<p>So I was rejected by USC and definitely appealing although I bet it wouldnt make a difference, I'm making plans to transfer to USC. I don't live in the US so I'm not really sure how the education system works.. Can anyone tell me if my chances would be higher if I transfer to USC from Santa Monica College or Pepperdine? I've actually emailed a USC admission counselor about this but she only told me that this is not part of their admission policy and that she could only let me know that SMC has an articulation agreement with USC and Pepperdine doesn't. Can anyone here help me? Thanks!!!</p>
<p>I don’t have any information concerning how attending one or the other will impact your “admission chances,” but I do know that you can be more sure of your credits and classes transferring for credit if you attend Santa Monica College. Having an articulation agreement means you know - before you register for classes - which will be given credit at USC and what requirements they will satisfy.</p>
<p>Many classes at Pepperdine will very likely transfer for credit, but you won’t know for sure until you apply, are accepted, and get a transfer credit report from USC.</p>
<p>I was going to ask this same question. I’m not sure if I should attend UC Irvine for a year and transfer or go to a community college, enroll in the Scholar’s Program and make use of the Articulation Agreement. I guess community college would be a safer bet because the courses are easily transferred and the Scholar’s Program with Honors classes is a plus?</p>
<p>Thanks alamemom! I’m so lost I don’t know what to do!! Wish I have a mom like you to guide me~ Haha. I kinda doubted SMC or rather, community colleges in general, cuz the tuition is so cheap it shocked me! Here in Asia, “expensive” schools that are not easy to gain admission to are pretty much “better” schools. So I thought that I would have a higher chance in gaining admission to USC if I go to Pepperdine rather than SMC as pretty much anyone can get into a community college.</p>
<p>well i was choosing between UC Berkeley and community college too. In the beginning, i was SURE i was going to go to community college because i didn’t care if i had to go to CC to get into USC. but then, i realized what happens if im not accepted even after CC? only about 22% are accepted out of transfers or around there. Also, i think UCB looks good on my app over CC, even if the classes are harder and u could probably find more opportunities at pepperdine. Lastly, i would go to pepperdine so that u can get the “freshman experience” and just to be safe if ur transfer doesn’t work out. i’ve put soo much thought into it lol and i’ve chosen UCB, even though im terrified of going there! not exactly the easiest school as far as academics : [</p>
<p>dont community college students have “priority” over students from 4 years? or maybe thats only for UC’s i forget</p>
<p>why do you want to transfer from ucb to usc ?</p>
<p>I have two friends going through this process right now. One from a CC and one from a 4-year university. I think my friend at the 4-year university definitely made the right choice because if, god forbid, he doesn’t get in to USC, he has a school where he’s happy and could remain for another 3 years. My CC friend, who is only applying to transfer to USC, is SOL if he doesn’t get in to USC.</p>
<p>If I were doing this, I would choose a 4-year school that I could see myself at for 4 years if all else fails and then pray that I get in for transfer. Who knows, you might end up loving Pepperdine and not wanting to transfer!</p>
<p>shah0926: You’e welcome :)</p>
<p>berry14: Berkeley sounds like a great choice!</p>
<p>kmzizzle: There is no priority for community college students over 4-year university students at USC. As you say, that is a UC policy.</p>
<p>Hmmm so Pepperdine is the better choice huh? Yup I checked with UCLA, UCs give students from California community colleges priority over all other applicants (international/4yr universities).</p>
<p>It’s extremely easy to transfer into USC from a community college instead from a 4 year school. USC doesn’t have priority for community college students like the UCs do. However, the fact that USC does have articulation agreements with community colleges increases your chances of getting accepted because when you apply you will enter as a Junior, or possibly a Sophomore with classes that will for sure be considered transferable. You will get in as long as your gpa is decent enough, 3.5 or higher.
And if your gpa is 3.5 or higher, then you are also most likely to get into all the UCs as well in addition to USC, and in addition to Pepperdine.
