Should I attend community college for 2 years then transfer to UC Davis or go to CU Boulder?

College Search & Selection
1

Here’s my situation:

My major would be Aerospace engineering.

I have been admitted to and am committed to (I can still cancel) CU Boulder for Pre-Engineering. Pre-Engineering requires you to go to class as a Pre-Engineer for 1-2 years (depending on how well you are doing) then you can transfer to become an actual engineering student. I would hope to transfer in 1 year.

On the other hand I could go to Cuesta College in SLO and using the TAG program for UC’s I could transfer to UC Davis for aerospace engineering. This would require 2 years and achieving a certain GPA (I believe it’s 3.3 or 3.4? I don’t know for sure) and then I would be automatically admitted into UC Davis. If I didn’t achieve the GPA then I could try to transfer to Davis as just another applicant or I could try to transfer into Cal Poly SLO, which has a very high chance of success (not a guarantee though) because Cuesta is the sister school of Cal Poly SLO.

CU Boulder is known for it’s aerospace engineering so that is why it’s not a very obvious choice to transfer to a UC. There are a lot of aerospace companies in Boulder. I’m not so sure about Davis or SLO at this point.

The price for CU Boulder (I am a California resident) would be $46,000 or so a year since I got a small scholarship

The price for Cuesta + UC Davis/SLO would be about $20,000 for the first 2 years then about $30,000 to $40,000 for the next 2.

So here are my questions:

  1. Is any one of the aerospace programs of SLO/Davis/Boulder much better than the others? How good is it at Davis or SLO?
  2. In terms of career opportunities, which is the best? I think I want to live in California since I have lived here all my life, so how easy would it be to get a job for aerospace in California after going to school in Boulder?
  3. I'm not a party animal or anything like that, but would my life be barren of much social activity at Cuesta since I don't live there? I would most likely be in an apartment with one or two roommates.
  4. In terms of value for the program, which aerospace program is the best?
  5. Is the CU Boulder "party school" stereotype applicable to people in the engineering department? Obviously it would be more serious there, but is it on the same level as Davis/SLO?

Anyway, I am fully aware that I am going to get opinionated responses so I will take each one into consideration, but they won’t fully determine my decision I don’t think.

Thank you to anyone who responds!

2

I would go with the Cuesta->UC/SLO option… Except, if you planjed on going to Boulder, you probably don’t have housing and I don’t know how easy it’ll be to find a room in a house with students that Kate in the year, and for what cost. Since you live in California can you go and see if you can find an affordable apt (never pick an apt sight unseen)? Of nothing’s available then your question is moot.

Roughly speaking both Davis and Boulder are superb programs.

3

I would choose Boulder. You get the chance to get out of your comfort zone and go to an excellent university that is known as the full package for a lot of its students.

4

What can you and your parents afford without needing more debt than the federal direct loans?

Is Cuesta your local community college? If so, it probably costs less than $20,000 per year.

Recruiting by companies in California is more likely to favor colleges in California out of convenience. Note that aerospace companies hire mechanical engineers as well. Other California publics besides UCD and CPSLO with aerospace engineering include CPP, CSULB, SDSU, SJSU, UCI, UCLA, and UCSD. Even more have mechanical engineering (check for aerospace electives).

Colorado pre-engineering to engineering requires a 2.7 college GPA (cumulative and technical) with no grade worse than C-: http://www.colorado.edu/pre-engineering/how-pre-engineering-works/transferring-engineering .

5

Have a good long think about your capacity for risk.
Both paths provide you with excellent choices, but Boulder represents a clear ‘bird in the hand,’ as long
as Boulder remains affordable for all four years. The UC/CSU represents a lower-cost, but less certain proposition.
Some people are risk takers, others find it too stressful. Which are you?

That said, should you decide on the CC>UC/CSU route, be sure to meet with a Transfer counselor at Cuesta prior to
registering for classes. The UC’s and the CSU’s have somewhat differing admission requirements.

The engineering requirements for departmental UC admissions (at most of the schools), do not require a tradition CC>IGETC course progression (which they waive). But not fulfilling all of the IGETC requirements may make you ineligible for CSU admission, unless you extend your time at Cuesta (summers? another year?) to take all of the requisite classes. Again, these issues are easily sorted by a Transfer counselor, but it’s best to register for classes with a clear path in mind.

