<p>In about a week, I will probably be starting up at PCC (for the Fall). I am just starting, so I still have two years ahead of me to get through. </p>
<p>I am planning to take 23 units currently. Everybody has told me to take less units but I keep mentioning that the large amount of units is because of classes that count as 5 or 4 units (even though it's the semester system at PCC). My planned classes for Fall: Calculus I, Chemistry, English Lab (non-graded), History, Intro to Engineering, English, and Russian. </p>
<p>I'm still deciding between my majors (Physics, ME, and Engineering Physics). I still have a larger pool of majors, but I will decide on them close to transferring time because the others would only be my double, triple, or minor. One of those three will be my main major that I will transfer with. I understand that if I do Physics, I would have a much higher chance for transferring to UCLA, but that is not really my ultimate goal. </p>
<p>I have really great ambitions. I want to transfer to the best school possible because I was deprived of that opportunity in HS since for 75% of HS, I was just a kid and didn't really understand anything. I got my act together and pulled off a 4.16 GPA throughout my senior year, which made no difference still. I ended up choosing to go to Cal Poly Pomona, and then I had later decided that I would have a larger chance of transferring from a CC. Within the limits of my goal, I would like to transfer to either CalTech, UCB, or Stanford after my 2 years at PCC.</p>
<p>Does anybody have any tips? I know the requirements: try as hard as possible to get a 4.0 both for major and overall, complete the GE reqs, and complete the major reqs. I know the reqs for CalTech somewhat, and for UCB as well. I have no clue for Stanford.</p>
<p>hi ya Xcron. I'm attending PCC this fall as a freshman. Finally a pcc person on this board. So what classes are you taking. I'm planning to major in biochem or bio. yep, i'm also ambitious because i've been thinking of going to med school. At pcc if you go over 19 units you have to petition. and if you're a freshman you have to talk to the dean who will look over your high school record. the counselor said that you have to have stellar grades i.e 3.8 over all gpa and have taken ap classes. i'm taking math5b, english 1a, chem 22, and physics 31a. What classes are u taking? Did you register yet?</p>
<p>Pcc has the scholars program which gives you priority when applying to schools. UCLa, pomona college, uci, and ucr is part of the program i think. Also look at the TAG program. PCC has alliances with UCSd and several other universities. so check it out.</p>
<p>They have not been telling you the correct info I guess...
I petitioned and I was allowed to take up to 24 units as a freshman...no problem. I did not perform well in high school whatsoever.</p>
<p>I'm going to try to get into the scholars program so that I will be benefited when I apply as a transfer since the program is basically an Honors program. I have been unable to find any TAG info from PCC. I have researched on assist, the trasfer req tool, school-specific websites, etc.</p>
<p>Ok, how about any advice/tips for a general community college student???
There should be quite a few replies now, since that "is CC really that bad???" thread is raging maddddd. Should I get into the scholars (honors) program to connect with like-minded students? Should I join clubs or get involved? (probably for ECs).......</p>
<p>Just join something you will like maybe the russian club is more interesting for you than the scholars program. join because youll like it not because it will look good for your app. When you write about it in your ps it will come across that way when you genuinely like it. PCC is sort of a commuter school as are many cc's (no dorms but there is a campus life going on) but you will find your niche and it will be cool. Just go there with an open mind and be willing to learn new things. I would not suggestg joining any clubs or ECs your first semester your schedule looks pretty full and you might lose focus if you try too many things at once. Good luck though PCC is a great choice.</p>
<p>Yep. My plan was, since I am going to have 23 units, to totally dedicate all my time to school. That means being there from 8 am - 9 pm, etc. Right after class, grab something to eat and head on over to the library to sit at a comp and do my work. No job, no ECs for now. I chose this because I am still 17 and would need a work permit to even have like a weekend job. So I think I will take some ECs and a job, probably starting from winter and on, once I am 18. </p>
<p>Why did you take a phys ed class??? (Shaolin Kung Fu, now that was really random....haha!) It's not required of me whatsoever, but I would like to take a Table Tennis class, but decided against it since I am devoting to academics and getting my GPA as high as possible along with completing reqs. Perhaps, I may be able to get like a scholarship or something after Fall... I don't know, are there any rewards to having a really high GPA at PCC?</p>
<p>I mixed easy courses like shaolin kung fu and other mediocre courses that were or were not required with the harder ones just to keep a good balance and not burn my self out by midterms week. That is going to be hell my friend. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Ehhhhhhh...I hope I didn't overload my schedule with hard classes....I checked on ratemyprof and it seems like I got what I wanted: teachers who will work me hard in the classes I want to advance in and teachers who will get me rather easy A's in the classes I don't. Hehehehe. I tried looking on the website online but didn't find anything about clubs whatsoever haha....are there any clubs on campus at all?!</p>
<p>Is the Career/Job Placement Office efficient in getting people internships, jobs, etc.?</p>
<p>Damn my high-unit majors, that's why I basically have to get around 100 just for UCB. At least for Stanford and CalTech, it's all up to me...all they want is to see some courses specified by CIT and just a general mix of all kinds of classes for Stanford. That's awesome. It gives me a lot of freedom to take whatever I feel like taking. I e-mailed UCB about the unit thing and I hope to get an answer that will confirm my ability to do this =).</p>
<p>If you are considering Caltech then neing at PCC is a good move they really like to take transfers in from PCC since its so close and you would get a lot of feedback about your chances there from PCC counselors who personally know the admisnistration over at Caltech.</p>
