<p>I will be attending Cal Poly Pomona, starting from the fall until the time that I will be able to transfer out. CPP does not offer enough of the things that I want, imo. I believe that a UC will. I am currently a Physics major, but as most...I am unsure about what major(s) I will pursue or what I will do in future. I did pretty bad in high school. Straight C's and B's in 9th and 10th. A's and B's in 11th. 4.16 GPA throughout senior year (2 AP's - calc and gov). Nothing special. 1090 on the SAT I. I couldn't care enough as other people may have to take prep classes for such a test. It was the first and only time I took the test and I bubbled in every guess possible. I stand by the argument that some tests and past grades don't make a suitable judgment of the individual. Came out of high school with about a 3.2-3.3 GPA. Yes, it is horrible. </p>
<p>Now that I have become serious about school (as is seen by the trend of grades and the grades from my senior year in high school), I believe I will get a really high overall GPA by the end of my sophomore year in college. I am guessing it should be between 3.5 and 4.0. How hard is it to transfer to UCLA? I am interested in a few science majors and Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I know there are a few restrictions as to the classes I should be taking. 90 quarter units is another restriction. I am currently trying to figure out what classes I should take in the Fall at CPP. Currently, I have freshman english, chemistry w/ lab, and calc, which puts me at 12 quarter units. I am thinking about taking an introductory course for ME (mechanical engineering) and ARO (aerospace eng.) to see if I am interested in those fields enough to pursue them as majors. </p>
<p>Once I transfer, do I have to have declared my major(s) right away? I believe that it still goes by the "you choose what you take" idea and that I can still take some introductory classes that weren't even offered at CPP. I hope so. I don't want to be forced to decide on my major(s) without having the opportunity to experience them / get exposed to them.</p>
<p>Your best bet would have been to go to a ccc instead of Calpoly, as they have the first priority for transfering. Next on the list is (I think) UC to UC transfers, with other instate, 4 year unis in at third.</p>
<p>Its amazing how useful these message boards are. I don't think you would have found me or anyone who has done this specific transfer anywhere else.</p>
<p>I just spent my last two years at Cal Poly and will spend my next two at UCLA. If you really want to transfer to UCLA, IMMEDIATLY TRANSFER TO A CCC. It is MUCH more difficult to get accepted comming from Cal Poly than a CCC. Possible yes, likly no. I finished at Cal Poly with a 3.91 GPA (you can't get above a 4.0 in college BTW), a job, and a good amount of ECs. You really need to be top notch to get in. Also, as I am now seeing, you can kiss about 2/3s of your classes goodbye. You'll still get units, but they will only hurt you because they will not fulfill credits and they will make you approach the maximum allowed at UCLA very quickly.</p>
<p>If you want to do engineering, maybe consider staying at Cal Poly, I really liked the school. Its a great program and you will get much more individual attention than at UCLA. Also, its definitly cheaper. About 1/2 the tution and your probably communting.</p>
<p>One plus about UCLA is that they require far less classes to earn a degree than Cal Poly. If you want help scheduling classes or have anyother questions, let me know.</p>
<p>Wow, this must be a once in a lifetime chance. And I got lucky, wooooohoooooo hahahahahahahaha. </p>
<p>I realize what kind of trouble I am getting myself into. But it's a totally restricted situation that I am in. It's money that is a huge problem. Cal Poly was the only school to give me financial aid. My family has a great deal of financial trouble and I cannot even finance an education at a CCC. I only have one option: take my chances, do my best, and see what happens. I am also considering UCB and probably UCSD. Won't I have a chance anywhere?! I believe that I will achieve a really high GPA, perhaps up to that 3.91. I'm guessing that's all A's and one A- or something?! Sheesh. I will join a few clubs for ECs and I might have a job or not, I don't really know. Probably something on campus.</p>
<p>I need help. Deciding on a major and my plans on transferring, =/.</p>
<p>Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't CCCs something like $10 a credit? I think I heard that, but I'm not sure and it might be a bit more, but either way, it really can't be more expensive than CalPoly, and it boosts your tranfer chances about 100 times over.</p>
<p>Transferring to a CCC would save you a lot of money, and as GentlemanandScholar said, boost your transfer chances a hundred-fold.</p>
<p>Why are you putting up so much resistance?</p>
<p>Do some research: One year of tuition at Cal Poly (according to <a href="http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_finaid/NewFinAid/Cost.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_finaid/NewFinAid/Cost.htm</a>) will cost you about $4,200, not including books, housing, etc. -- financial aid not included. One year at community college with 16 units @ $21/unit (the avg. cost) is $336 dollars. One year of comprehensive costs at Cal Poly is $16,500. Now, unless they gave you upwards of $16,164 in financial aid, then how in the heck is Cal Poly cheaper than a CCC?</p>
<p>Xcron will be going to cal poly pomona, not SLO. If I'm not mistaken, SLO is the most expensive CSU, so pomona would be cheaper. I'm assuming, though, Xcron got full tuition at CPP.</p>
<p>Side note: I got to SLO, and comprehensive costs are around $11,000 per year. The student incurring $16,000 of costs per year must be staying at a beach house in Pismo.</p>
<p>Right. Not SLO. Cal Poly Pomona. Tuition per year is like $3400 or something.
