<p>I’d like to ask those of you who transferred to UC Davis from a California community college: How was the transition in terms of academic preparedness? Did the courses at your JC sufficiently challenge you and prepare you for a 4 year university, or was it more like an extension of high school? Also what is your major?</p>
<p>I’m concerned that if my son goes to a JC for 2 years to “grow up”, he will be at a disadvantage and have a difficult time when he transfers to a UC. Of course it is much easier to get in as a transfer student, therefore the appeal of waiting.</p>
<p>well the freshman classes and jc classes are practically the same. it also depends on the JC. if he can maintain a high GPA as a fulltime student at a JC, academically i don't think he will be at much of a disadvantage compared to students who started as freshmans. the disadvantage he will have thou, is adjusting to uc davis life with a much harder workload than a freshman would have. socializing will also be different. not nessicarily
more difficult but different.</p>
<p>Hey -I'm a transfer student and this is my first quarter at Davis. I'm an animal science major and I spent quite a few years at a community college. </p>
<p>I'm having a problem transitioning mostly because I -hate- change and so the whole moving away from home and not knowing anyone up here has been hard for me. It did take me more than 2 years at a community college to get to this point as well. Mainly because of poor planning and bad advice. If I could go back in time and choose again I'd still go to a community college. The classes were a lot smaller, the teachers were there to teach, and for me it was a lot easier to get help if I needed it. Not to mention it was easier to get into the classes I needed.</p>
<p>So far I wouldn't say the material is harder at Davis than the community college I attended. What is difficult is the different style of teaching. I went from a small classroom size (about 20 students) to lecture halls with over 400 students. The pacing is a lot faster at Davis because it's a quarter system compared to the semester system I was at before. All the professors I have this quarter are very passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects but some of them are poor teachers. </p>
<p>Honestly, if I hadn't gone to a JC first I'd be having a very difficult time this first quarter here at Davis. While I'm taking some very basic courses (chem, bio, short calculus & domestic animal production) if I didn't have the building blocks from taking those courses at a community college I'd be totally lost right now.</p>
<p>If I can depart some advice it would be to make sure he works closely with the counselors at his community college to make sure he completes his IGETC and also with his major's adviser at Davis to make sure he is also taking the basic classes for his major. That way he won't have to do what I'm doing and take a bunch of freshmen classes his first few quarters. Also, when he gets to davis to take a light course load his first quarter that way he has time to adjust and get into the swing of things.</p>
<p>I liked my JC. It was a lot cheaper and it was easier for me to learn the material there. However, my twin hated JC and either failed or withdrew from most of her classes. She's now at a private school and getting straight As. So, it depends on the person.</p>
<p>^ Great insight just wondering which CCC you went too?</p>
<p>Thanks for the great advice, heffawhatsit!</p>
<p>I noticed you're from the bay area, would you by chance have experience with West Valley or DeAnza college?</p>
<p>Unfortunately I don't have any experience with those colleges. I went to Los Medanos Community College. </p>
<p>What you might also want to do, if you haven't already. Is see if the community college in your area offers TAGs (Transfer Admission Guarantee). Basically its a contract between you and the school saying that if you fulfill certain criteria that you'll be guaranteed admission. My school offered it for many of the UCs, including Davis, as well as some other schools. I didn't get a TAG and still got into Davis with a GPA of just over 3.0. However, I imagine it'd be a lot less stressful knowing you'll be guaranteed admission to a school as long as you fulfill certain criteria. =)</p>