Should I stay at community college an additional year?

Transfer Students
1

Hi,

I’m currently attending Palomar College, a community college in San Diego County, and am looking for a little directional advice. I understand the question I am about to pose is to be personally concluded by myself, but I feel blind to all of the possibilities I might not be considering.

I currently hold a 3.83 cumulative GPA in my general coursework and a 4.0 in coursework that falls under my major: English. I am looking to apply to UCSC, UCSB, UCLA, and UC Berkley. I am also going to apply to Stanford and some of the Ivy League schools. I’m aware of the selectivity of these schools especially in accordance with transfer students, but what are goals and dreams if you do not set and chase them?

Anyway, the question:
Should I stay at my community college for an additional year due to personal interest? I feel as if I am ready to move on to a more rigorous and challenging education, but I also feel as if I am not ready and would like a more solid and broad foundation.

I am not sure from what these conflicting thoughts stem: maybe I feel cheated for not trying my best in high school? Maybe I fear failing? I’m not entirely sure. The possibilities of such origins are limitless.

I have been told by my professors that I am ready, that I have a “rare gift,” yada, yada, yada. This is not to hold myself in high esteem, but I mention this because I feel the opposite and feel as if I need more time to nurture myself in lower division coursework before I move on to bigger things. I also love learning, and feel as if I would cheat myself and regret such choices in the future if I were to move on without remaining at my community college for an extra year.

–What are your thoughts/personal experiences/opinions?

–I checked with the UC schools and they said I could obtain 1,000 credits from a junior college and would still be able to transfer. I’m not worried about exceeding any “limits.” Unless I’m overlooking something with the Ivy leagues?

–What factors am I overlooking by staying at a community college for a period longer than my general requirements require? Did you stay for longer? Did you transfer on time?

–Any other insights on anything else would be great also. I am the first in my family to attend college, so I am quite naïve to the college route.

Thank you so much in advance.

2

How many credits have you earned so far?

3

I’ve earned 52 credits and will be taking 15 this coming fall semester

4

Well you’ll have to go this semester to reach the 60 transferable, and that’s for fall 2016 admission. So apply this fall, and take whatever you want in spring. Your GPA seems solid. But there’s no point stretching it beyond that. Remember, only 70 semester units will transfer over.