<p>I have a question as to what kind of UC /CC/school I should go to. I am senior in high school this year, I have a 4.6 GPA this sem, 4.2 weighted combined GPA for all years, a 2000 SAT score, 700 Bio E, 670 Math II, and I have no clue what I want to major in. I'm currently signed up for 4 AP tests (AB Calc, Physics B, Micro Econ, and Gov).</p>
<p>I applied to a bunch of colleges, was rejected from most, but I was accepted by UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and waitlisted to UChicago. I really want to go to good college for my Bachelors as I'm considering being a pre-med major (I know it's a long shot).</p>
<p>I am considering a JC for 2 years and then transferring to a high-end UC like UCB or UCLA. Am I better off going this route and saving money, getting a good GPA at a JC, and giving myself more time to find a major? Also, if I do do this route, how do you make sure you're on track to get into a good UC? I read some posts on this and people mentioned this Transfer Applicant Guarantee program.</p>
<p>I know the costs of taking the JC route, mainly all the people I won't get to know going a UC for 4 years.</p>
<p>I'd like to know your thoughts and input. I really have no clue what to do at this point and by May 1st I have to have written the letters of intent for UCD and UCSB if I choose to go there.</p>
<p>I am a parent, but I think the two UC’s that you got into would be good places to explore different majors as long as you are not going to eventually decide on an impacted major like engineering. UCD has a medical school (not sure about UCSB) which would allow you to explore that pre-med major. </p>
<p>Do you want a freshman college experience, room, dining, greek life, etc.?</p>
<p>If costs are a concern, I think financial assistance is better as a UC freshman vs. transfer student. There is a lot of competition to get into UCB and UCLA at the freshman level, and from what I read here on the transfer threads, even more at the junior level.</p>
<p>Anyway, community college is a less expensive way to take various classes to decide on a major, just make sure you keep up your GPA while exploring! Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree with @liveonboca: You got into some great schools and if financially a JC is a better way to go, than they should pursue that avenue. However, having gone through admissions last your with my older son and this year with my younger son, it is getting increasingly competitive. Check some of the transfer threads for UCB/UCLA and see how many rejections are being posted. If you can manage it, I would go for UCSB or UCD. It is not where you go for undergrad that matters, but what you do there that will count in the end.</p>
<p>I believe you can still transfer from community college just not through TAG. Here’s some recent data which shows the stats of students who transferred from community college to UCLA.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m allowed to post a blog link, but you might want to Google Ms Sun who has a wealth of information about UC admissions including transfer.</p>
<p>Things you need to check include:</p>
<p>Will all your community college and AP credits transfer to the UC you choose? If not you may end up taking the courses over again involving extra time and expense.</p>
<p>If you accumulate sufficient credits to transfer early (likely if you are taking multiple AP courses) what will you do if you have to wait two years to transfer?</p>
<p>How impacted are the courses at the community college you will attend. You may not be able to get the courses you need and end up spending an extra year there.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. I really don’t care much for the whole college experience, I’m just trying to get the degree and either go to grad school or get a job. Going to the JC for 2 years saves me $46,000 vs any UC. My family has no chances of qualifying for financial aid because of the income bracket, even though I’m going to have to pay for most of it, which means student loans, which I want to minimize. </p>
<p>Part of the reason I didn’t want to go to UCD and UCSB was because I knew I would probably get a low 3.something GPA, and that wouldn’t look good to grad schools if I did that route. The reason why I want to go to UCB and UCLA and maybe UCSD is because of their reputation for engineering programs. In the grand scheme of things, I have no clue what career I want to do, and it seems to me like engineering is the best route. </p>
<p>Is this a good plan? Or am I a complete idiot who just threw away my chances? </p>
<p>In my exp, most stem majors, especially engineering majors don’t get out of cc in two years, even if they are placed in calc and english. The reason is because of late registration combined with bottle necks, class conflicts and supersaturation of students. From my personal experience, I essentially wasted my first year on GE courses (which aren’t needed for Eng transfers), because I needed to get obtain more units to get a better registration date. In my second year I barely managed to take Calc I and Chem I because I lucked out as a waitlisted lottery winner. Spring term of that second year I couldn’t take Calc II, because the Chem II labs conflicted with all the Calc classes at some point of another. I had to wait to take Calc based physics in my third year for the same reasons. After much difficulty (I had to enroll in additional school to maximize options) I got out in four years. For a lot of people the 4 year route is common in engineering students.</p>
<p>Not to scare you, just want to leave you aware. </p>