<p>Hi, I'm going to attend a CC next fall. Now, I'm not sure which to attend.
I live about 20 miles away from SMC. Add moderate Los Angeles traffic into that equation. I also live about ten minutes away from PCC. My problem is I don't know if I should make the sacrifice and attend SMC, considering they have a high transfer rate, or just stick it out and attend PCC. I'm naturally drawn to SMC because it seems like it's a great school specifically for transfers, and my plan is to transfer to a UC or USC after my two years there. Also, it's nearly impossible to get necessary classes at PCC, or so I've been told.
I know I can get a ride to SMC and can take a bus home. What do you guys think? Is SMC really not as hyped up as it appears to be? It also seems like I might be able to make some friends if I attend Santa Monica College since there are so many people with similar goals, and because, well, social lives are important too right? :)
Opinions are greatly appreciated! I plan on majoring in Communications if that helps.</p>
<p>Go to the cc that is closer.</p>
<p>As someone that’s commuted all over northern LA county area and attended 5 different community colleges, I would NOT encourage you to commute to SMC every day. You don’t realize it, but it does take a significant amount of time out of your day that you could be devoting to studying or something much more productive. It’s also tiring sitting in traffic for hours. </p>
<p>Would you be commuting from Pasadena? Because that drive along the 101 / 405 is terrible. Depending on what time of day you’re commuting that can take you over an hour just one way each day. That’s potentially two hours a day just commuting. </p>
<p>Also, transfer rates are IRRELEVANT. They really are, for example, the transfer rate to UCLA for most of the major CCs in LA area is around 25-35%. SMC likes to throw out the stat that they send more students to UCLA/other UCs than other local CCs, but it’s only because they have more enrolled students (something that’s actually a problem because they’re overcrowded and classes can be hard to come by). The actual admit percentage for SMC isn’t much higher than surrounding CCs. They all flip flop every year on which had a higher percent than the others. There isn’t going to be any significant difference between a PCC or Glendale or Pierce College or SMC 20 miles away. PCC is more than a sufficient college to transfer from that’s going to have all the resources you need. Your ability to transfer comes down to YOU. It really does. Your performance in and out of the classroom and the research you put into the transfer process. Research meaning checking and prioritizing your requirements using websites like Assist.org, taking requirements for TAP/TAG programs to increase your chances at getting admitted, talking with admissions reps that come to campus, even posting here at College Confidential is a huge resource (you’ll learn a lot, we all do). </p>
<p>My experience is no major CC is really better than another, unless one doesn’t offer all the courses you need to transfer. Some of the smaller ones like LA Mission can have less resources, but PCC is a big, established college and is going to offer every single class you need to transfer. I went to GCC (Glendale) a few miles away and took a chemistry courses at PCC and it isn’t lacking anything that I’ve seen at any of the four other CCs I’ve been to. Just a word of advice, classes are going to be hard to come by EVERYWHERE. Especially your first couple semesters because you have the worst registration dates as an incoming freshman. Don’t feel like you have to take classes at only ONE CC if you need a class. The people that transfer the quickest tend to take classes at multiple CCs, where ever we could get classes. Probably 30% of the students at PCC and GCC go back and forth lol. Feel free to ask me any questions if you want, I was admitted to all of the UCs except Berkeley (my fault) and took the majority of my classes at Glendale CC just a few miles from PCC.</p>
<p>very well said dilapidatedmind</p>
<p>im attend four diff cc across california and it sucks up alot of time traveling FOR SURE</p>
<p>I attend pcc and my first semester it was easy to get all my classes you got to know how the system works and check when classes are open. I believe now they give freshmen priority which I don’t understand. Overall pcc is great they have a lot of great programs. What SMC doesn’t offer is Math path which you take two math courses in one semester. I would say go to the closer cc spend less money on gas SMC has a lot of traffic. Any questions ask me</p>
<p>Don’t forget to check [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) to see which CC has better coverage for the courses you need for your target campuses and majors.</p>
<p>PCC has a program for high school students that have over 3.0 gpa. I don’t know the specifics but I do believe it helps with your registration times.</p>
<p>Dilapidatedmind is 100% correct. Students always seem to be looking for some school that has the magic juice that makes things work out. You see this all the time when people ask what is the best school for premed, as if it’s the school and not their effort that will make the difference. Follow the advice in post #3 and you’ll be fine; Simply show up at Santa Monica and expect it all to work out and I’ll bet you’ll be disappointed</p>
<p>And just in case you’re not convinced, there is a table from UCLA that shows the admit rate based on the community college the student applied from. Pierce versus Santa Monica? Essentially the same. [Profile</a> of Transfers from CA Cmty Colls - 12 Fall - UCLA Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof12_CAcc.htm]Profile”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_tr/Tr_Prof12_CAcc.htm)</p>