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My gripe with SJSU is that I haven’t done their prerequisites, I have done UC Davis’s and UCLA’s… So that means that Fall 2015 is out of the question for SJSU, most likely.</p>
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<p>please clarify this…what are the differences? And can’t you fit some into your spring schedule and maybe some in the summer?</p>
<p>I would be very surprised if the prereqs are that vastly different. </p>
<p>“please clarify this…what are the differences? And can’t you fit some into your spring schedule and maybe some in the summer?”</p>
<p>The UC’s require a foreign language on the IGETC… the CSU has I believe 2 or 3 extra English language courses they want. Even a partial IGETC can be used in many cases. It’s designed for students who know they want to transfer but don’t yet know which campus they want. It gives them fewer options when fulfilling their GE’s and they might actually end up taking an extra humanities course or something that isn’t needed on whatever campus they land BUT they don’t have to stress about Anthropology being counted as a science at UCB but not at UCSD or SLO. If it’s included as an option on IGETC then it counts everywhere. They don’t have to stress that they only took 2 sciences when some specific campus requires 3. It’s a good deal.</p>
<p>My concern is that the OP may not have taken the IGETC route. It’s not mandatory. He may have focused totally on specific UCD requirements which means he wouldn’t be universally qualified at all the UC’s and/or all the CSU’s. There could be a chance that his courses line up though. He’d just need to look and officially apply for it at the CC (or take the few he’s missing next semester and summer.)</p>
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<p>What could they be requiring beyond Frosh Comp I and II and maybe a Lit class? </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids, I thought it was Oral Communication and a Diversity class (women’s studies, gender studies, chicano studies, etc.). Looking at a CC catalog, I think actually the only missing piece if IGETC is satisfied is a single class in Oral Communications, since a math is required as is English 1 (written communication) and English 2 (Critical Thinking) for UC:</p>
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<p>My mistake. CSU’s want an extra communications class and 2 extra history classes. I also seem to remember something about the UC’s offering more “test out” options in regards to English but they tweak the IGETC each year which is why you have to look at each year to see if the year you took the class it qualified.</p>
<p>Some of the CSU’s are very compacted and so requiring more classes prior to transfer makes sense.</p>
<p>So I have completed IGETC. I have been following that since day one because i didn’t know what I wanted to major in. </p>
<p>Completeing the requirments for SJSU would mean not being able to complete the UC required classes. I am also running up the unit count. I am almost at the 90 semester unit count for transfer. If I decide to try and conplete both uc and csu requirements I would puy myself near the max units before I would become unable to transfer. </p>
<p>That is the worst possible situation. </p>
<p>The difference in classes was 3 or 4 classes or 15-20(quarter) units. That’s quite a lot. Between ucla/davis vs. SJSU as reported on assist.org. </p>
<p>I am also not thrilled with SJSU’s focus on the biological apect of psychology when I’m obviously more interested in the social/behavioral curiculum. That is a huge problem for me when I apply for graduate school and they see a psychobiology ciriculum when I want to work as a behaviorial therapist/clinical psychologist.</p>
<p>Its doesn’t make any sense. Financially, yes –> curricularly, not at all. </p>
<p>You can’t <em>really</em> afford UC, and grad school can be a good focus for you. How is SFSU? Can you take a course (or two- one per quarter) at SFSU to fulfill requirements?</p>
<p>It looks like you really need to make a plan (CSU/UC) before the month is up, so you know which 4 classes to take. With 90+ units you are basically a Senior when you transfer? How quickly could you be done, in the best-case scenario? How quickly for SJSU? How quickly for SFSU?</p>
<p>If you go the UC option, how quickly can you be done at Davis?</p>
<p>I think you have all the information you need to make a decision. Except maybe calling your target graduate schools and confirming that you will be a good candidate from your target undergraduate schools.</p>
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<p>Are all of your credit units from community colleges?</p>
<p><a href=“University of California Counselors”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/uc-transfer-maximum-limitation-policy-chart.pdf</a> says that at most 70 non-UC lower division units will be counted toward graduation or unit limits at UC. So you can have hundreds of community college units without going over the number of units to be restricted for admission to UC due to having too many units.</p>
<p>CSU also only grants at most 70 units from community colleges.</p>
<p>All my units are from De Anza College, so yes, they are all community college units. </p>
<p>If I attended Davis, I would do everything in my power to graduate in 2 years or to the best of my ability.</p>
<p>I suppose it’s worth noting that De Anza College actually offers a 4 year degree in Psychology with a special partnership with Palo Alto University (previously the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology). </p>
<p>As for SFSU, I would much rather attend there than SJSU and I would actually consider that option if I was admitted there. I like their curriculum better and I like the city better than San Jose as well. </p>
<p>So in reality, I could pursue a 4 year degree without transferring at all. </p>
<p>This is the info on the partner school which offers the degree:</p>