I like the suggestion of MYOS1634 above, who said go to the area around Cuesta and see if housing is even possible or financially practical. The housing shortage in or about many CC’s is of concern, since most CC students already live close to their campuses. The housing issue could make your decision for you.

6

Regarding IGETC, the IGETC pattern closely resembles the CSU GE requirements, so completing it is desirable for CSU transfer. UCs often have different GE requirements and may not necessarily accept IGETC, although some courses taken for IGETC purposes may fulfill some of the GE requirements at those UCs.

7

Cal Poly aerospace engineering is a large department with a strong reputation (due in part to Bert Rutan). It’s one of the most popular engineering majors on campus. According to College Navigator, Cal Poly issued 81 BS degrees in this field in 2015-16, which is more than Davis (42) or Colorado (69). My understanding is that CP is attractive to corporate recruiters, because of the large number of graduates and CP’s emphasis on practical skills.

Cuesta College is located outside San Luis Obispo, a few miles from Cal Poly. SLO is a relatively small town and there is some degree of social integration; many private apartment complexes house both CP and Cuesta students. Cuesta is the single largest “feeder” to Cal Poly; several hundred students transfer from Cuesta to CP every year.

The second largest feeder to CP is Allan Hancock College, which is located in Santa Maria, about 30 miles south of SLO. Santa Maria is not nearly as fun or attractive as SLO, but has lower rents and fewer distractions. In terms of transfer acceptance rates at Cal Poly, Hancock has outperformed Cuesta (and all other CCs) for the past 16 years. This year, Hancock students had a 64% acceptance rate at CP, while the Cuesta rate was 46%.
http://lompocrecord.com/news/local/hancock-celebrates-highest-student-transfer-rate-to-cal-poly/article_d0384715-46c4-561e-b6d3-6cc7e4e8fb5b.html

8

Have you visited CU Boulder? Many people fall in love with the area, and while the housing prices have been going up for a while they’re still significantly smaller than in comparable CA cities.

9

How does the cost differential get paid, from your parents’ savings&income, or from loans?

10

Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo. It’s about 5 miles from Cal Poly SLO (or a 10 minute car ride).

11

“I would go with the Cuesta->UC/SLO option… Except, if you planjed on going to Boulder, you probably don’t have housing and I don’t know how easy it’ll be to find a room in a house with students that Kate in the year, and for what cost. Since you live in California can you go and see if you can find an affordable apt (never pick an apt sight unseen)? Of nothing’s available then your question is moot.
Roughly speaking both Davis and Boulder are superb programs.”

Yeah I already signed up for housing at Boulder, but I wouldn’t expect everything to be gone in SLO. Maybe it is though

“I would choose Boulder. You get the chance to get out of your comfort zone and go to an excellent university that is known as the full package for a lot of its students.”

I’ve definitely put into consideration which one has the full package. I think you’re right.

"What can you and your parents afford without needing more debt than the federal direct loans?

Is Cuesta your local community college? If so, it probably costs less than $20,000 per year.

Recruiting by companies in California is more likely to favor colleges in California out of convenience. Note that aerospace companies hire mechanical engineers as well. Other California publics besides UCD and CPSLO with aerospace engineering include CPP, CSULB, SDSU, SJSU, UCI, UCLA, and UCSD. Even more have mechanical engineering (check for aerospace electives).

Colorado pre-engineering to engineering requires a 2.7 college GPA (cumulative and technical) with no grade worse than C-: http://www.colorado.edu/pre-engineering/how-pre-engineering-works/transferring-engineering ."

Cuesta is not my local community college. I knew that California companies will favor California colleges but perhaps I could still get a job in California or join a company in Colorado and then work from California. I would try for the accelerated program to transfer from Pre-Engineering to Engineering at Boulder which requires (i think) a gpa of 3.3 or above.

“Have you visited CU Boulder? Many people fall in love with the area, and while the housing prices have been going up for a while they’re still significantly smaller than in comparable CA cities.”

