SJSU vs CC trying to Transfer to a UC

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>First of all, I'm not a total noob on college stuff. I know that UC's favor CC's over 4 year colleges. But lately I've had an extremely hard time trying to decide between SJSU and DVC. First of all, what I would like to know is from which school is it easier to transfer to a top UC (meaning to the top 3)? The reason I ask this is 2 things:
--> SJSU has a 9% 4 year retention rate. Which means that 91% either drop out or transfer out. I'm pretty sure not that many people drop out. I'm guessing most of those people transfer out to UC's.
--> There are a lot more people that make it in from CC's every year, but there are also a lot more people that apply from CC's. A lot less people apply from CSU, so less competition
So considering these, which one do you think it would be easier to transfer out of?</p>

<p>Also, my second question is this. At which place is it harder to get the classes you want? I've heard frightening stories about people having to stay for 3 or 4 years at community colleges because they couldn't get all their required classes in. Is this even common? Like do a lot of people have to stay for an extra year or two at CC's? I called the UC transfer center about this and the guy on the line started getting mad at me and told me "do you think its easy to get classes at CSU's?" so its apparently hard to get classes there too, but what I'm wondering is at which place do I have a better chance of transferring out after 2 years?</p>

2

<p>No, the kids at SJSU are not transferring out to the UCs. The UCs are mandated to take CCC transfer students first. And by the time the UCs take all the CCC transfer students that are pounding at their doors, there is literally no room left to take any CSU students. CSU students are a very small, rare percentage of transfer students to UCs these days. Put another way, the UCs figure that a CSU student has a 4-year degree path in hand already, whereas a CCC student is maxed out after 2 years and NEEDS to transfer to a UC. If you are at any CSU (SJSU or other) you will be at the bottom bottom bottom of the transfer pile and have a low transfer rank.</p>

<p>I think you are trying to grasp at straws for reasons to attend SJSU over a CCC for the first two years. The numbers are against you. The UCs just aren’t looking at CSU transfers. Before you go to SJSU, try to find some real stats on how many CSU students get into the UCs these days, because from everything I have read, it is a downright rarity.</p>

<p>As for SJSU’s terribly low retention rate, I would be more inclined to believe that most these people just fade-away rather than end up at UCs.</p>

<p>I think both CSUs and CCCs are similarly impacted, meaning, plan for 2 years but be ready for 3 years at <em>either</em> institution type. The problem of 3 years should not be blamed solely on lack of class offerings, though that certainly is a hurdle for most students. Students get delayed for many reasons such as having to take pre-college level math or english classes, having to repeat failed courses, taking a low course load, missing a sequence class and having to wait another year to start the sequence, accidentally taking too many classes in a category, being too picky about times/days a class is offered, dropping classes mid-semester, etc.</p>

<p>If you want to get through in 2 years or as close to, consider enrolling in 2 CCCs and juggling classes that way. I know someone who went almost fulltime at one CCC and used a second CCC to squeeze in a few extra classes that weren’t available at the first. One has to get creative.</p>

<p>And in the end, I think considering that you are using the public college system and it is under a huge strain, that you are wanting something that might not exist right now, which is a “guarantee” of getting done in 2 years. If you want a guarantee, then go to a private college that isn’t having budget problems. Not trying to be harsh, but it is like whipping an old horse to run faster when it is lame and has thrown a shoe. It’s just an unrealistic and unfair expectation.</p>

<p>So–CCC all the way. Not even close. If you get top grades at a CCC, the top-ranked UCs will open their doors for transfer. That can not be said about CSU transfers, even those with top grades.</p>

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<p>According to data [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.oir.sjsu.edu/Students/RetnGrad/default.cfm]here[/url”&gt;http://www.oir.sjsu.edu/Students/RetnGrad/default.cfm]here[/url</a>], the four year retention rate for fall 2004 freshmen is 64%, but the four year graduation rate is only 8% (graduation rate is about 46% after six years).</p>

<p>There are a lot of reasons why a student would not graduate in four years, not all of which reflect poorly on the student (e.g. semester off at a co-op job, which is somewhat common in engineering).</p>

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<p>@annikasorrensen how would transfer applications work if I took classes at two community colleges? Would everything still be the same? So does that mean even if I transfer from SJSU I might have to stay 3 years also?</p>

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<p>@OP: I was on the same boat as you and I would seriously recommend getting out of SJSU if you’re planning to transfer out. And yes, expect to wait at least 1-2 years before you can transfer out to a CC. And go to Foothill College, most of classes there are available.</p>

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<p>You have a statistically better chance to get into a UC from a CCC. It’s up to you, but those are the facts. Keep in mind, though, I personally know and have heard of many people that have gotten into UCs from CSUs, but do you want to risk it? What’s the benefit of attending SJSU as opposed to a CCC?</p>

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<p>If you have transcripts from more than one CCC, when it comes time to send in transcripts you send transcripts from each individual CCC. The online application for UC transfer will have places for you to list all prior colleges–this is not unusual or weird at all and the application even anticipates this possibility.</p>