<p>I am currently a CA high school senior with a 3.57UW/3.8W GPA. I have already gone through the college applications process (X_X) but I didn't apply to my dream school, Yale. Turns out that I was rejecting myself before applying, so I never did.</p>
<p>I'd really like to transfer as a sophomore. I don't know whether to start at a public university (UC's, UMass) or community college (pref. PCC). It's not good to obsess over one school, but I strongly believe that Yale has a lot to offer and is a great match for me (not admissions-wise).</p>
<p>Which is better for a transfer-to-Ivy hopeful: public or CC? Thanks!</p>
<p>P.S. If it helps...:
-Mexican-Am. 1st-gen to college (URM)
-SAT 1710, ACT 26
-Band for 4 years (saxophonist, 1st Chair in Wind Ensemble, Drum Major, etc.)
-Little bit of journalism on the side; would like to get involved more
-7 AP courses over 2nd half of high school (4 of those AP's in senior year)
-Undeclared major in Liberal Arts; possibly an English major</p>
<p>Um...I don't know but if I were you I would take the major I want and finish it at a UC and just go to grad at Yale. Undergrad at Yale doesn't really mean much just cause it's an Ivy League. It's grad school that matters more for your life after school.</p>
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if undergrad at yale doesn't mean much, why do people go there?
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<p>What I mean is undergrad at any UC is just as good as undergrad at an Ivy League. It's not impossible to go from UCR to a Stanford Grad School. It depends on how well you did at your undergrad school. If you get a 3.00 GPA at UCR don't go around complaining and blaming it on the school when it was your own fault you didn't try hard enough. I slacked off in highschool and the beginning of community college, I don't blame anyone but myself. It's dumb when people can't accept their own mistakes. What I'm trying to say is, if you try hard and do well at any undergrad, you'll be a likely candidate for any grad school.</p>
<p>I may not have read closely enough, but I didn't find it anywhere in the OP's post that they are planning on going to graduate or professional school.</p>
<p>However, back to the poster's question. I'd go with a four-year school for one big reason: Yale and similar schools do not accept many transfers. I'm going to make a hasty conclusion and say that it's generally harder to transfer so you best be at a school you like, so even if you don't make the grades necessary for Yale or other prospective schools, then at least you have somewhere to fall back on.</p>
<p>Best of luck :)</p>
<p>PS: I'm pretty sure you're going to have to raise the test scores for Yale, but I may be wrong...</p>
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I may not have read closely enough, but I didn't find it anywhere in the OP's post that they are planning on going to graduate or professional school.
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<p>I'm basing on assumption that someone that ambitious isn't going to just stop at undergrad. I may be wrong though since there are people who finish their undergrad at like Harvard and don't go to grad school, like Natalie Portman. But then again it is Natalie Portman XD</p>
<p>Well, I do plan to go on to grad school. I doubt I'd enjoy the campus, social life, etc. as a grad student b/c academics would take up all of my time. For example, Yale has a couple of performance groups that I would like to join (marching band, pops orchestra, etc.); I probably wouldn't have the time to become involved in them as a grad student, and maybe those groups wouldn't allow grad students to join.</p>
<p>And yes, I do want to go on to grad school and earn both a Master's and a Ph.D.</p>
<p>Twenty8-- I will indeed have to raise my SAT scores. =)</p>
<p>In all honesty, your chances of going to Yale at your CURRENT state would only result in a rejection letter. But it's a good thing that you're considering transfering, because this will be your second opportunity to try and get into your dream college.</p>
<p>Transferring into Yale will indeed be difficult, for the university doesn't have the best record for accepting transfer students. And more often than not, these students have impeccable GPAs and outstanding ECCs.</p>
<p>If I had to suggest the BEST plan, at least in my opinion...</p>
<p>Go to a CC, but enroll in their honors program. Most have them. This ensures an easier transfer to a more competitive school. </p>
<p>You say you live in B.P.?</p>
<p>There is Citrus and Mt. Sac, both which have an honors program that allows transfer students to go to top schools like Pomona College.</p>
<p>So consider those options, and Good luck.</p>
<p>P.S. SAT score: aim 2100 and more. Yale accepted me with an SAT Score of 2110, and 2100 is the staple score for most IVY Leages.</p>
<p>I hate to say this, but the above post is really bad advice. CCs only help get you into some State schools where agreements are in place. Going from a CC to an ivy is a difficult feat. Go to the highest rated school you get into, raise your SAT scores and show Yale how passionate your are about being there. And BTW, no UC can touch the Yale experience, go for it!</p>
<p>marcoco23-- I'm surprised someone found out I live in B[aldwin] P[ark]. Is PCC's Scholars Program considered an honors program? What's it like?</p>
<p>suze-- Thanks for the support! That's the main reason I'm shooting [again] for the top colleges: the experience. Plus, if I do make it to Yale, I'll get full tuition for having a family w/less than $45,000 annual income.</p>
<p>How hard would it be like to transfer from UMass? UCLA? UCI? UCB? UCSB?</p>
<p>CC would be a lot cheaper (I mean alot!) and you would be closer to home. Plus you'll probably be one of the brightest at the school (Unless you go to RCC, but thats OK I won't be there very long). However social life is nonexistent at CC so you would have to go out of your way to meet people (bars, clubs, work, ect). I'm not sure which UC your going to but it's hard to transfer from UC to UC (assuming you don't like the school your going to) because CCC transfers get priority. While you may have a better shot with a 4.0 from a UC to an ivy, a 4.0 from a CCC, with ECs, is still competitive and comes at a much cheaper price.</p>
<p>So to sum it up,</p>
<p>CC: Cheap, close to home, competitive, less people in first year intro courses, clubs and organizations like a university, best chance to get into a top level UC (like UCLA or Cal).</p>
<p>University: Not close to home, better social life, more interesting, more prestigious, more transfers to ivys.</p>