<p>“Palo Alto University (previously the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology) is a not-for-profit free-standing educational institution in Palo Alto, California. It offers two undergraduate degree programs (BS in Psychology and Social Action and BS in Business Psychology) and five graduate programs: a PhD in Clinical Psychology; a PsyD in Clinical Psychology as part of a consortium with Stanford University, and three masters’ degree programs: an MA in Counseling Psychology, an MA in Counseling, and an MS in Psychology. Palo Alto University subscribes to the practitioner-scientist training model, a variation of the Boulder scientist-practitioner model, which emphasizes clinical practice along with scientific training.”</p>
<p>I could just stay at De Anza and follow this entire program through to the Ph. D. I just think it would be worth it to experience something like a UC. </p>
<p>But, ya know, that Psy. D in consortium with Stanford sounds really interesting (!!), I can’t believe I never looked into this option before, lol. Reading more about their programs, it seems they are like a trade school of sorts, offering nothing but psychology degree’s. I’m not sure that’s the route I would benefit most from, but it sure is an option that would enable me to become a practicing clinical psychologist. I think a degree like that may limit me if I should ever need to work a different job though. It almost seems a little too “ITT Tech” to me. Any opinions about this? Anyone know anything about this school?</p>
<p>Surprisingly their Psy. D program is ranked #79 according to US News Week and their Clinical Psychology program is ranked #171. </p>
<p>I suppose that’t not too shabby. Probably a better alternative to a CSU to be honest. Hell, If I have to commute De Anza is close enough anyway. </p>
<p>I do feel as though a Psychology Degree from UC Davis would carry more weight then a B.S. from this Palo Alto University. Especially for grad school. Now, their Psy. D program really interests me though. I may need to look into that further. Otherwise, I would hope to do well at Davis and then apply for Grad School at UCLA for clinical psychology. They are ranked #1 in the world, and I figured if I could get good grades at Davis, research experience, internships and my personal backstory, I would have a fair shot at acceptance into a PH. D program at UCLA. Being ranked #1 it’s my motivation to want to have the UC name on my undergrad degree, I feel like it would help me get into top ranked grad schools. </p>
<p>Money is a whole other issue entirely. </p>
<p>I am, however, strongly considering the option to move in with my dad and claim his income moving forward on all my financial aid in the future. </p>
<p>It does not present a problem when applying to grad schools. Psych grad schools are going to accept either major …no problem. Grad schools are often very lenient in those regards. </p>
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<p>You’re going to have give up the idea of completing the UC req’ts. You can’t afford a UC unless your mom changes her mind about paying.</p>
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Money is a whole other issue entirely.
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<p>Money IS THE ISSUE. </p>
<p>BTW…you earn too much to get Pell grants, even if you moved in with your dad, unless your dad earns very little…like under $20k. </p>
<p>Sit down and talk to your mom and get a firm answer either way as to how much she’ll contribute. She is saying “no” to $30k at a UC. Maybe she’ll pay $5k?? more? less? You need to know. But, be warned, you say that your mom may have mental health issues, so even if she agreed to a good-sized contribution, she could change her mind again later.</p>
<p>You say that you pay for your gas and car insurance (and maybe repairs). That’s about $4k per year right there. So, you need to factor that into any budget. You also seemed to have left off food from your estimates for a UC. </p>
<p>You cannot rely on getting private loans to cover any gaps. I don’t know where you’re getting the info that the nat’l avg of debt at graduation is over 30k. I think it’s around 20k for those attending publics and about 25k for those attending privates. </p>
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<p>This won’t matter. All psychologists need to have have masters degrees to work in the field…at least. And grad school cohorts come from a variety of programs.</p>
<p>IF you have visited dad overnight at all for the year before you file FAFSA, those days count You can claim your dad as custodial parent if you just spend one day more than you did your mom. It’s up to you to track those days. Have you run your dad’s numbers to see if you can get state money, PELL to make it possible for Davis? That might be an option for you if you move quickly.</p>
<p>Also ask your mother is she is still willing to pay the $5K or so she was for your education if you live with Dad and use him as Custodial parent. You have to run the numbers to see what works best. It might be doable for you. You won’t be living with dad much longer once you dorm/live at the college. My friend had her son do this in order to get some fin aid for his college costs. He’d get zip living with her, the CP by divorce decree. He just spent a little more time with Dad and used him for CP for FAFSA, got PELL and some other aid. Still not full cost met, but he then borrowed money from mom to pay the rest–since her giving him the money or paying the college becomes support that needs to be listed the subsequent year. It made for substantial savings at a pricey college.</p>
<p>DeAnza doesn’t offer a 4-year degree. Paul Alto University is a separate college located on the campus of DeAnza and College of San Mateo. It is a 2-year/90 unit/trimester program. Classes are pre-scheduled (you don’t select classes, just your major) and classes generally run M-Th 10-4. My daughter initially had an interest in a psychology major and we looked into PAU as a transfer possibility (she has since changed majors). PAU currently costs $42,660 (= $447 per unit tuition & $27 per unit/fees) for the 90 unit/2 year program (and tuition/fees are not raised once you begin classes). I have a friend who attended there grad school – he found employment immediately and has worked as a clinical psychologist for a major medical health plan and also opened his own independent office a few years ago. </p>
