<p>I'm wondering what the degree of difficulty of a UC is in comparison to the degree of difficulty of a community college. My classes are relatively easy, and I'm generally the top student in all of them - not that there's much (if any) competition. I don't know if I'm just being paranoid, but I'm concerned that these classes are actually dumbed down versions of the real thing, and that when I transfer to a 4 year, I'll be completely overwhelmed by the degree of difficulty. I mean don't get me wrong, I do usually have to study and read the book, but it just feels as if I'm not trying HARD enough for that A. My professors refer to me as a "real bright guy", but I'm not sure how bright they mean... I mean sure, compared to my average peer I'm a shining star - but can I roll with the big dogs (so to speak). Honestly I'm not trying to sound arrogant or anything, I'm just getting reeaaaallly paranoid.</p>
<p>Does anyone know by either first hand experience or word of mouth if my concern is reasonable?</p>
<p>you're going to have to do a lot more work than you have ever done in your life. but hey, college isn't easy. there's a reason why not everyone gets that BA/BS</p>
<p>I've talked to a couple of my friends about this. They said that it is a noticeable transition. Just do your hardest. That is all you can expect out of yourself.</p>
<p>I know some facts
comparing SMC to UCLA:
most classes are a breeze at smc, with exception of a few science classes: bio and chem series.
Bio major series at SMC are known to be very very tough to the point where people decide to pay $$ to take classes at UCLA during summer instead!!
I dunno how it works at other colleges.</p>
<p>It definitely is true that community college is easier than the UC. However, transfers usually enter with a pretty big inferiority complex and often end up working really hard to make up for it. In the end, transfers do well because they know they have to work hard. I've found that many students who enter as freshmen start slacking a little bit off once they reach around junior status. Transfers enter ready to go and ready to work their butts off.</p>
<p>Yes, I had to struggle a bit in my first semester getting used to the greater difficulty. However, I definitely don't take anything for granted, allowing me to still stay a step ahead of the crowd by working hard. After those first baby steps in getting used to the campus, it seems that transfers to just as well as their counterparts.</p>
<p>From what I've heard from my friends, you should prepare for the worst. All the students who attend the top UC's are excellent, just like yourself. Although you probably won't be overwhelmed... (probably)... you'll definitely notice the transition. You should be expecting it however.. and when it hits you, you won't be caught off guard.</p>
<p>Here's a good piece of info concerning UCLA transfer students from the Office of Analysis and Information Management.</p>
<p>"Academic outcomes for UCLA transfer students are comparable to those for students who enter directly from high school: 90% graduate, with an average GPA of 3.22 in UC courses"</p>
<p>The word "comparable" is usually not a good sign... So I'm guessing that 4 years do a little better... keyword being "little"</p>
<p>so as far as why its difficult, is there lots of writing assignments (20 pages papers and what not), and lots of reading to make for a brisk pace of the class? How much is a lot of reading?</p>
<p>pirate...
There is ALLOT of reading at Berkeley, especially if your in the L&S department. Just one of my classes which was a Friday class had three readings a week and each reading was 30-50 pages, 150 pages is not bad if you only have one class but when you are taking 5 classes and some classes have multiple (5-6) books, then it gets hard to schedule in all the reading. Even when I do keep up w/ all the reading some classes have allot of "busy work". </p>
<p>I would have to say that the hardest part of adjustment that first semester was the grading policies, you almost never have a professor grading your work, its always either a GSI (TA) or worse a reader. I am used to it now, but at first I was really irritated by the way allot of them tend to grade, usually w/ little or no feedback or remarks to let you know what you did or how to improve. Not all GSIs are like that but allot are because they are grad students and are so busy that they don't have time. </p>
<p>I agree w/ the earlier post, once you get through that first semester, you'll be fine. It's like being a rookie in the NFL and taking that first "welcome to the NFL" hit..... =)</p>
<p>If you want to get ahead of the curve, look at the course you are taking at CC. Figure out the course equivalent at Berkeley or UCLA or whatever. See what textbook they are using. If they have a website for the class, track what they are doing. See what the assignments are, etc. Try to do what they are doing. Make sure you are doing the same sorts of things. Don't do just enough to get an A at CC, go way beyond that. That will prepare you.</p>
<p>thats a great idea knf,
however one of the problems is that many of the classes do not have textbooks at Cal. Most of the classes have readers that are ordered only by the professors and have to be picked up at a copy store so there is no way to read ahead until you have actually gone to class and got the reader info from the syllabus. The good side to that is the readers that the professors put together are usually allot cheaper than the textbooks.</p>
<p>1 word... owned =.=
especially when some of u mentioned reading...
i guess upperdivision doesn't have sparknotes or gradesavers or anything of that sort aye
owned =.=</p>
<p>I don't think so because I've only seen sparknotes being used for GE type classes. They try to stay one step ahead of the students. Most classes do not have a general website at Cal, most of the class notes and discussions are on bspace which you have to be a registered student and signed up for that particular class in order to access the web information for it.</p>
<p>Plus the reading lists are often not very accurate. In almost every class I've had a couple books dropped and replaced with others as the semester progresses. </p>
<p>I often use sparknotes on top of actually doing the reading. It helps me get a feel for the basic principles of the book so I can use them as a jumping off point for more complex ideas.</p>
<p>All this about readers and bspace is true, though a lot of courses have freely accessible web pages, and readers are more common in upper division courses. So let's say that a course has a reader, but you can't get access to it. Or a course is behind bspace you can't get access to it. What can you do?</p>
<p>You can email the professor, or, if you can figure it out, one of the TAs (GSIs) for the section and ask them what the reading is, what the syllabus is, etc. Or post the question here Our</a> Sturdy Golden Bear or another relevant site for the school of interest.</p>
<p>My point is, be aggressive, be smart, act like a UC student while you are in CC. Don't think because you get an A at CC that you are a star. You aren't. Push yourself way beyond that, and when you arrive at the UC, you will be ready to roll.</p>
<p>i never really understood those 20 page papers, when you spend a lot of time researching, writing, and drafting and one person just reads it and grades it and thats it.</p>
<p>If you're a smart student you will work closely with your GSI's and professors as you write that 20 page paper. It's not just one person "reading it, grading it, and that's it" unless you let it be.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i never really understood those 20 page papers, when you spend a lot of time researching, writing, and drafting and one person just reads it and grades it and thats it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not just that, it's a grad student reading and grading it usually! </p>
<p>Writing a paper helps you develop skills and learn the material. No one will want to read it. There's no way it will be good enough to be worth reading, frankly. But it's what you gain in the process of writing it. Maybe that sounds trite, but I honestly believe it's true.</p>