I did, I definitely liked it. The main problem is just the price I guess.

“How does the cost differential get paid, from your parents’ savings&income, or from loans?”

My parents would pay most of it. We have a lot of savings pent up to pay for it and loans would be last effort.

Thanks all for the responses

12

Cal Poly SLO isn’t the only college town with a CC nearby. You could do the CC → UC/CSU path by attending SBCC in the Santa Barbara area, attend a CC in the San Diego area, etc. So if you want some of the college experience while attending a CC and your concern is housing you have more choices than just Cuesta.

Not sure where you get these numbers from unless you’re not a CA resident. Davis lists CA resident cost as $35K, SLO says $26K

13

Frankly a no brainer for me, CU Boulder has the better AE program and you’re already admitted. As long as the cost isn’t an issue then go to CU. As far as a party school, engineers don’t have the same amount of free time as the school of arts and parties, its always interesting when someone asks about the party scene as if they would be forced to participate.

Also CU Boulder is a “recruited school” for aerospace engineering so getting a job in CA shouldn’t be a problem.

14

“Cal Poly SLO isn’t the only college town with a CC nearby. You could do the CC -> UC/CSU path by attending SBCC in the Santa Barbara area, attend a CC in the San Diego area, etc. So if you want some of the college experience while attending a CC and your concern is housing you have more choices than just Cuesta.”

That’s true but I would want to got to the feeder school for Cal Poly because then I have a good chance of getting in there and getting in at a UC through the TAG program.

“Not sure where you get these numbers from unless you’re not a CA resident. Davis lists CA resident cost as $35K, SLO says $26K”

I guess I didn’t really think about SLO’s price but the 30K-40K price range is true for Davis and it’ll be more expensive 2 years from now as they are raising prices year by year for some reason.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I am leaning towards CU Boulder at this point.

15

If your parents can afford CU Boulder without loans and you’re already in, then CU.

Note however that a 2.7(let alone3.3) is magnitudes harder to achieve in college than high school, especially in engineering.

16

It still is not clear whether you can afford CU.

Also, if money is really tight, you could commute to a local community college the first two years.

17

My 2 cents worth of advice is also attend CU if affordable.

Both son’s had friends determined to get into SLO engineering (not admitted as Freshman). They also did Cuesta College and tried to transfer into SLO. One was not successful after 2 years and stayed an additional year and finally transferred in to Agricultural Engineering/Bio Resource since his GPA was not competitive for the other Engineering majors. 2nd friend was successful in transferring to UCI not SLO with a 3.6 CC GPA at Cuesta. SLO turned him down for ME.

Both were non-local so parents ended spending around $18K/year for attending Cuesta and living in the SLO area.
COA for non-local in-state resident costs on the Cuesta Website is $19,675 (living off-campus).

18

Sadly, you will probably not receive any preference for attending Cuesta.

Rules differ by CSU campus and you can see them all at http://www.calstate.edu/sas/onestopkiosk/documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf It turns out that some say its enough to attend the local CC to get the local benefit but SLO specifically talks about “home domicile” and not what CC you attended.

Yet you wrote “Cuesta is not my local community college.” So unless you live in the “San Luis Obispo County and region north of Gaviota in Santa Barbara County” area it seems you will get no preference from enrolling at Cuesta. It behooves you to check with SLO admissions regarding your plans before assuming it works the way you said.

19

“My 2 cents worth of advice is also attend CU if affordable.



Both son’s had friends determined to get into SLO engineering (not admitted as Freshman). They also did Cuesta College and tried to transfer into SLO. One was not successful after 2 years and stayed an additional year and finally transferred in to Agricultural Engineering/Bio Resource since his GPA was not competitive for the other Engineering majors. 2nd friend was successful in transferring to UCI not SLO with a 3.6 CC GPA at Cuesta. SLO turned him down for ME.



Both were non-local so parents ended spending around $18K/year for attending Cuesta and living in the SLO area.

COA for non-local in-state resident costs on the Cuesta Website is $19,675 (living off-campus).”





Thank you that helps a lot. It’s sad but it shows how it can go badly. I don’t think I’ll take the risk of CC transfer.