<p>I didnt mean to scare you about midterms you sound like a person who is serious about school so Im sure you will be able to budget your time well. You really dont have to look for clubs they will literally come to you in the first couple of weeks. There will be several events and fliers handed out in the quad between the R building and the library. A good place to look for club meeting hours and also scholarships is the Campus Crier which is made available almost everywhere.</p>
<p>Good luck on your semester at PCC I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. That was an awesome three years for me. I am a Lancer through and through. Lancer first then Bruin. Lates.</p>
<p>Xcron, it seems like you're insinuating that taking classes that are easier to earn A's in is less reputable than taking a class with a hard professor. If I were you, I would shoot for quality professors and use grade inflation to your advantage. It's not your system, its California's. You can supplement your education with any extra reading or essay writing you want outside of class. The fact of the matter is, if a professor is teaching at a specific school, the grades they give fall under a certain standard. In the end, an A on a transcript from Professor A is identical to an A on a transcript from Professor B. And in 5 years nobody will even remember you went to community college. I wouldn't overburden yourself with harder professors, especially with 23 units. My mentality with community college is "Get in, get out. ASAP"</p>
<p>It's so cool that people are finally posting more in this thread!!!</p>
<p>I have a friend, who is a junior and on the admissions staff (which votes on applications to be accepted) at CalTech and he even told me that they receive a few PCC transfers every year! That is so awesome!!! I am happy to be at such an able school. At this instant, I am in the Computer Cafe, typing this reply up, haha. I just had a class (which I will probably switch with another one) and the professor said, "PCC is the ***** right? Along with ahhh ahhhh, Santa Monica over there." That was great, heh. That professor has a rather bad habit of using foul language, though it was because he was so angry after being happy throughout the class before this last one. It just didn't fit him, so he went back to being angry and mean, as he said. Switching this class with a physical anthropology class with a rather funny professor. </p>
<p>It's rather difficult to get books right now...<em>sigh</em>. The bookstore is always plugged up and because of the slow admin, I will not get any financial aid until 3-4 weeks into the semester. I was able to get a "Book Grant", which lets me spend up to $200 at the bookstore. That means I can get my math textbook and some useless book that I won't need for a while. This is rather frustrating, since many professors expect you to be able to do the work that needs to be done right away. Sadly, I don't know what to do because of my family's financial situation and because I won't get any financial aid for a bit. </p>
<p>I just finished talking with a pair about the clubs offered at PCC. There is no Russian club and there is no Astronomy club. But, at least there are a few clubs that I am interested in. Next week, is going to be a club fair or something where clubs advertise themselves at the main area of the campus (the quad). I will check them out at that time. I'm pretty sure that I will be able to juggle schoolwork with a little participation and fun =P. </p>
<p>PCC is a rather nice place, considering the judgment of many students, as today is the first day of the Fall semester. </p>
<p>I am taking advantage of grade inflation or whatever else it may be called, but I would like hard professors that will push me in the subjects that I hope to excel in. And anyways, I want to enjoy my time at PCC since it will be 2 years before I can go anywhere....I'm pretty sure it's the quality of education you receive, and not what kind of reputation the professor has that is important.</p>
<p>ugh...these dang textbooks...I still have not been able to get any whatsoever...I tried to call 4 people about their calc books, all said that they had sold them already. I went to a bookstore across the street, the prices are not too eye-catching, since I need a lot of books and don't want to spend a lot of money. I really don't know what to do...I'm always walking around and looking at the board things on campus for quite a while each time...(<em>hint</em> <em>hint</em> to "someone"). I need them textbooks! I'm falling behind (not really, but kinda) in my classes...since profs are assigning hw when I don't even have the book, =(.</p>
<p>Argggggg, school library has the books but unless the books are old, you can only check them out for 2 hours max. I was thinking of checking chem book out and doing the work required by first day next week, but thought that I had better buy it since I needed it for both chem classes anyways...I dunno, maybe I shouldn't buy it if I don't get into chem...I'm on the freakin waitlist...it's sooooo badddd. Ugh....I dunno how often new editions are made...yearly I guess, maybe I should buy the chem book then...it'll cost me about $80 probably...<em>sigh</em>. So expensive! I'm trying to get my books as fast as I can...but couldn't get one book today because the person was a flake and didn't show up...ehhhh. "Typical community college students" are not helpful, heh.</p>
<p>SWEET!!! That would so cool of you if you were to sell it to me hehe. And anyways, you go to UCLA so you're somewhat around here. I'd definitely like the chem 1a stuff. Do you have anything else from PCC?</p>
<p>I went into the lib today and went up to #91 of my #1-93 odd hw for chem...that was pretty crazy...spent 5 hours working on it. I didn't expect college to be this different, heh! I'll finish it before chem on Tuesday (so hopefully I can prove that I deserve my place in that class instead of on the waitlist). I also bought my English 1A book (Norton Reader) and my Math 5A calc book (5e, stewart).</p>
<p>I have to do a bunch of other hw and assignments over this weekend hehe.</p>
<p>I have the MLA handbook for english 1A and lets see the BIO 1A book, Anatomy 25 book, and a lot of other readers that Im sure are outdated since its been three years since I used them. The chem 1A book is the one they used last year I have to check the edition but I'll let you have it cheap if you want email me @ <a href="mailto:franquez@ucla.edu">franquez@ucla.edu</a> if interested. Later man.</p>