<p>What does your daughter want to do with her creative writing major? If she wants to teach, she would do very well attending Long Beach. She would be able to get a teaching credential after her degree from L.B. too, if she chooses. If she intends to go to graduate school in creative writing, UCI probably has arguably best graduate program in Southern California.<br>
I think if my Dd were in this position, I’d encourage her to take the spot at Long Beach (if denied at USC) with the option after graduation of applying to UCI, USC and Long Beach for a M.A. in creative writing ; if teaching high school is her plan, Long Beach will be a fine option for her credential, as would UCI or USC, for that matter.</p>
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<p>Both USC and UC Irvine take students as junior transfers from community colleges. She would have to apply and get accepted, but most good community colleges help students with this plan arrange their coursework so that the students do get accepted to one of their choices. I don’t think there are guarantees at any of the colleges, so she would have to take the chance of being denied at any transfer school. </p>