY. Do the internships and summer jobs in your field. Get really good grades and recommendations from your professors and the supervisors of those internships and jobs. Then look for a job wherever you feel like after you graduate.
Emphasizing HappyMom’s excellent advice.
Make yourself a list- do it today. Do some research and make a spreadsheet of all the big corporations with headquarters and major facilities in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, Lexington, Louisville. It will be a big list, I promise you. These are your targets for internships and summer jobs. Put this list away until next Thanksgiving when you have to start to think about summer work after Freshman year. But take your free option knowing about your really big list.
If we were debating CS at Berkeley vs. Kentucky at least there would be something to talk about (but given the financials I’d still be giving you the same advice).
But we’re not. Stay in Kentucky and run your own race.
How would you repay this? Some loans require immediate monthly payments and don’t “wait” for you to graduate.
No, you will not get instate residency. California is very strict about residency requirements and their big clue is your HS transcript. Coming to California for education is a guaranteed cost of OOS fees for all of your years in California.
Stay in Kentucky to get your free education, then apply to internships in California for the summer months. San Fran is very, very, tres expensive, so think about that.
Apply for jobs after you get your diploma.