Hi, I’ve been accepted to UC San Diego for Human Bio and UC Davis for Biochem/Molecular Bio, and I am debating whether to go to these schools or community college. I would like to one day go to med school. I come from a middle-class family and I have the whole 30,000+ tuition/room and board (and yes I have been applying for scholarships but haven’t heard back from any). I don’t want to burden my parents to pay this and take out a hefty student loan. Another option is to go to community college for 2 years and then transfer to a UC to save money (called the TAG program).
If I go to a community college, I would certainly save money, but is it worth missing the college experience, making connections with professors, and possibly missing research/internship opportunities offered at a UC? How hard exactly are 1st/2nd year classes at a UC (weeder classes from what I hear)? Is there anybody who used TAG and what is your experience/ is it worth it? Thank you!
My son went to a community college and then transferred to a UC, not through TAG but just through making sure he was taking transferable classes. He was accepted by more than one UC and had his choice.
As his parent, I appreciated the financial savings. And he made very good connections with his professors at the CC by joining clubs. It wasn’t unusual, for example, to have pizza at the home of his professor who supervised one club in particular and who sometimes would have the club meet at his house.
Another advantage to the CC is that the size of the gen ed classes are much smaller and taught by professors rather than TAs.
Congrats, those are very good programs. The value of the ‘freshman experience’ is highly subjective so, you need to figure it is worth it to you and your family. Neither of my boys would trade it for the world, but, they aren’t you. 4 years at the same school does give you more chances for internships, research and leadership positions in clubs, etc.
I would say that CCs are more variable than most people think when it comes to class availability and the quality of instruction. Some are great, others less so. Talk to existing students about their experience before setting on a campus.
Congrats on your acceptances. Med school is very expensive and typically paid for by loans. One piece of advice usually given to a premed is to go to where you can graduate with as little debt, if any, as possible.
As an undegrad the max student loans you can borrow are 5500 (freshman), 6500 (soph), 7500 both junior/senior years. Any loans above these amounts will require your parents to cosign, meaning your parents will be burdened with this debt.
Most who start premed change career goals and of those that apply 60% fail to get even one acceptance anywhere. What’s your Plan B. There are other careers in health care. If you change your career goals, will having had the college experience be worth the debt to you and parents (maybe, maybe not?). Also consider most California students who get into med school will go to pricey OOS med schools as there are simply not enough slots in California med schools. If you’ve hang on to the money you saved by attending CC, you’ll have money to travel OOS for required med school interviews, if offered one.
Also consider that if you transfer after two years, med schools may look to see that you have completed two years at a four year university before you apply meaning you may have wait to apply until after you graduate and take a gap year or two before applying.
Community college is real college. The college experience can be what you want to make of it. Good luck.
Also take note of the blue and gold opportunity thing for UC students. If you(under 24) and your parents combined fall under an income threshold, you receive grants to cover instate tuition. Also CC is what you make of it. Ive made great friends, worked on campus, been in clubs as well as being president for one, remain in contact with GREAT professors, got an internship(it is possible if you try) and saved ALOT OF MONEY!!! Plus… A good gpa makes you eligible for cal grant monies :3
I went to a junior college for 2 years and transferred to UCD. I have to be honest with you, I did miss out on the college experience my first two years. I also don’t feel as connected to my college after graduation as students who attended all 4 years.
With that said, you really have no other options than to attend a CC and transfer as you and your parents do not have the money to pay for all 4 years and IMO should not take out a 100k+ loan for UG especially if looking to attend grad school.
You say you parents are middle class but full pay? Have they saved anything for your college? It’s a shame that good students like you can’t even afford a state university (UC or CSU).