sticky situation ? ccc to UC ?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>Okay, hi everyone, (:
I'm new to college confidential and i'm looking for some advice ? </p>

<p>I'm a senior in high school. I moved to California from Florida this year. I never had college plans, just knew I wanted to go to college, figured in Florida. However, i'm not a RESIDENT of Florida anymore.. and tuition for out of state students is crazy high :/</p>

<p>SO, because of the move. I unfortunately MISSED the deadline for Fall 2011. I ended up applying out of state, and was accepted to Penn State. </p>

<p>To be honest, I really DON'T want to go out of state.. but I never planned nor wanted to go to COMMUNITY COLLEGE either.. I'm not sure what to do ?</p>

<p>IS community college worth it ? Is that my only way of getting into a UC ? (I'm only interested in California's UCs. Their state schools don't seem very reputable...)
As of right now, I intend to major in Computer Science, and if I can double major, Business Information Management..
I really don't know anything about community college, but I know that there's TAG (transfer admission guarantee) which makes me feel better.. How is the transition from a cc to a uc ?</p>

<p>any advice on what I should do would be nice ?!</p>

<p>Thanks ! ((:</p>

2

<p>In my opinion, now would be a bad time to go to a ccc. This is mainly because of the impending major budget cuts in the education sector in california. Just to give you an idea of the severity of the situation:</p>

<p>one of the professors at the ccc that i go to just recently told us that the school board is planning to cut at least 800 sections this year because of the budget cuts. Tuition was just raised from $26/unit to $36/unit. Fortunately there will still be summer session at my college, but I’ve heard that many colleges are cutting summer and winter sessions.</p>

3

<p>Just FYI, Cal Poly SLO is a state school and is very reputable. Also, so is San Jose State, especially for Computer Science, being located right in Silicon Valley and all.</p>

<p>CCs are a good way to go if you want to get into the UCs though. The year that you will be applying, you can fill out a TAG with a school, and given that you fulfill the prerequisites, you are more or less in. To get into Berkeley or LA you really just need solid grades, but for the others TAG can cover you. HOWEVER, budgets cuts are making it more expensive and harder to get the classes you need in CCs, and the UCs are also upp-ing the requirements for TAGs and admissions in general.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say it’s SUPER hard to go from a CC to a UC, IMO the hardest part is just figuring out which classes you need to take and how everything will transfer. The actual classes, aren’t too bad. Most of the headaches I’ve gotten over the whole process have simply been just trying to figure out the classes and planning my two years. You really just need to talk to counselors, look at ASSIST.org, read up here, and just do your own research in general to get a good understanding of the whole process.</p>

<p>Good luck, I hope this sort of helps.</p>

4

<p>Oh, I just assumed basically the UCs were the only reputable ones due to college rankings. Thank you, I had no idea about good state schools in CA. I’m learning :confused:
But, would it be a poor decision on my behalf to attend cc ? or should I just attend Penn State and accumulate a bunch of debt ? :/</p>

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<p>Hello! I was in your shoes a few years ago, so thought I’d try to help out! I was praying for UCSD when I was a Senior in HS, but was unfortunately denied. I was accepted into UCSB but wasn’t really interested, so I went to Penn State because I did want to go out-of-state if I didn’t get into my number one choice. </p>

<p>Penn State was a really fun school with a pretty campus and lots of school spirit. Everyone at Penn State seemed proud to be there. After a semester and a half, though, I had some family emergencies and could no longer afford (financially and emotionally) to go out-of-state. I’m now at a CC (this is my 4th semester) and am waiting to hear back for transfer decisions.</p>

<p>Going out of state is REALLY expensive and although it was a really good time, I don’t know if it’s 100% worth it, especially when there are some great universities here in CA. Going to a CC saved me so much money and I was able to work 40 hours a week while in school so I saved up quite a bit :slight_smile: It isn’t the easiest route, contrary to what some may think, due to the crazy budget cuts, overcrowding, and lack of support from faculty (just my experience at my CC), but it is the cheapest! And since it was only two years, I considered it just a stepping stone to where I really wanted to be.</p>

<p>TAG is super useful so if you think you’d be able to grin and bear it for a little while I recommend the CC route. Plus if you get involved at your CC it isn’t that horrible (though not really anything like the Freshman experience that people living on campus at a UC would experience…but hey…you’ll have time for that when you transfer!).</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful!</p>

6

<p>thanks UCSDForMe, I agree. Going out of state is really expensive, I see that. And my parents aren’t going to contribute anything for my college fund, and im afraid of all the debt because my mother just claimed bankruptcy :expressionless:
I’m not 100% thrilled about Penn State, I was born in PA but haven’t been there in years…
I won’t get the undergrad experience, but, i’m more concerned about the cost and where i’ll end up graduating more than anything… </p>

<p>i’m just concerned CC might not be as HARD as a UC ? and then when I transfer my grades will drop ! :/</p>

