<p>Hey there!
So I'm a Junior in High School right now. I kind of messed up 2 semesters/disqualified myself for UC acceptance straight out of High School. My only hope now is to go to a CCC (California Community College) and transfer to Davis with a TAG. I was thinking of possibly taking some GE courses over the summer this year so I can earn my 60 Credits faster. Suppose I get my 60 Credits in half the time (anything is possible?), will I be able to transfer to UC Davis as a Sophomore? Is there anything I need to know about TAG? Any info would be gladly appreciated. Thank you!</p>
<p>As a high school student, you are normally limited to 6 units a semester in addition to any AP courses that you can/have accumulated. This will allow you to earn 18 units between now and the Fall semester after you graduate at CC. If you can take 4 or so AP courses in this time then you will have over 30 units by the time you officially start at CC.</p>
<p>If you can’t take AP courses, your HS transcript is essentially useless to transferring. You might want to consider taking the CHSPE to get out early then. The registration date for the June exam is coming up in the next few weeks and in early August you will find out if you have passed. When you get the results, you can begin going to CC full time instead of part time and if you decide that you would rather stay in HS, you can return from CC at any time.</p>
<p>Plan A:
Take 6 units every semester from a CC in high school
Take a total of 4 AP classes over your high school career
result: ~30 units when you start classes at CC in Fall '11 and a lot of busywork in HS
transfer date: Start UC in Fall '12</p>
<p>Plan B:
Register for the CHSPE test in the next few weeks
Take the test, graduate early
Start CC taking ~15 units a semester
result: ~30 units when you apply for UC’s in Fall '11
transfer date: Start UC Fall '12</p>
<p>Plan 9 if B failed:
Do plan B
Realize you weren’t ready for CC yet and return to your HS to finish plan A</p>
<p>Note: I opted for Plan B when I had a 1.7 at the end of my Sophomore year, it’s working great so far. You also could use the extra time CC as buffer space because you won’t be able to get in all of your classes due to budget cuts and counselors screwing you over making a 1 year transfer a matter of luck in my opinion.</p>
<p>I have to say, although it may sound sort of backward, feedayeen’s “plan B” is smart. I ended up getting my GED instead of CHSPE when I was 16. I failed out of high school. My friends all mocked me lol and said I was making the biggest mistake of my life. Since then I’ve continued at community college while my friends have been in high school. I’ve had pretty strong grades, and I’m hoping to be a transfer student to UCB in the fall at 18 years old. I also have a few TAG’s (UCSD, UCSC, Davis).</p>
<p>My friends are freshman at CSU’s, and one at UCSD. I’ll have skipped a grade, saved a boatload of money, and on top of that, I very well may end up at a better school. One thing I always like to tell people is to be innovative about your education. Take risks. I dropped out of high school despite the condemnation from friends and family. However, I had a goal, and now I’m a couple months away from reaching it. Anyway, I know most hs students aren’t too keen on leaving high school early for community college, so I’ll provide some other ideas for you as well.</p>
<p>First I’ll explain TAG:</p>
<p>Basically for a Davis TAG you need 30 UC transferrable units done by the end of the summer before you apply in the fall. You also need around a 2.8-3.2 depending on your major. Most majors, however, you just need a 3.0. If you apply as a transfer this fall, you will need 30 units done by the end of this summer for TAG eligibility. If you apply next fall as a junior transfer (VERY possible) you will need 30 UC transferrable units done by the end of next summer. I highly recommend doing 6-9 units over summer (just crack down on those courses lol) and do the same next summer. Try doing a couple courses in the fall and spring too if you can. I would set a goal to: Get those 30 units done by the end of next summer. All you have to do then is fill out a form for TAG and you should be good pending you have the GPA and the major prereqs done for your major. Generally, for Davis, there arent that many. You can check assist.com to find out what these prereqs are for whatever major you are.</p>
<p>Now I’ll discuss Academic Renewal: You say that you have done very poorly at your CCC so far. But I have good news for you. If you turn your grades around and take 12-18 units with a 3.0 or better, you may be eligible for Academic Renewal (AR). Every CCC has different requirements for AR. Basically at my school, you have to have had F’s or D’s because these are the only grades AR will apply to. You also have to have taken a minimum of 12 units with a 3.0 or better. There’s also a 1 year wait period before one can become eligible for AR. </p>
<p>I’ll give ya the run-down on my situation: I started CCC when I was 16. I didn’t give a s h i t about school, and I failed 2 classes and received a D in another. All were UC transferrable. My GPA that semester was a 1.0. Since then, I’ve never had worse than a B, and just received my final Academic Renewal a few months ago. My GPA went up from 2.5 -> 3.76 with Academic Renewal attached. </p>
<p>Basically, it’s a wonderful system that allows those bad grades to be exempt from your GPA. I know what you’re thinking though: Where’s the drawback??? There actually isn’t one. The UC’s won’t even care about those grades with AR attached; think of it as if you had never taken those classes in the first place. Your GPA is inclusive of only those classes that you have A’s B’s and C’s in. Any D’s and F’s you have with AR attached are immediately not considered and don’t hurt your chances in any way.</p>
<p>This is a relatively and considerably unknown system by many college students. It saved me man, that’s for sure. I’ve explained tons of times on this forum before, but I always like to let people know that there is another chance for redemption. You have a chance for even the top UC’s man! Just get that Academic Renewal (once you’re eligible you fill out a form with like your address, student ID number, and class you want AR attached with, it gets sent to the dean…and poof GPA huge boost). </p>
<p>Davis was a major reach for me 9 months ago before I knew about Academic Renewal. Now it is my back-up. Don’t get me wrong though, I love Davis. </p>
<p>Anyways back to TAG: It guarantees you 100% admission to the campus. I explained the requirements above, so just follow those, and you are IN to Davis. With AR on your bad grades, it’s not that hard to keep up a B average in the rest of your classes (pending you don’t have other responsibilities/problems/work in your life to deal with). </p>
<p>You can do it, man. Just stay focused. IMHO community college grades >>>>>> high school grades. I’m not gonna say don’t focus on high school…but just remember that your CCC grades are what are going to get you into a university if you’re a transfer. If you’re a transfer studend, the high school grades are irrelevant. </p>
<p>I hope I helped, and I wish you the best of luck!</p>