Hello,
I need some advice before talking to a counselor.
general stats:
I am a nontraditional student with a 3.6 gpa (Animal Science Major)
- over 1yr work experience (kennel attendant@animal hospital)
- Certified Vet Assistant (AVMA accredited)
I got into UCDavis for animal science as a sophomore transfer (out of state) but as you can imagine the out of state tuition was too much. I am moving to California with the intent of going to a local CC and getting residency (I will be staying with family).
The CC will be Mount SAC; I recently saw they have a registered vet tech program and am very interested in it.
My short term goal is to transfer to either Cal Poly Pomona, SLO, or UCDavis. I heard Cal Poly Pomona has a great hands-on program and as for UCDavis, I heard they give priority towards their grads for vet school admission.
My long term goal is to become a mixed practice veterinarian, my dream vet school being UCDavis.
Ideally, I would like to work as a trained vet technician before/during vet school.
My question is, will all the classes (registered vet tech major @ mount SAC) transfer to Cal Poly Pomona and/or SLO, UCDavis? I’m trying to figure out how many years I would have left after transferring from Mount SAC to a 4yr university
I may not do the registered vet tech program at Mount SAC because I heard that the animal science major at Cal Poly Pomona gives you enough training to be eligible to take the AVMA vet tech certification exam. Also, I only want to stay at another CC for no longer than 1yr (I’m planning on transferring to a university in the fall 2017).
So to sum it up, should I major in vet tech at mount SAC even though I won’t complete the program in hopes that what I do complete will transfer to 4yr university? (Cal Poly Pomona, SLO, UCDavis)
Sorry for the lengthy post…I really appreciate any suggestions/adivice given.
Thank you in advance! 
First, make sure you qualify for in-state tuition even after moving to CA. You say you’re a non-traditional student, so I assume you mean that you’re older and self-supporting, so you probably are… but do verify. CA has very strict residency regulations, and schools do verify your status carefully.
No one here can tell you what will transfer from a CC to wherever you end up. While there is usually some loss of credit when you transfer, you can limit it greatly by following recommendations exactly. CCs have lists of transferable courses, as do 4-year institutions. Read them very, very carefully and be sure to speak to a guidance counselor at your CC to verify your decisions.
Since veterinary school is your ultimate goal, and since veterinary school admissions are very competitive, make sure your academic record is one vet schools will like. Usually that means you need to have excellent grades and most/all of your vet schools prereqs (i.e., all the hard sciences and even math) should be done at the 4-year school to make your application as competitive as possible.
Finally, considering the budget crunch currently hitting Calif. colleges, you need to be realistic that between cuts, and a cc transfer, it will likely take longer than 4 years to get your Bachelor’s degree.
You may establish a residence in California for tuition purposes if you are a financially independent adult.
To establish residence you must be physically present in California with the intent to make California your permanent home, and you must demonstrate by your actions that you have given up your former residence to establish a residence in California. Once you have established your residence in California, you must reside in California for more than one year (366 days) before you will be eligible to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes. If you are in California solely for educational purposes, you will not be considered to have established a residence for tuition purposes, regardless of the length of your stay.
Your intent to be a California resident is judged by your actions. You must show, by the actions you take after you move to California, that you are present in California because you intend to reside here indefinitely, as opposed to being in California to go to school. Acts that may indicate your intent to make California your permanent home include, but are not limited to: establishing a home in California in which your personal belonging are kept; designating California as your permanent address on all records; registering to vote and voting in California elections; registering your vehicle in California and obtaining a California driver license; paying California income taxes on all income since the date you moved to California; remaining in California during non-instructional periods; establishing bank accounts in California; and the absence of these and any other indications of residence in other states or countries during any period for which you claim California residence.
As @katliamom stated, you need to meet with an CCC transfer advisor to see which OOS courses are CSU/UC transferable and then use assist.org to see which courses you can take at Mt Sac to finish your pre-req and GE’s to allow transfer to SLO,CPP or UCD. Also noted, that many of the CA CCC’s are overcrowded and it can be difficult to get the required courses so it may take longer to get your 4 year degree.
Good Luck.
Tread very carefully, it is almost impossible to gain in-state status as a continuing student. It may be quicker and cheaper to earn your BS where you are then apply to Davis (and elsewhere) for Vet school.
If you’re staying with family, it needs to be with whomever has guardianship over you. One person I know moved to California and went to CC here for two years but her parents still lived out of the country (and were paying for expenses), so they decided she was an out-of-state resident.
To qualify for instate you must either:
Be an adult that pays for your own expenses (food, clothing, shelter, tuition)
or
Live with your guardians in-state.