<p>I've just attended orientation at Santa Monica College and started to feel some serious regret about my selection. Apparently (from what a few people told me) SMC is more competitive than most CCCs. This ofcourse translates into tougher grading/assignments etc. I was wondering if it was true and it would be great if anyone can confirm this with me. Does it make any difference come time to transfer? I try not to think about it but it's been bugging me ever since I got here, so if anyone who's attending right now can give some insight it would be great.</p>
<p>i don't think it makes much of a difference. if anything, a tougher JC will help you prepare for the University level. My friend went to SMC and now she's at UCLA. But she did have a good time at SMC and partied a LOT. if you dont' like your first semester there then maybe u should concider a different school.</p>
<p>LOL. I have not attended any other CCC, so i can't make a substantiated comparisons. </p>
<p>If u pick the right classes w/ the right teachers, u should be more than fine. </p>
<p>Look at ratemyprofessor.com</p>
<p>And then ask me</p>
<p>U're in luck a lot of classes have been opened b/c student didn't pay. :)</p>
<p>Yeah part of the problem lies in the limited course selection I have this semester. I was walking around campus and it just screamed high school for some reason. The people roaming around didn't look all that concerned with academics either. The campus or should I say campuses look pretty beat down. I guess I expected mroe since they advertise the #1 in California all the time. I do hope it gets better but as it stands right now I'm not all that optimistic.</p>
<p>RATM, u realize that 98% of the students are not on campus...</p>
<p>Summer semester has 95% of the classes 6 weeks, which ended last friiday.</p>
<p>5% of the classes are 8 weeks... which are mostly night classes</p>
<p>but i really really wish campus was like this all this... </p>
<p>Trust me first two weeks will be crazy, and crowded, then all the non serious students vanish...</p>
<p>But yea right most of the people there non serious HS students... especially at the welcome center...</p>
<p>but a lot of good classes are still open... getting into one is crucial.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I'm scouring the internet for professor reviews since ratemyprofessors.com is down right now. It's just really hard for me to get enthusiastic about school when I see the campus and some of the students there. I don't even want to think about how crowded it will get. I gotta ask you...how do you cope with it? I'm trying to find housing right now without much luck.</p>
<p>RATM, if we're to be honest, it's hard to get enthusiastic about any community college. They are in general commuter schools without beautiful campuses. What you can and should get enthusiastic about is that at least in CA, they set you up to go to a UC very easily if you do a decent job at one. So it all gets better!</p>
<p>agree w. zagat. I hate CCC. How do i cope w/ it??? Um, not easy lol. Especially since more friends are leaving now. I spent a lot of time doing nothing, i do enjoy sports so thats my biggest escape... Do get depressed sometimes though</p>
<p>Just don't freak out first couple of days, it won't be enjoyable... to say the least. or at least it wasn't for me.</p>
<p>RATM, nothing to worry about. When I started CC I was in a similaar situation. I attended a CC (Deanza) which also has a reputation of being competitive. But you will realize that this will prepare you better for the Univs. Also, I strongly believe that the Univ admissions will take into to account the rigor/quality/etc. How else would you explain 100s of acceptees from De Anza and SMC compared to 0-10 on most of the other CCs.</p>
<p>Just take interest in what you do...you will do fine.</p>
<p>I love my CC, which is one of the top-ranked in the country. I know it's preparing me well for transferring. If nothing else, look at it that way.</p>
<p>"They are in general commuter schools without beautiful campuses."</p>
<p>The CC's I went to were gorgeous and I didnt feel like I was missing out on the college experience at all. They all had really good environment and always had cool campus activities to get involved in. Join a club you build a network of friends and make your experience at the cc that much more great. I was involved with the political science club and we attended several rallies outside of school and t.v. taping in hollywood to raise money for our club someone always offers you a ride and school seems easier this way. </p>
<p>I agree with SMC its very impersonal and makes you feel insignificant with the absorbant amount of non academic students that attend there because of its good rep. as a transfer friendly school. Many of my friends got in to Ivy, UC and other good schools out of these two that I attended you'll love them both gurantee it worth taking a class at either one of them:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pasadena.edu%5B/url%5D">www.pasadena.edu</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.lamission.edu%5B/url%5D">www.lamission.edu</a> (Awesome campus life and beautiful area)</p>
<p>I agree. My CC is absolutely gorgeous, has great students, and I'm sorry I don't have time to participate in all of the clubs and student organizations available to me. I spent much of last semester feeling sad that I couldn't go to all of our special events and programs. College is what you make of it, and that includes at community colleges.</p>
<p>Isn't Cabrillo a good CCC? I'm from Connecticut, but I always hear good things about that school.</p>
<p>mexbruin- I actually got the chance to visit Pasedena City College and comparing that to SMC (asthetic wise) is clearly night and day. Pasedena does hold some resembelance to a real uni because of its big campus and new buildings. Maybe it was my initial reaction when I saw the run down buildings of SMC that made me think in such a way. I'm pretty sure the academics there will be fine. I've got my sights set on USC and hopefully I'll be able to pull it off... UC's are out of the question for me since I'm a business major and only Berkeley and Riverside offer this. </p>
<p>To those attending CCC. Have you considered looking beyong UC's and into privates outside of California?</p>
<p>Honestly RATM if your goal is USC you should defiantely try to make an attempt to attend PCC it is #1 in transfers to SC. It is a really aesthetically pleasing campus and has grown so much to lead to speculation about being turned to a cal state which I doubt but if it did it would be one of the best CSU's right off the bat.</p>
<p>I'm actually thinking about holding out for next semester... I really can't see myself happy there at the moment. Would I technically be a continuing college student then (if I didn't take any classes BUT registered)? I've never stepped foot in a SMC classroom. This is an important question because I'm an international student.</p>
<p>mex, kind of funny, i've heard people say same about SMC, turning it into UC or CSU...</p>
<p>But it's just too small. </p>
<p>I wish they would do it... Most science teachers there have Phd and level of dificulty is similar to UC.. Hell the bio classes are harder people even go to ucla to take it...</p>
<p>also i am pretty sure SMC is # 1 in transfers to USC as well mostly b.c the # of students who apply...</p>
<p>Can't wait to get the hell out of there though</p>
<p>It's still a CC....and that's all i'm gonna say about that...</p>
<p>but if their courseload is tougher than the average then that shouldn't hurt your chances in the slightest...I'm sure the Admissions Officers at the UCs know this</p>
<p>i asked one and she said it makes no difference...</p>
<p>Similar to HS, some HS are worse than others, but UC don't give priority to the better ones...</p>
<p>it would be just too unfair to low budget smaller CC</p>