Some Questions About UC Transfers

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I am currently a junior in high school (will be a senior after summer is over) and I have been thinking about doing a 2 year transfer program. However, I have a lot of questions and am not too sure about this decision. I hope some of you will take the time to help me out by answering (:</p>

<p>My GPA is decent (3.3-3.5 unweighted) and I can probably score 2000+ on my SATS (Got a 1840 first try). Should I just go to whatever UC I get into (probably UCR or Merced) or should I do 2 years at a CC and try to get into a better school such as UCB or UCLA? </p>

<p>If transferring in as a junior, do the SATs & SAT IIs matter at all? How heavily do they look upon your high school transcript?</p>

<p>Does going to a CC away from home defeat the purpose of going to a CC? D: There are two fairly good CCs near my home (Foothill & De Anza) but I really, really, really do not want to stay at home and live with my parents.. lol. Would there be any kind of academic benefit if I go to PCC or SMC? </p>

<p>For those of you in CC, do you feel you've missed out socially? (Sorry if this question has been asked so many times before) If you are or were in CC, do you regret your decision at all? Are you glad you chose that path? Why? </p>

<p>How much money are you guys saving by going to CC annually compared to going to a UC? (Including housing, food, tuition, etc., Also consider the average amount of grants given to UC applicants when getting your savings)</p>

<p>For those not living at home, how much is your yearly living expense? (Food, tuition, rent, gas, everything). </p>

<p>For those living at home, how much is your yearly living expense? (Food, tuition, rent, gas, everything). </p>

<p>About how much in grants can you get for going to a CC? My family is fairly well off ($100K+ before taxes, 4 member family, living in a $2million dollar house x_x. But we're still not "rich" or anything) Would my grant/scholarships/loans be more if they knew I would be living by myself? </p>

<p>If you're still reading, thank you for your time ;P
I would really, really appreciate it if you guys would take the time to answer my questions. </p>

<p>Please also share any CC experiences if you'd like.</p>

<p>Thanks again! :)</p>

2

<p>Hi! Welcome to the board!~ </p>

<p>UC Merced has a two year program for you to get into UC Berkeley, I have heard of it (Bobcat to Bear Option) or something like it but I’m not sure how you have to get into the program~</p>

<p>I suggest you try going to CCC two years, to save lots of money (if you need it, by your post it seems like you dont)! I know it might seem like a long time, but trust me, the years fly by. I don’t think it’s THAT bad staying with your parents a little while longer… </p>

<p>Foothill and De Anza are great, I wouldn’t miss out on that opportunity. Oh! SATs and SAT IIs are not used in transfer admission process, so don’t worry about, save a couple of bucks! haha! </p>

<p>Lastly…I do not feel bad about not going to a 4 year right after high school, i got accepted, but i feel much more prepared and ready going from ccc to UC now, and for me personally I feel great about it! :smiley: I would have really gone off unprepared (I think, for myself) if I went from hs–>UC. My opinion! </p>

<p>whatever you decide to do, hope it helps!</p>

3

<p>I totally agree with Yunie…going to a cc before UC was a great decision thinking back on my highschool self now. i really do feel more prepared going from a cc to UC…i think i was just too immature mentally (even if i didnt realize it at the time) to be on my own like that. having to figure out my education on my own at de anza helped me become a lot more responsible for my life. </p>

<p>i was sad that i wouldn’t get to experience “dorm life” like all my friends…but then i realized that UCLA/UCB/UCSD has transfer housing…so i feel like i saved the money and still get to experience it all . i have to admit though, since everyone is so “on the go” at ccs…its not as social as highschool might be (where you see your friends everyday) or at UC’s (where you’ll be forced to see ppl in dorms everyday). especially since you might start to make friends and then poof! the quarters over and you go your separate ways. so its up to you to work at making friends…or just take classes with friends you already have. </p>

<p>since i live at home…i can’t really help with your financial questions…but tuition (not living expenses) at a UC is like $9,000 for a year and for a CC its ABOUT $900. something to think about…</p>

<p>check out the fafsa site though to see if you’ll qualify. i know they have strict guidelines about what an “independent” student is. i have a situation very similar to yours…but i received NOTHING since i am a “dependent” student (even though my parents can’t pay for my college tuition -_- )</p>

<p>i suppose you could risk going to another uc and then transferring…but know that cc transfers get priority over all other transfers!</p>

<p>UCB does look at your highschool transcript …but they’ll only ask for it after you’re accepted…not sure about other UC’s. For sure i know UCLA doesn’t look at it. SAT’s don’t matter if you transfer. APs might be useful for by passing prereqs though. </p>

<p>if you do decide to go to a cc…don’t slack off! choose a major early…and do the prereqs (look on assist.org) or else you’ll fall into a trap like some ppl i’ve seen and be stuck there for 5+ years (not kidding). another useful site i wish i knew from the start > ratemyprofessor.com …register asap to ensure good picks</p>

<p>goodluck!</p>

4

<p>If you want you can try to take some classes special admission as a senior. Tuition is free and it could give you either a 1-year transfer option or a easier 2-year option (depending on your major). You could try to finish the 2 English classes and maybe a few classes that count toward the IGETC.</p>

<p>Do the transfer path, and if your friends make fun of you for attending a CCC save your comebacks when you get into a better school than them.(while saving a ton of money, also)</p>

