Hi, I’m having my exam after 7 days and my practice test scores isn’t good… Low 20 I would say, or sometimes even worse. I’m a Chinese student living in Kuwait, and studying in a British school. I did my IELTS: band score 7 overall, reading 6, listening 7, writing and speaking 7.5. IGCSE: 1 A*, 3A, 3B. I wonder if I should just go to CC in California and try to transfer to one of the UC’s because don’t want to end up wasting my parents money to go to an average Uni in USA. Should I give a try to universities that does/doesn’t require American standardize test result? Thank you!
As an international coming to US an going to a community college, I would check and see if housing is available. Consider what type of campus experience you would have at a CC, as many students are part-time and older and less involved on campus than students at 4 year schools. You might consider applying to average universities and getting a good GPA (3.5 or higher) and then transferring after 2 years to a more selective university.
The problem is that university tuition fees are quite expensive compare to CC, and I heard it’s more intense. I might not get use to it in the first semester, and mess up my grades. However, I will still check this option out. Also, CC transfer rate doesn’t matter too much is that true? I’m considering De anza, orange coast, and Diablo valley. Any other good recommendations (can be in other states)? Thank you.
You will be paying full fees at any California Community college AND will be full pay at any public California public university, including any UCs and any California State colleges, because you are not a resident paying California income tax. So if you think you will get a bargain by going the CC route in California, you are sorely underestimating your costs.
Your costs to attend will be higher than many colleges in other states.
The CCCs will run about $20k but, what hurts is your rent and living expenses. You’ve picked the most expensive areas in California to attend school. Living in California is extremely expensive when you look at rent, food and transportation.
The UCs will charge you $55k per year, if you were able to get in.
FYI: The California schools tend to be quite “intense”.
Check out our California link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-colleges/1802004-so-you-want-to-come-to-california-for-college-p1.html
Thank you for the information. I checked orange coast total fee 20k and it included room+board, doesn’t that mean it will be my rent for this year? What would you recommend for me to do? Apply to universities that doesn’t require American standardize exam for international? Thank you.
Most of the community colleges in California are commuter schools which means that the students live elsewhere and “commute” to the campus. They arrive for classes via cars, bikes, walking or public transportation and leave the campus at the end of their day. Weekends, at CC’s, are empty campuses.
Orange Coast College, like many of the community colleges, does not provide on-campus housing.
http://www.orangecoastcollege.edu/enrollment/Pages/Housing-Information.aspx
- Find out what your parents can pay,
- Use the links at the top of this page to see what schools will suit you.
- Use the Net price calculators (NPC) on each of the college websites.
You will see the costs of attendance for the schools you hope to attend.
The US has over 3000 colleges and universities. You can find one to suit your needs. Assuming that a so-called “average” university in the US is not prestigious enough for your family is a bad assumption about what you can gain. With the exception of the for-profit schools, the US university level of education is pretty good.
The US colleges and universities have a goal to graduate employable, marketable, representatives of their colleges.
Ah I see… I planning to attend CC or Uni this january if possible or at Fall, depends if I applied on time or not. What my dad told me, he said he will have around $50k around the end of the year. I guess I will talk to my mom about the college expenses and other stuff, but most of the time they will say don’t worry too much about the “money” as long as you can get into a top public universities (top 20 I assume) maybe with some scholarship, or aid. I’m thinking to contact Penn state, Auburn, and virginia Tech about their transfer program, since I’m thinking a major that involves designing (Architecture, or fashion), but it might change after I enter Uni or CC… Do you think it’s a better idea to get into East coast or North side of the state instead of California with around 40- 45k budget? Also, I will check the link above. Thank you!
PS: Does the school transfer rate even matter? As long as the credit transferable to the University I want to enter
In the American college system, you apply in the fall/winter to attend the next fall. So you’d be applying in the next few months to go in fall 2017.
Penn State is wildly expensive, but they do have a transfer plan built in…with the branch campuses, which are a bit cheaper. Investigate the 2+2 plan.
You need to look on the southern states. You’ll get just as good of an education as at a CC at greatly reduced tuition and living expenses. Look at what we call directional universities. They aren’t flagships but they are four year institutions so you could transfer or stay depending on your options.
A quick google and I found McNeese State in Southwest Louisiana. Looking quickly, it looks like $25,000 for tuition, room and board for two semesters at 15 hours per semester. You would have to add international health insurance. McNeese was on a list by US News as good schools in the south for international students. No it’s not SoCal but it’s just as good or better education than CA CC for a better price.