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<p>The second you step foot on CCC campus, you need to orient yourself right away. I know a lot of people that wasted their first semester or two not even planning classes according to IGETC requirements who would later regret their decisions. You need to find out which classes you need to graduate, and try as damned hardest as you can to get those classes. I’m going to tell you right now that you won’t graduate in 2 years unless you go to SMC or some underpopulated CCC where classes are easy to get (no such thing). Even then, three is becoming the norm.</p>

<p>My advice to you: learn how to study efficiently from a counseling class or Asian student. It sounds like you will be needing to work part-time, so it is probably helpful to take online classes. Online classes only hurt you if you want to apply to certain graduate programs. But they are easy A’s if you post every day.</p>

<p>It isn’t hard to maintain a 3.8 GPA at a community college, which is what you need to be highly competitive for UCs unless you want to do nursing or bizecon at UCLA (that pretty much requires a 4.0 to be a safe bet).</p>

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<p>Well, i’m very serious when it comes to school. I have a 4.14 gpa. Could you perhaps explain to me what IGETC is ? I’ve never heard of that, and unfortunately my guidance counselor is NO help whatsoever… She doesn’t even know what the FAFSA or CSS Profile is, so the only thing she’s good for is really SUGGESTING to go to community college, and not any other details :|</p>

<p>i’m definitely NOT looking forward to THREE years in a community college though ! I’m already having trouble dealing with the fact you have to spend TWO years in there. UGH. >.></p>

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<p>You’ll want to talk with a lead professor in the computer science program at your local community college. They know way more about the CS program than anyone else, and they will be able to lay out the classes you would need in order to transfer. Also, there’s ASSIST.org, which is a website that will help you find which classes transfer, and which do not.</p>

<p>One other thing, I looked at some of the CC websites, and I saw that the IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) is not required to transfer for computer science majors. In fact, it’s discouraged. Apparently, the four-year colleges have their own GE requirements for CS majors. You might want to check up on that, however.</p>

<p>Get a job while you’re there too, and save like a demon! Trust me, you’ll need it later!</p>

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<p>How many AP credits do you have? You can skip some classes that way. IGETC is a way to clear up your pre-reqs and was agreed upon by the community college you end up going to and the UC system. Here is an example of what it looks like for SMC:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.smc.edu/projects/26/igetc.pdf[/url]”>http://www.smc.edu/projects/26/igetc.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You don’t need it to get in, but it helps a lot.</p>

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<p>@ TheKevinHorton </p>

<p>“My advice to you: learn how to study efficiently from a counseling class or Asian student.”</p>

<p>^ really…? as a fellow asian, i dont know whether to feel appalled or flattered. Do i sense some alexandra wallace in here? hahaha</p>

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<p>i don’t have any AP credits. And oh, okay. Thank you.</p>

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<p>If your looking to save money by going to a CCC… this is what you do. (I graduated high school in 2009, went straight to CC and I will be transferring to UCSB in the fall. Did it all in just two years)</p>

<p>First of all. Figure out which CC you want to go to. Usually, your closest one because their is typically no ranking in the CCC system. That is to say that it doesn’t really matter which school you transfer from as long as you have good grades.</p>

<p>Second. Apply for the BOG grant that is exclusive for CCC students. It will pay for your tuition as long as you meet the requirements. You can get the application from your CC financial aid office.</p>

<p>Third. Find out if your school has EOPS. I forgot what it stands for, but all it requires is for you to be a BOG recipient and being a member of EOPS gives you priority registration. I didn’t find out about this program until Spring 2011, but I got lucky. (When I started a CC in 2009 it wasn’t as crowded as it is today)</p>

<p>4th. Set up a meeting with your counselor (early) and ask about BOG, EOPS, IGETC, and any information you may need to transfer schools. Typically they will set you up with a 2-year plan in order for you to transfer schools. You don’t necessarily need a major right when you start your CC because there are tons of GE requirements, but it doesn’t hurt to start thinking about a possible major, and you need to find out which schools offer that major (Don’t be afraid to set the bar high. Try to transfer to a UC if you can)</p>

<p>5th. Make sure you know your class registration date. Many of my friends didn’t apply on the day of their registration and they couldn’t get into their classes, delaying (even further) their transfer. </p>

<p>6th. Research your classes and professors early. It will definitely help in the long run if you map out your schedule and teachers ahead of time. A wise friend once told me about “ratemyprofessors.com” and advised me to use it. Ill tell you what, the website is genius. I don’t think I would have survived without it. You can take easy classes (if that’s what your looking for) or you can take the best teachers (that’s what you should be looking for). Either way, that website is crucial to your College success. </p>

<p>Seventh. Go to class! Its pretty cliche but it works. My first semester I hardly ever went to class and my grades suffered because of it. (2 c’s and a B). I quickly realized that the teachers at CC will not baby you like the teachers in high school. For that, I have spent the last couple semesters making up for my bad grades. Luckily I only did bad one semester.</p>

