Questions about transfer between community colleges

Hi, guys

I am a community college student in MA. I want to transfer to UC Berkeley as a physics major. I am gonna graduate from the current community college with associate degree of physics in spring 18. However, I do not think I can pay out-state tuition in California. Also, UC prefers to accept students from California community colleges. According to the official website, over 90% of accepted transfer students of Berkeley were from there in Fall 16. So I am planning to transfer to a California community college, HOWEVER, I have to be a community college student one or more years to gain the associate degree. What do you think I should do? Two more questions; If I transfer, what happens to my GPA and how does this affect to my transfer admission?

Thank you

How much can your parents pay per year? You can’t get state rates in CA just by going to community college there. Why don’t you finish college in MA?

@“aunt bea” OP can’t get state rates in CA if he moves there for college, can he? Do we have a thread pinned somewhere with that info. in it? If not, maybe we should ask for one.

@Ausitnmshauri, you are correct that the OP can’t get instate rates because he is coming to California for educational purposes.
@TLearner, if you cannot afford the OOS rates for California UC’s ($60K per year) it would not be a good idea to try to transfer because you will be charged those OOS rates. Transferring to a California community college won’t guarantee that you will get into Berkeley, and you will also have to pay OOS rates for the community college (priority admissions goes to entering freshman then CCC transfers; hey had over 100K applications this year).

There is no financial aid for OOS students.

Look at the UC information for more detailed specifics:
http://ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/uc-residence-policy.pdf#page=17

OP you may want to check the link that describes the California information:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/california-colleges/1802004-so-you-want-to-come-to-california-for-college-p1.html