<p>San Jose State seems the best route for you to complete your degree. SFSU would be an awful commute!</p>
<p>Well, then it looks like the DeAnza/Palo Alto route won’t work if he’d be paying Palo Alto tuition rates. If that is the case, then DeAnza should be more clear on that point, because this student obviously didn’t realize he’d be charged over $42k plus books and any other costs.</p>
<p>SJSU is the best route. SFSU commute would really interfere with comfort level, particularly with a student who has anxiety issues.</p>
<p>The OP needs to look past the 2 SHORT years that he’d be at SJSU. He’ll likely have debt as a grad student. New psych grads don’t earn a lot, so if he has debt from undergrad and debt from grad school, he’s not going to be able to pay the debt back while paying for his living expenses. </p>
<p>He says that he doesn’t care about “earning a lot of money,” well, when you rack up debt, a newish grad has NO CHOICE but to care about “earning a lot of money,” because loan payments have to be made, while rent, food, car, phone and other expenses need to get paid.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s true, tuition for the partner program is expensive. I just realized the PUA tuition just before coming on here to update. Seems everyone has beat me to it! </p>
<p>They make sure to hide the tuition from all the advertising!</p>
<p>It is true that the SFSU commute may become stressful from the south bay because there is no BART. However, I might be able to stay with friends family who live in Union City/Fremont and then I could take BART to SFSU. I don’t know if that would be a good solution to commute, stress-wise or not, but it may be an option. </p>
<p>SJSU is always an option, and I did submit an application, but I don’t like it. </p>
<p>I also submitted an application to UCSC, which I could commute to. My dad was thinking of an apartment in Santa Cruz anyway, he mentioned it to me recently. If I am granted admission there, I could commute to campus for that over SJSU. The tuition would be a few thousand more though. But, it is close enough to commute, just as close as SFSU would be. </p>
<p>Now let me be straight for a moment, if I have to do it, I will choose SJSU and be done with it. </p>
<p>However, if I can make something else work, and not in a ridiculous way, I will try to do that first. That means I am going to explore all my options and try my best to make Davis or Santa Cruz possible. If I can’t, then I will do my best to see what I could work with SFSU. At the end of the day, if nothing is seeming to work out, then I will have to choose SJSU and I would be OK with that, if and only if, I knew that I did my best to make other opportunities possible first. </p>
<p>It’s also true that I never know what it expect with my mother. It’s never 100% with her, I can never count on her word for anything 100%. Sad, but true. </p>
<p>To be honest, I don’t even think she would be willing to contribute more just because I would choose SJSU over a UC and I would either have to work to pay my own tuition, or take out loans. That’s why I don’t feel motivated to make that choice, it doesn’t seem to make any difference to anyone around me so what the hell, that was my train of thought anyway. I would obviously save 14,000$ of debt for not paying housing. That’s the only difference, and its a significant difference too. It’s not deniable. </p>
<p>I just have a problem with thinking with my heart instead of my head. I’ve always been very instinctive and intuitive about difficult decisions and right now my intuition is telling me not to compromise on my dream, while its obviously more logical to choose SJSU, I feel like I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t try harder to make my dreams possible. Not saying that I wouldn’t succumb to logic, it’s just that it feels very defeating to do so. </p>
<p>Just a perspective of whats going on inside my head/thoughts! (sounds strange when I say that lol)</p>
<p>I also know myself pretty well, and I know that I would be less motivated at SJSU to do well. I know that sounds really bad, I really know it does. But I also know how I work and what motivates me and settling isn’t what motivates me. It really does the opposite. I know that I would consciously try to not become unmotivated, but it would be a challenge sitting through a curriculum I don’t like and at a campus I don’t like. I’m not quite sure that would be the healthiest thing for my anxiety either, to be honest. Maybe more-so than the added stress of commuting to SF.</p>
<p>Basically Long story short, I will choose SJSU if it comes to that. (sorry for the triple post!!!) </p>
<p>You probably need to figure out where your father will live. It sounds like there are lots of issues living with your mother that are unrelated to college, so if living with your father is possible and has less of these types of issues, you may want to do that, regardless of what college you choose. Of course, if you do move in with him, where he lives will affect which colleges are in commuting range.</p>
<p>As far as commuting, SFSU is doable from the south bay by Caltrain to Millbrae, then BART to Daly City. It would be a relatively long commute though. Remember that BART from Union City to Daly City is a pretty long ride also.</p>
<p>Deferring transferring by a year may be an option if you need to settle the family and living situation before transferring. You may want to consider working to save up money for college while completing the last few courses at a community college for all requirements during that year if you choose to do that.</p>
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<p>And SFSU has a free shuttle bus from Daly City Bart to SFSU (where it circles around campus). You can’t take the shuttle back to Bart - you have to take a bus which stops in front of SFSU and get off a couple of blocks from Daly City Bart (and walk to Bart). <a href=“http://parking.sfsu.edu/transit/shuttle-service”>http://parking.sfsu.edu/transit/shuttle-service</a>.</p>
<p>I thought the father was unemployed? Would he even be willing or able to have OP living with him?</p>