In the end, I was able to get a state university grant of $3024, a pell grant for $600, my cal grant for $3525, and an optional stafford sub loan of $2625. I have more than enough for misc fees, tuition, and books. I'm guessing I will have a little on the side, left over that is. </p>
<p>If you look on the site, you will see how confident I must be to settle with the past chances that other Cali university students have had with transfer admission (about %14). Those CCC students get 40% chance. Based on college and GPA. I think I can successfully transfer from CPP. If I go to a CCC, I will have to pay everything by myself, no financial aid at use. As much as I will probably hate myself for it and am ruining a good chance at attending one of those three UCs in the future, I am probably not going to back down from this path of transferring from CPP.</p>
<p>Yeah, get out of Cal Poly if you want to go to LA. Cal Poly bases financial aid (to some extent) off the same kind of formulas CCs use, though the income levels needed to get aid will be lower, corresponding to the costs. Also, you can appeal at CCs to be considered as "independent" for fin aid purposes, even if you are under 24, single, no kids, etc, unlike public 4 years, who pretty much only go off FAFSA. Also, if you go to a CC, it will be easier for you to work and pay your own tution. I knew a lot of people before I transferred who payed for their own education because their families couldn't afford to help, and you can fully fund your two years with a part-time job, and it's easier to balance school and work because of night and weekend classes. </p>
<p>I had about the same high school gpa as you and I walked in to college thinking I'd pull near straight A's, too. But I didn't, though I was at a CC and consider myself fairly intelligent. I still ended up with a good gpa in the end and got into UCLA. At my orientation session, only a handful of students came from 4 years, most were from UCs, two were from private schools, and ONE was from Poly. Also keep in mind that your major is competitive, and you will lose many of your units once you transfer and probably need to waste even more on doing general ed as an upper division student, whereas you could just do IGETC at a CC and be done. Atleast look into it.</p>
<p>"If I go to a CCC, I will have to pay everything by myself, no financial aid at use."</p>
<p>Right, because CCC's aren't only way cheaper, but they offer no financial aid as well, right? If you want to lessen your chances from 40% to 14%, be our guest. The reality is, that's not even the true disparity between your chances. Getting a 3.8 at Pomona is significantly more difficult than at a CCC. Sure, Cal Poly will offer you a much more rewarding 2 years, but if you're genuinely concerned about your transfer chances, then you're doing yourself a huge disfavor by refusing to even consider the fact that a CCC is much cheaper (not only tuition, but they also offer financial aid too, surprise surprise) and will considerably bolster your transfer chances.</p>
<p>If only CCs were not so underrated as they are now...
My parents think that CCs are trash and only the really stupid people who have done horribly in their academics go there. They are recommending, though it may be somewhat mockingly and forcefully, to go to Cal Poly Pomona. They are telling me that they believe that I can do it and that I should have confidence to overcome the low chances that I may have and rise to the occasion. </p>
<p>I think that it would be really great to go to a CC and get the IGETC done so I don't have to take any GEs and all, but then I would lose out on some of my personal reasons for going to Cal Poly Pomona. These include having my dad buy me a car, being able to have a reason to not be home throughout the whole day, being able to meet new people and not the large number that are going to the CC close to me this next year, and a few other strange personal reasons. </p>
<p><em>sigh</em> If only it were not so unfair. It seems that in our equal-opportunity society, the lowest performing students get the advantage (or so it seems from the reputation of CCs that is generated by this city that I live in).</p>
<p>I'm very sorry to have disappointed and frustrated any of you who have offered your advice and help to me. I would have gladly listened, but as you may or may not see/understand, I really cannot deviate from CPP. I am very thankful for all the help and advice everyone has given me.</p>
<p>No worries man; you gotta do what you gotta do.</p>
<p>I just objected to that fact that you couldn't derivate from CPP based on financial reasons. Again, a CCC will almost invariably be cheaper than 99% of college options, even with financial aid, with the exception of something like a Rhodes Scholarship where you not only get free tuition, but a month spending stipend.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I can totally sympathize with the fact taht your parents won't let you take this route over CPP. It's a good school so make the best of what will hopefully be only two years.</p>
<p>Transferring otu of it and into UCLA will be more difficult, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.</p>
<p>I just wanted to clear up some possible misunderstanding.</p>