<p>Lastly. Work hard and ENJOY yourself. The goal is obviously to transfer to a fun, exciting, prestigious University, but you will never get there if you don’t push yourself. Also realize that while you may be “bored” like I was/am with CC. You just saved $20k+ for the general ed courses your friends are paying full price for, and you still get to go to an as good or better school than them when you transfer. That’s a win/win if you ask me!</p>

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<p>WOW ! Thank you so much JackTupp ! You seriously helped me alot !
I honestly think I’m just going to go to community college, because of the financial factors but now i’m afraid classes will be filled :confused:
I feel like EVERYONE at my school is going to CC…</p>

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<p>Your so welcome! I remember being in your shoes my senior year of high school. I wasn’t the best high school student. 3.5 gpa and I got into a couple of okay schools. UCR & ASU but I was aiming for UCSB, UCLA. I really didn’t want to pay tuition to get my GE at a school I wasn’t happy with so I decided to go to CC. Sometimes I would get discouraged because I would see my friends at their schools having the college “experience”. But I think I made a really good choice after me and my friends freshman years.</p>

<p>One of my friends went to UCR. I would have probably been his roommate if I decided to go there. Long story short. He got into drugs pretty heavily. Failed his first two semesters and got kicked out. $30k wasted. He is now at a CC and has to go their for an extra year because none of his UCR classes will transfer. </p>

<p>Another friend (actually my ex-GF) went to ASU. I really wanted to go their freshman year to be with her, but it was out of the question because I couldn’t afford out-of-state tuition. I didn’t end up going. We tried the whole long distance thing. Didn’t work. She couldn’t afford the out of state tuition either for her sophomore year so she went back to a CC too and found out almost none of her units will transfer to the California system. another $30k+ wasted. and another year she has to spend at a CC.</p>

<p>I think if your really worried about costs, and your really determined (which it looks like you are with a 4.1 gpa in HS) then you should definitely go to a CC. I feel like I made a good choice and I grew into a responsible, hard working student because of it. It really helps when you have a goal in mind (in my case it was going to UCSB or UCLA) that will push you through your struggles in life.</p>

<p>PS. I changed my major 3-4 times since high school and I think it changed my overall decision on which school I wanted to go to. Used to be a die hard UCLA fan, but after researching UCSB, I really like the environment and it is a great school.</p>

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<p>No scrump, Alexandra Wallace mocks Asians. I learn from them. Between me and her, one of us is a hated social pariah and one is not. Proof my way works better!</p>

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<p>In your situation, a CCC would probably be your best choice. There are a few things to remember:
1 - meet with a counselor every semester if possible and make sure you’re on trac
2 - ONLY register classes that are “UC Transferable” - otherwise, you’re wasting time & $$
3 - Register on the day and time that the registration appointment opens, not a minute later. (have first options and second options written on a piece of paper)
4 - go into the UC school “TAG Admission” requirements and follow their requirements.
5 - register for summer and winter sessions
6 - Apply for TAG in September prior to transfer (you must have completed many requirements)
7 - If you read the UC Transfer rates from CCC, you’ll find that about 90% of students accepted transfer from CCC.<br>
8 - My daughter was accepted into UC Davis under the TAG Program with a GPA of 3.8 - TAG GPA’s requirements are lower for transfer students than for Freshman. UC Riverside’s GPA to apply through TAG is 3.2.<br>
Good luck.</p>

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<p>You have gotten a lot of good advice, so I will only add a couple of things.</p>

<p>1) Join the TAP program at your CC. Even if you do not intend to go to UCLA or Berk’ you should still join as at most CC’s it gives you (limited) priority registration - which is a big deal with the current financial issues in California.</p>

<p>2) Find out who the chief counselor is for your prefered UC/TAP program, and then make appointments EVERY SEMESTER with them. Do not just meet with anyone. Find the right person and then make sure they know who you are. It really helps, sometimes they can pull a few strings for you at your CC (getting into essential classes etc) and my counselor has written me three letters of recommendation for UC scholarships over the past month!</p>

<p>3) Put together an excel spreadsheet listing all you potential IGETC classes, your Major Reqs (from Assist.org) and the TAP classes available at your CC. Then make sure that wherever possible you take classes that fulfill all three sets of requirements. For example, at Pasadena City College Econ 1A (Macroeconomics) is an IGETC Transferable Math class, is a part of the Scholars Program (TAP) and was a Major Req for my intended program at UCLA (Global Studies). So I killed three birds with one stone, so to speak.</p>

<p>The California Community College system is awesome. It is cheap, effective, and if you play the system carefully you can easily come out in two years time with a solid GPA, guaranteed admission to 7 of the 9 UC’s, and priority consideration for the other two. What more could you ask for?</p>

<p>Just be sure to do the work, and plan ahead.</p>

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<p>@UCLAGlobal - Great Post… hope everyone reads it. VERY HELPFUL.</p>

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<p>whatever you do, do NOT, i repeat, do NOT go to San Jose State university</p>

<p>you will regret it dearly.</p>

<p>Also, penn state main campus? Go there!!! I have frands there and they say its pretty awesum…</p>