<p>The residency rules as established by Title V of the California Code of Regulations require a one-year physical presence in the state of California prior to the first day of the semester, combined with one year of evidence of intent and ability to establish residency in California.</p>
<p>Physical presence within the state solely for educational purposes does not constitute the establishment of California residence under state law, regardless of the length of your stay.</p>
<p>Indications of your intent to make California your permanent residence can include registering to vote and voting in California elections; designating California as your permanent address on all school and employment records, including military records if you are in the military service; obtaining a California driver's license or, if you never had a driver's license from any state, a California Identification Card; obtaining California vehicle registration; paying California income taxes as a resident, including taxes on income earned outside California from the date you establish residence; establishing a California residence in which you keep your permanent belongings; licensing for professional practice in California; and the absence of these indications in other states during any period for which you claim California residence. Documentary evidence is required. All relevant indications will be considered in determining your classification. Your intent will be questioned if you return to your prior state of residence when the University is not in session.</p>
<p>Santa Monica College is the best CC in California</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_College%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_College</a></p>
<p>(An earlier poster posted this, however I am not sure if I cited it properly :-/ )</p>
<p>I just read that in terms of producing successful transfer students in 2004/2005, City College of San Francisco sent 140 students to Berkeley and Diablo Valley College sent 174.</p>
<p>Somebody mentioned that SMC is the best CC in California however they only sent 96. </p>
<p>I am not sure how to analyze these figures however I am beginning to consider moving to San Francisco rather than the So. Cal. area. (If anyone is not clear, I am currently a resident in New Hampshire looking to move to California to attend a California CC and gain residency so that I can hopefully apply to UC-Berkeley and be accepted as a junior). </p>
<p>The more that I consider it, moving to the San Francisco/ Bay Area would be rather helpful for me. </p>
<p>Also, on a side-note: I am looking to transfer into Berkeley as an english major and art minor.</p>
<p>Does anybody have any pointers for me in my journey through community college to help strengthen my application? </p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>CCSF and DVC are 13-14 miles from UC Berkeley, which is why they send more transfer students there, just like SMCC probably sends more students to UCLA (4 miles away) than CCs in the Bay Area.</p>
<p>Also, the student population at SMCC is huge! It may be one of the largest CCs in California.</p>
<p>It really doesn't matter where you live in California. There are good CCs throughout the state.</p>
<p>Attend the CC that allows you to fulfill the most lower division requirements. Although SMC boasts the most UC transfers, it is not the best school for engineering majors. I will have to make up 3 lower division courses at Berkeley that were not articulated at SMC, which might force me to complete an additional semester for graduation.</p>
<p>I was also an OOS resident when I first attended SMC. If you reside in CA for 2 years (or 1 year if you live with a parent), you will easily qualify for resident tuition at CC. But it is VERY difficult to qualify for resident tuition at the UC's if you're originally from another state. You cannot be claimed as a dependent on your parents' tax forms for 2 years prior to enrollment unless your parents file CA taxes. You must demonstrate financial independence (steady and sufficient income) and maintain a CA residential address that can be verified on your credit report and tax returns. You cannot leave CA during vacation unless you continue to maintain an address in CA. According to a UCLA employee I met at SMC, it is very common for students to live in CA for 4+ years and not qualify for UC resident tuition because they cannot prove financial independence. But with sky high rent and living expenses, establishing CA residency and financial independence while attending school is a daunting task for any 18-20 year old.</p>
<p>You don't want to choose a city college based on the percentage accepted. You should choose it based on how many classes it offers that you might be taking.</p>
<p>I heard that city college of san francisco has about a 40% success rate to berkeley, but I don't know where the exact statistics are. But again, that's not a function of the specific school per se, but rather a function of the high number of intelligent individuals who live in that particular area. Like someone else said, berkeley doesn't discriminate based on which community college you go to. It does discriminate, possibly, based on the classes you take. If you have a high gpa but are only taking chicken classes (like, not even reaching calculus for instance, and minimum-level for all other classes), your chances won't be as great as if you take harder classes.</p>
<p>Alright, Nicopico, if you could help me out with these questions since you obviously know what you are talking about and I value your input:</p>
<p>Ideally, I would begin at the California CC of my choice in this upcoming Spring 2007 academic semester. If I continue to reside in California along with a job, valid driver's license, California established bank accounts, etc. for the 4 semesters that I must attend (15 credits per semester, 60 credits necessary to enroll as a junior transfer if I am not mistaken), what will I be eligible for and may I still not be eligible for?</p>
<p>Since by the time that I would be able to apply to UC-Berkeley, it would be the Fall 2009 semester, this would mean that I would have been residing in California without leaving for summer vacation and what not at a permanent address for over 2.5 years. </p>
<p>I have gathered from your earlier post, that if I continue with this plan, I would be eligible to be considered an in-state applicant and given priority since I am applying as one from a California CC however it would be a completely different story to be given the in-state tutition fees?</p>
<p>"Ideally, I would begin at the California CC of my choice in this upcoming Spring 2007 academic semester. If I continue to reside in California along with a job, valid driver's license, California established bank accounts, etc. for the 4 semesters that I must attend (15 credits per semester, 60 credits necessary to enroll as a junior transfer if I am not mistaken), what will I be eligible for and may I still not be eligible for?"</p>
<p>As long as you file your CA tax returns, you'd have priority and most likely qualify for resident tuition. :) If your parents support you financially, make sure they do it under the table (i.e. don't report it on their taxes if they live outside of CA). Having documentation will make everything much easier (W-2's, credit report, tax returns, leasing contracts, etc.--they make it tough for us OOS'ers applying for in-state tuition.)</p>
<hr>
<p>I don't know your financial situation, but I learned after moving to socal that I could make 25k per year and still be at significant risk of being homeless (actually happened to me, but that's another story :D. In my vagabond state, I learned that the movie Hostel was not far off from reality). Poor people like me should never board a train en route to CA on a whim. For every Jim Carrey and Michael J. Fox, you have about 10,000 kids on Hollywood Blvd or skid row with shattered dreams. I'm finally transferring to Berkeley and still don't know if all the stress (none of it school related) was worth it. Sorry for all the rambling. :D</p>
<p>Diablo Valley College has a well-regarded academic reputation, and is a popular choice for students to complete lower-division college requirements for oft-times overcrowded California universities: DVC is ranked number one in transfers to four-year institutions in the state, ahead of all other California community colleges. In 2004, the top four transfer destinations were California State University, East Bay (formerly Hayward), San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis.</p>
<p>according to wikipedia (note the 'ahead' part)</p>
<p>So, Nicopico:</p>
<p>First off, congrats on your successful long journey to become a Golden Bear.</p>
<p>Secondly, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'm interested in how you did over the course of your first two years in college. How was your G.P.A. upon the final semester before applying? What type of courseload did you take on (standard general education,honors, AP, etc.)? Club/Organizaton involvement on campus? Any other neat, interesting tid-bits about your application that you believe made you stand out? </p>
<p>I'm simply asking to see what type of junior transfers Berkeley looks for and you certainly fit in that category.</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>