Thanks, I will check it out. Seem like everyone recommend me to go an average university then maybe transfer later on. The problem is I will have a gap year and my parents doesn’t want to do that. Also, From my understanding, universities have much larger classes than CC and professor won’t care as much as CC professors for each individual student like ‘the one on one experience’. Am I right? Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for me to get use to how the American system works then move on to university? Tbh I just want to boost my gpa in the 2 years and transfer to a selective school. I might sound ignorant of only wanting California CC, but I’m considering other states CC as well.
I’m not sure where you are getting info about CCs having smaller classes. It is the small colleges that have smallest classes. CC teachers are also much more like to be temporary profs, many who are paid unreal low salaries (like less than $3000.00 per course). I live in North Carolina, and the CCs here tend to (not always) be the schools where the bottom half of HS grads go. Yes, they are great opportunities for a lot of students who can live at home and the tuition is low. But as stated above, they are commuter campuses, with a lot of part-time and older students. I just think a traditional 4 year college would be a much better fit for an international student. Plus, many colleges in USA now have over 10% of their students who are international, and are thus equipped with services for them.
California, north or south, is expensive. You will find the best values, for tuition and housing, in the Midwest and South.
" Another crucial component to the community college experience is small class size. You won’t see many huge, crowded lectures, if any. Most community college classes have twenty students or fewer. This allows for much more interaction and constructive discussion, rather than a one-sided monologue that is common in lower-level university classes…"- Education corner. I’m pretty sure it still depends on the size of CC, but I doubt it’s going to be more crowded than medium- large universities most of the times.
I’m facing an issue of year gap if I’m planning to apply to Universities and my parents doesn’t want me to spend a year in the house without getting education (they don’t trust me that I will self study). Also, I was late to school for a year.
I will talk to my parents about other states, but if they really wanting me to go an West, North, or East to study then I won’t say too much about it. After all, they are funding and supporting the education, so I don’t want to cause an huge argument with my parents just for going which states to study. I will do deeper researches on other states colleges after my exam. Thank you for all the advices! If there are any more suggestions, I will be happy to take in more options.
We face the same bias on CC from US students thinking the UC’s are the end all be all. NYU is right after the UC’s for lack of affordability. UCs are great if you are a CA resident but awful option for most everyone else.
What do you want to do? preferred major? Engineering doesn’t matter so much as long as the school has an accredited program. Large classes aren’t the end of the world either. I went a large university and sure I had 300+ in some freshmen lectures but they were lectures. Most of my classes in my major were smaller and I knew all the professors in my major.
Google public schools for international students. Ask your parents about a budget as well which will help you and help users here make realistic recommendations.
I’m thinking of a major that involves in designing like general architecture (didn’t think to specific), maybe fashion? My mind might change later in the course, but unlikely for now, so I think maybe CC might help me to make my mindset. Also, I assume the budget is around 40k-45k doesn’t include student budget. Thank you
Thanks. Please ask your parents about a specific budget though. Best not to guess.
Asked my mom about it, she said don’t worry of the money and won’t give me a specific budget(basically they don’t want me worry about money and focus on my education). From the conversation with my dad, he have no problem providing money for the annual estimate cost for California Orange coast college which is around $20k ±5k (11 months) and doesn’t include food and my personal expenses, but I’m planning to attend at January (spring enrollment) and it will be 5 month course. Any more recommendations of CC or universities that have spring enrollment for designing related major? Thank you.
Recommendation: Increase your written English skills.
The colleges and universities expect you to be able to communicate in English, and, understand your courses.
Not all colleges have the major you seek. Use the links on this page to find colleges that have those majors.
Also, you are assuming Orange Coast will cost $20K. The housing costs are not set. The school has given you an “average”. You have to find your own housing. I don’t know why you are so stuck on OCC. Don’t assume it is what you see on television. In Southern California, finding housing will be very expensive and difficult.
It’s also worth considering a school in a place with good mass transit.
Thank you for your concern about improving my English skills and will continue to polish my skills. However, I doubt that it is relavent to the topic that I’m trying to ask. Also, If my English was awfully bad in my previous replies, well I’m sorry for not spending enough time to correct my mistakes. .
Yes, I’m just assuming the cost will be in OCC and well concerned about finding my own housing. Just for you understanding, I’m not keen on OCC at all, there are many other colleges/universities are in my mind. I’m just using it as an example to estimate the cost. Nothing is final yet, I’m just prioritizing California as one of the states to study in. I will be start doing proper researches after my exam.
Thank you!
Another thing to keep in mind: in a place such as California, you will almost certainly need to buy and maintain a car.