Taking Summer classes vs Online

<p>Hello! I'm not 100% sure this is the correct section to post in, but I'm stuck with a dilemma.
This fall I will be attending UCSC as a Neuroscience Major, but I would like to get ahead by starting courses over the summer. In the long run I am aiming to possibly transfer out of UCSC. </p>

<p>UCSC is offering summer classes for all admitted students with the list of open classes here (Simply change the term to Summer Term 2013):
<a href="https://pisa.ucsc.edu/class_search/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;https://pisa.ucsc.edu/class_search/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This is where my dilemma starts. First of all I also got an email from them a couple of days ago about taking courses online here:
University</a> of California Online</p>

<p>This is where I am stumped. Do the admissions offices (for both UC transfer and applying to Grad school) prefer one over the other?
Also, looking at the classes offered, I can only see General Chem as a class that I should take online. On the other hand the summer classes at UCSC are more diverse and I don't know which class to take if I am to take a summer class there.</p>

<p>To summarize, I have no idea whether to take a course over the summer online or at the UCSC campus. I also do not know which class to take (which would benefit me the most as an incoming frosh looking to transfer).</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,
Tamaziuk!</p>

<p>Well, since you posted in the UC transfer section, I’m going to assume you’re hoping to transfer out of UCSC to another UC. If that’s the case, take a look at assist.org to see what your major is supposed to take before transferring. Otherwise, take whatever your school’s typical freshman courses are, or humanities classes. Or, if you’re behind on something (like, if you’re a STEM major who hasn’t had much math) that would be a good place to start.</p>

<p>As for online vs summer session, I’ve always found online courses to be very disconnected, hard to learn from, and almost joke-like. Summer session on the other hand meets face to face, and you get real instruction. Of course, distance from the school makes a difference here, if you’re far from campus online makes more sense to do.</p>

<p>It doesn’t sound like you really need summer classes though, unless you’re hoping for a head start or to get a taste of college before you start.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>@failure Thanks for the reply! Distance is quite far yes, I live about 6 hours away from UCSC (~340 miles), but if it would mean I’ll be taking an extra step towards transferring I’d be willing to do it.
As for needing summer classes, I don’t. I was simply thinking it’d help me get a head start and make myself look better on my transfer application. Would taking summer school help in an attempt to transfer from UCSC to UCLA, UCSD, or Berkeley?
I did go to assist.org as you advised, but I can’t seem to find the page you described. When I select UCSC it tells me to select a CC I want to transfer from.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>