5

<p>One of the best things you could do would be to go to a community college. You could totally transfer to UCB or UCLA. I did it and am transfering to UCLA next fall as Business Economics major. You have to realize that both these schools are competitive so you will need a 3.5+ GPA, which may sound daunting, but it isn’t at community college as long as you are smart you should, with hard work, get straight A’s. Now the cool thing is that no matter what you could always transfer to Merced or Irvine. They have like a 2.5 GPA requirement. You will save yourself alot of money by going to the community college. Another positive thing about community college is that class sizes are small. This is great, because subjects like mathematics and english(writing) require feedback and personal attention. I got a very solid background in Calculus at my community college.</p>

<p>“If transferring in as a junior, do the SATs & SAT IIs matter at all? How heavily do they look upon your high school transcript?” </p>

<p>They don’t require or look at SAT’s. Even if you want to turn them in, they won’t look at them. The high school transcript is not even required. I got into UCLA and my highschool grades were terrible. </p>

<p>“Does going to a CC away from home defeat the purpose of going to a CC? D: There are two fairly good CCs near my home (Foothill & De Anza) but I really, really, really do not want to stay at home and live with my parents… lol. Would there be any kind of academic benefit if I go to PCC or SMC?” </p>

<p>Don’t move out to go to community college. Your grades will suffer and it is a money pit. I remember when I was a junior in high school, all I wanted to do is move out. Trust me I hate living with my parents still, but it is necessary for the next three months until I transfer. It will only last two years, which will fly right by.</p>

<p>“For those of you in CC, do you feel you’ve missed out socially? (Sorry if this question has been asked so many times before) If you are or were in CC, do you regret your decision at all? Are you glad you chose that path? Why?”</p>

<p>Actually, my community college was really nice with a lot of cool people. Besides dorm life, I haven’t missed out on any social opportunities. Plus, transfers usually are gaurenteed on capus housing their first year (at least at ucla).</p>

<p>“How much money are you guys saving by going to CC annually compared to going to a UC? (Including housing, food, tuition, etc., Also consider the average amount of grants given to UC applicants when getting your savings)”</p>

<p>Basically, my community college was free. It is so cheap to begin with and then they waive your tuition if you are even mildly poor. My two money concerns at community college were books (expensive), gas (expensive), and starbucks (relatively expensive).</p>

<p>“For those living at home, how much is your yearly living expense? (Food, tuition, rent, gas, everything).”</p>

<p>$1500, this is just a guess. Living at home + Community College = Cheap.</p>

<p>“About how much in grants can you get for going to a CC? My family is fairly well off ($100K+ before taxes, 4 member family, living in a $2million dollar house x_x. But we’re still not “rich” or anything) Would my grant/scholarships/loans be more if they knew I would be living by myself?”</p>

<p>You won’t get any grants. I didn’t recieve any and I am poor. CC (community college) is so cheap, the best they do is waive some fees. However, you are probably too well off to even have that happen.</p>

<p>If you have any other questions you can post them and I will probably answer ( I am always on this site it is addicting and awesome) or you can PM me (not sure how that works)</p>

6

<p>@srjcstud, what’s wrong with moving out for CC? Why will your grades suffer?</p>

7

<p>Good posts. You should heed the advice, its good. Foothill and De Anza are great schools, with good Honors and transfer programs.</p>

8

<p>wow i love you guys :o thank you so much for being so helpful! </p>

<p>so it isn’t reconmended that i move out? :\ bleh. i don’t have a very good relationship with my parents so living at home seems pretty unsavory to me atm – and no, i’m not just being a rebellious, angsty teenager that hates her parents x_x lawl. we’ve had a rough history ):</p>

<p>i’m so conflicted about this issue lol. and i need to figure out right now whether or not i’m going to do this since if i don’t, i’m going to need to sign up for some kind of SAT class over the summer haha. </p>

<p>thanks for the imput everyone!</p>

<p>oh and one more question,
**
if you go to one cc, is it easy to transfer to a different cc?
so, if i go to a cc far away from home and then decide to move back home, would it be easy to transfer schools and all my credits to the new cc? **</p>

9

<p>honestly, you don’t need to stress so much right now. If anything, apply to the UC’s like you are planning and see where you get into. if you dont get into the schools you want…then you can think about cc’s. you dont even have to decide to go to a cc until NEXT summer. there’s no application like UCs or CSUs…just sign up online and you’re in. my friend literally did it the day before deanza started (granted, he had last pick for classes)</p>

<p>i’ve heard of people switching back and forth between ccs. i dont think that’ll be a problem. i think you’ll just have to talk to a counselor to make sure the credits actually transfer though.</p>

10

<p>^ i just want to know now because if i decide to go to a cc, i don’t want to waste like $2000 on a good sat prep course and all that money for my sat test & sat ii subject tests, or any money on apps. plus i would save myself a lot of stress. </p>

<p>i just don’t want to go through all this stuff for nothing because i’ll be going to a cc and redoing all that stuff minus all the money wasted on testing & studying for useless tests</p>

11

<p>Honestly, the classes for SAT are a bit over-trumped. Some good studying with a test book will serve you just as well. There in it to make a profit, so they capitalize on the school anxiety. </p>

<p>What was said above though is pretty much safe advice. If things go bad, and you don’t get into the UC you want, or whatnot, then you can apply for CC, and yes, they approve you quite literally in a day or two. After that, you can sign up for a TAP or TAG program, and then be guaranteed (or almost guaranteed) entry to whatever UC you want, save Cal. There *****es up at Cal ;)</p>