<p>I didn't really mean that my parents are not letting me go to a CC, technically. It's just that when I mention my chances to transfer from a CC instead of CPP, my mom mocks me and laughs at the thought of me going to a CC. She thinks it is shameful to go to such a school, or something like that. My father supports me pursuing a degree but favors having the amount of financial aid along with extra money from a university. That's even without a job. Though, I try to not talk to him about college matters, nor with my mom, because they are both unsupporting of me pursuing a degree in science or engineering, which doesn't bother me much because I have realized that they don't understand anything about this type of matter but is not likable either. </p>
<p>It just seemed like CPP was a good choice. Who knows, I will just have to try my best and give it my all. Only that will show if I am up for this challenge and difficulty of transferring to a school like UCLA, UCSD, or UCB from a regular 4-year university. It's just unfortunate.</p>
<p>Wow! I was somehow able to have a good conversation with my dad about me going to CPP or a CC and we began to draw conclusions. He is actually in support of me trying to get into a UC, and he had exactly the same thoughts as I did when I chose CPP initially. Just today, I applied to Pasadena City College and I am going to try to register for my classes as soon as possible. Luckily, me being the schoolboy that I am, now I may get to go back to school at the end of August (PCC school year) instead of at the end of September (CPP school year). This way, I have to get my car as I wanted, I may get little enough money to cover my costs at PCC, I can complete the IGETC reqs so that I won't have to do anymore GEs once I transfer, and I'll have the 40% chance of admission that CC students receive.</p>
<p>What do you guys think? I need some support, lol.</p>
<p>Know that PCC is #2 in transfers of any community college to UCLA (and #1 to USC). It's also one of the best CC's in California in terms of overall course offerings, etc., and they even offer seminars entitled "Writing the UC Personal Statement," and "Writing the USC admission essays."</p>
<p>I'd say you made a great choice. Few other colleges would be as supportive or conducive as PCC in terms of getting you in to UCLA.</p>
<p>Wow! I did not know that...I just picked it because I liked it more than GCC or LACC. Would GCC or LACC be better for transferring to a UC (since I have not decided whether I am going to transfer to UCLA, UCB, or UCSD...and since I will probably apply to more than one)?</p>
<p>The problem with this whole CC business is that it is so late. Even though I applied to PCC today and tomorrow may take the form to complete the admission process so that they can admit me, and that I can take a few placement tests, and that I struggle to find classes that are open is exactly that. It's making me turn back to CPP...I don't want to have to do anymore placement tests, I have done enough...but they are forcing me to take them. I don't like that. It also looks like I am going to have to struggle to find any class that fits into my GE reqs...since almost everything is closed right now. THIS SUCKS! What am I to do...... =((((((((((((((((</p>
<p>You can't be seriously changing your mind because of placement tests. They're quick and painless, you'll probably take them sitting at a computer. And yes, PCC would be great for transferring to Berkeley or SD.</p>
<p>You said, "If only it were not so unfair. It seems that in our equal-opportunity society, the lowest performing students get the advantage" in regards to community colleges. What exatcly did you mean by that? If you're implying that all students who go to CCs are "low performing," I highly resent it, as will many on this board. I, for one, couldn't afford a university out of high school (and my parents couln't afford to buy me a car, either,) and I achieved highly at a community college by working hard. </p>
<p>Do what you want-- I don't think you're posting these comments to recieve advice at this point. Just go to Cal Poly if that's what you want, but don't do it unless you would be completely satisfied to graduate from it. Don't think you can argue with that sentiment.</p>
<p>I'm sorry about the "low-performing" statement...I had actually not meant it to come from me but as a description of what the general mentality of CCs is like around where I live...If I am blamed for that statement, then at least know that if that actually did come from me then it was because this mentality that engulfs my reasoning brainwashes my opinions and statements.</p>
<p>Almost_There, I definitely will not be happy graduating from CPP...I want to achieve the highest that I possibly can. UCLA, per say, has an engineering school that is one of the top ten in the world. I'm sure that UCB's is ranked just as highly. I'm pretty sure that I am going to do engineering now, so I want the best possible opportunity to be given to me so that I may take advantage of it and achieve. =)</p>
<p>I guess that there makes my decision. I have to try to go to a CC. If that is a path that definitely leads to a UC, then that is what I must follow. I would never be satisfied if I stayed at an OK engineering school like CPP (that is, compared to UCLA or UCB). </p>
<p>Are the placement tests really that easy?! If they are, then I probably should have no worries about them...if it isn't a time-waster and a bother. </p>
<p>I do like the IGETC program so that I can finish all the GE requirements for the UC. Would GCC or LACC (as I stated in the previous post) be a better choice for transferring to UCLA or UCB? </p>
<p>Most of the classes are closed and it is going to be hell to find even a few classes that I can take. I guess, as my friend told me...it will be worth it in the long run. Do you all seriously agree? I need a supportive answer to completely make up my mind... =/</p>