<p>Hi. I'm currently a senior in high school in Hawaii.
I am planning to go to Santa Monica College in California and hopefully be able to transfer to UCLA or any better colleges. <em>UC Berkeley if possible</em> ^_^</p>
<p>So I'm wondering, what exactly does it take to get to my final goal?
Also, is it really HARD to get 3.8 or above in Santa Monica College?</p>
<p>I'm taking AP Calc and Bio currently and have been taking AP classes during my previous years as well.</p>
<p>Could I get some feedback on my way to UC Universities?</p>
<p>SMC isn’t different from other colleges. The only difference is that half the world attends this school and it’s REALLY REALLY difficult to get classes. Parking is an absolute nightmare and traffic is 10x worse because there are 33,000 (an approximate figure that seems to be increasing every year) other students trying to get to the same campus. The cost of living in Santa Monica and surrounding areas is just redonkulous. Maybe slightly cheaper than Hawaii but still really ridiculous. I regret ever enrolling in this school but since I am already here, I am going to finish it. The quality of education you receive does not depend on the college, but the professors they employ. I’ve had a number of crappy professors and a number of fantastic professors – most of them are adjunct, meaning they are part-time and make a living by teaching at other colleges as well.</p>
<p>The only upside to attending SMC is that UCs give priority consideration to local residents, which can also be achieved if you attended LACC, WLAC, LA Valley, etc.</p>
<p>I have to give it to SMC though – they have a really good marketing team and I credit them for attracting so many students all over the country and the world.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in reading my survival guide to being a first-time student at SMC, let me know and I will link you (yes, I actually wrote one).</p>
<p>The reason SMC gets away with boasting they send the most transfers out into the world is because they have the most students!</p>
<p>There’s no reason to go to SMC; in fact, I recommend you go live somewhere where the CC isn’t impacted beyond belief, and where you won’t be forced to stay any longer than necessary, due to lame stuff like classes being full of lowlifes who end up dropping the class anyway. (Mini-rant here: I added a class for this Winter semester, which I’m happy about, but I wasn’t even on the waitlist, and if it weren’t for my knowing the professor beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have made it in . . . and now, three weeks in, half of the seats are empty, and this isn’t the exception but the rule, my friend! ****es me off to no end, but only when I get to thinking about it . . . as I am right now.)</p>
<p>Use [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) to check community colleges’ course articulation with each UC and CSU in the majors you are interested in. It is better to choose a community college that covers a larger number of courses needed for the UC or CSU and major you are interested in, so you won’t have to do as much “catch up” after transfer.</p>
<p>Often, community colleges local to a UC or CSU align their courses with that of the local UC or CSU, so there may be some advantage to attending one local to the target UC or CSU. But check [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) to be sure for your particular major. It is ok to take courses at multiple community colleges before transfer (e.g. if you want to go to Berkeley CS, a combination of Laney and Diablo Valley courses will maximize coverage of prerequisites).</p>
<p>Santa Monica probably models some of its courses after nearby UCLA.</p>
<p>I’d pick IVC irvine valley or OCC orange coast. The only advantage of SMC is its proximity to UCLA. They have slightly higher transfer rates than the other schools. I’d definitely do the honors program/TAP if you want to go to UCLA.</p>
<p>UCs do not give priority to local CC students. I think you are thinking of CSUs. Also I remember reading that Moorpark College has the highest UC/CSU transfer rate based on enrollment but it doesn’t really matter where you go as long as it is a CCC.</p>
<p>Wow… thank you for all your comments.
I’ll reply one by one. @Stephen91: My major is nursing. @Uchappytrain: Oh wow, I had no idea that classes would be hard to get in this school. @annikabirnbaum: May I have your survival guide too? ^_^;; @briceies: I am possibly looking for a place to rent. Could you recommend a CC that is possibly “not as bad as it sounds” like SMC? @ucbalumnus: I’ll make sure to check out the link you have given. Thank you very much. @UCLAProspect: IVC Irvine sounds like a good college too. I will try my own research as well to get more information. Thank you for your reply.</p>
<p>it doesn’t really matter what CC you go to. Although I do really like my CC (Santa Barbara City College) and we were recently ranked within the top 10 community college in the united states… The only CC in California to be on the list. Also I rarely have issues getting any classes since its in a very wealthy area with lots of donors.</p>
<p>1) Goto a Big CC–like SMC–with lots of clubs and student organizations and get involved with them because it’ll boost your ECs.
2) Study for the math placement test and place directly in statistics or calculus (depending on your major).
3) CHOOSE A MAJOR EARLY, i.e. by the start of your second semester.
a) Use Assist.org to figure out what classes you need to take.
4) Priority is based on units completed
a.) Enroll in Summer and Winter Sessions to boost priority and take classes that would be difficult to enroll in the regular semester.
b) Take easy professors your first semester: these classes are usually night classes no one wants or huge classes in lecture halls.
c) Avoid hard subjects–such as English–your first semester because you lack priority and take them when you can enroll with better professors.
5) For UCs a W is better than B so feel free to drop classes if they boost your GPA. (yes it’s unethical but it works)
6) If you plan on attending UCLA enroll in TAP/Honors/Scholars program. </p>
<p>I need to disagree with some if the above.
My two cents:
You don’t have to be in one of the top CCs at all. In fact SMC is very impacted so it’s harder to get into some classes. One reason their numbers are higher is because more are applying.
It’s great if you directly place in statistics, but if not, no biggie, just take the int algebra or whatever. UCs only care about grades.
Try not to accumulate a lot of Ws. Having Ws every semester may not be a deal killer but doesn’t present you in a good light. Use it if necessary, but don’t make it a strategy. Using rate my professor should eliminate that need. If a teacher has a bad rating do not take that class even if it means totally reworking your schedule. Take this seriously - its’s crucial!
Not sure about holding off English. It isn’t hard for a lot of people. You decide. It’s good to get them out of the way.
Take harder classes evenings and summer. They are notoriously easier due to time restraints, plus profs aren’t into working hard in summer. Use Rate my Professor to choose!
Try and get major req done by fall before transferring. It isn’t crucial, but it’s great if you don’t have to be worrying about their grades last semester.
Make sure your last semester courses have a lot of options so you don’t get painted in a corner. For instance, to avoid a time conflict try not to take two needed courses where there is only one class offered in each. If possible, and if you are doing IGETC and you don’t need life or physical science for your major, consider taking them both last semester (tons of options) and even taking them P/NP. Easy-peasy final semester.
TAP is not that crucial. It’s not a guarantee and makes more work and harder to get good grades. Tons of folks get in without it. Your call.