Pepperdine is not one of the “top, top schools in Cali.” Some UCs are better than them. I personally wouldn’t spend the extra money to attend Pepperdine especially if your intentions are to transfer.
Just do community college, and worst case scenario will be that you end up at Pepperdine. The difference, and the plus, is that you would have saved thousands.</p>
<p>Thank you liek0806! My doubts have been cleared 
Yeah I know that part about Pepperdine…my dad’s pretty reluctant in letting me go there. It’s like how USC was university of spoiled children decades ago. Beautiful place but academically so-so… Think I shall just go to Santa Monica College and work extra hard to get a 4.0 gpa :)</p>
<p>Well, since i was in EXACTLY the same situation as you, I thought I should say something :)</p>
<p>I go to Pepperdine, waiting on my transfer decision from USC. This is why I think you should choose Pepperdine (unless, of course, money is a big problem):</p>
<ol>
<li>Contrary to what you said, Pepperdine academics are amazing. Hands down…even made me rethink USC :O! I guarantee no community college will be near the caliber of their academics; every class I have taken, I have learned so much. The teachers are always available and really care about each student and their education. This is all assuming, though, that you want a genuinely good education, not just that easy 4.0.</li>
<li>Pepperdine is HUGE on volunteering. It’s actually where I found my passion for it. They have so many opportunities that anybody can join and they make it so easy it’s unbelievable. This is great for adding to your extracurricular resume (which is harder to do in college!).</li>
<li>I guarantee you can get into all the classes you need to transfer. There is a place on the USC website where you put in your school (in this case, Pepperdine) and intended major, and they pretty much plan out your year based on the classes the school offers. </li>
<li>Since it’s such a small school, most of the classes you need will not fill up very fast, if at all. And even if they do, just contact a few people, and they will probably squeeze you in (everyone…and I literally mean everyone…at Pepperdine is extremely friendly and will help you wherever they can).</li>
<li>It’s private. In case you didn’t know, California is in an extreme financial crisis, so they are cutting back on public school funding TREMENDOUSLY. I don’t know about smc specifically, but many schools are suffering (eliminating classes, leading to people not being able to get into classes they need, teachers not into their jobs, etc).<br></li>
</ol>
<p>Of course, with all of this, there are also negative aspects of Pepperdine. But I think this post is long enough, so if you have any more questions about it, I’m here
good luck with everything!</p>
<p>Thanks sclove09! Although this is bringing me back to dilemma from “i think i have a decision”…lol! Well, money isnt a problem for me (basically international applicants CANNOT have financial problems if we wanna go to USC or any university in U.S without a scholarship). Need to figure out the best decision though!! AARGH SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!</p>
<p>Anyone?? >_<!</p>
<p>Im going to SMC with intentions to transfer to USC too! youve probably already made your decision but Iv heard its easier and way cheaper to transfer from a community college, either way youll most likely be able to get back into peperdine so taking the community college route isnt going to hurt your chances, if anything it will boost them but id check into majors because some majors are easier to get into than others</p>
<p>I was a in a similar situation with you except with a different California private university. I went there for a year and then when I reapplied last Fall, i was accepted to USC. Now I’m starting at USC this Fall and I’m extremely excited. If you know you want to transfer, I would suggest saving the money by going to CC, but Pepperdine is a great school and a year there may convince you to stay.</p>
<p>Hey I was planning on the Pepperdine to USC transfer also. Could you give me more information about the process? What forms, recommendations, essays were required and how many credits were needed to transfer.</p>
<p>Hey I was planning on the Pepperdine to USC transfer also. Could you give me more information about the process? What forms, recommendations, essays were required and how many credits were needed to transfer.</p>
Have any of you that were planning on the Pepperdine to USC transfer figure it out? How did it all turn out for you?
Hey did your friend up getting into USC? That is the route I hope to take in the next couple of years. @musicalstudent