UC Merced or Community College?

<p>Stuff about me. (3.8 weighted, 1840, 1 EC on application, 1 addition EC senior year)
I wanted to major in Aerospace Engineering. (Could have been why I got denied from some schools stated below)
I applied to only 3 UC's; UCI, UCSD, UCLA. Rejected by all.
Appealed to UCI and UCLA</p>

<p>Still waiting on appeal results, but I don't know when I will get these since it has barely been one week and a couple of days. I can't count on those coming through. I got an email saying that UC Merced has accepted me because UC wants to give everyone in CA a chance at their system. I do realize Merced is at the bottom of the rankings. If I attended there I would plan on transfering to UCLA or UCSD. I have a couple of questions. </p>

<p>Would 9 AP's, assuming I pass all my tests (11), I have so far, qualify me as a sophomore to transfer in only one year (I would rather not have to pay that much money for two years)?<br>
When do I find out if UC Merced or Cal State Fullerton will offer me money? (is the money void if I transfer out?)
For Aerospace Engineering is it easier to transfer out of UC Merced or a Community College or my last option Cal State Fullerton?</p>

<p>Where do I go, options right now are UC Merced, Community College, or Cal State Fullerton?</p>

<p>You might want to check the UC transfer board for answers:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I have heard UC Merced has set-up a guaranteed transfer program to other UCs...don't know if its true or much about it...but might be something worth looking into.</p>

<p>If you want to go to a UC, the best option is to go to a JC, get strong grades and then transfer. </p>

<p>Ease of transfer will be: JC > UC Merced (maybe equal with JC if transfer program exists) > CSU Fullerton</p>

<p>
[quote]
Would 9 AP's, assuming I pass all my tests (11), I have so far, qualify me as a sophomore to transfer in only one year (I would rather not have to pay that much money for two years)?

[/quote]

Berkeley and UCLA only accept transfers at the junior level...(60+ semester units.) Unsure about other UCs.</p>

<p>
[quote]
When do I find out if UC Merced or Cal State Fullerton will offer me money? (is the money void if I transfer out?)

[/quote]

Did you fill out a FAFSA? If so, you should hear from them soon about financial aid award packages...each school will offer you a package of aid...can consist of grants, scholarships, loans and work study. Grants and scholarships will lower the true cost. Loans you'll have to repay once you graduate...work-study means you find a part-time job on campus and your cost is lowered by your work.</p>

<p>The awards will be void if you transfer out. When you get accepted to your new college, you'll apply for financial aid there and get a new aid package. The aid packages are not transferrable to different colleges.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>And don't despair about being rejected. It's not the end of the world. You'll have a great second chance at your dream.</p>

<p>If you intend on transferring to another UC, it should be easier from a CC rather than from a CSU or UC (the UCs reserve most transfer spots specifically for California CC transfers, if I'm not mistaken). Merced's not a particularly appealing place to live anyway. I'd imagine that you will have to put together a stellar academic record at your CC, though, since your stats as they were unfortunately weren't all that great even for easier (i.e., liberal arts) majors at UCSD and UCLA (not sure about UCI).</p>

<p>I wouldn't mind so much being able to take trips to Yosemite every weekend. </p>

<p>Would I qualify for Sophomore status at UC Merced? (8 AP not 9, US history, Calc BC, Spanish, Chem, Stats, Physics, Govt, Econ</p>

<p>If I remember correctly, UC Merced has a guaranteed transfer to UCB if you fulfill certain requirements. Thats worth looking into, and I think that is what UCBCEG was referring to in his post.</p>

<p>I just looked that up and saw something called "shared experience" I think it is for UCSD, UCLA, UCB, and UCI. UC</a> Merced promotes self as easier path to Berkeley | Oakland Tribune | Find Articles at BNET.com</p>

<p>But I would only just UC Merced over community college if I would only stay there for one year (not worth the money). Does anyone know if I qualify for sophomore status?</p>

<p>you can find out if qualify if you go to the website of the school and search for what credit they give you for AP tests.</p>

<p>A more interesting thing to explore is the CC route with all the AP credit you have. As has been pointed out, the UC system gives preference to admits from the CC system. You need to look into this some more, but it is possible that with your AP credit you will only have to spend 1 year at a CC to earn enough total credits to be counted as a junior transfer applicant by the UC schools. Then (and again, you need to research this) you may be able to act as a sophomore at the UC and ignore all the AP credit except where it has given you credit for a specifc class. I don't know if this applies to transfers from CC's, but for incoming frosh the UC system says
[quote]
Units granted for AP tests are not counted toward the maximum number of credits required for formal declaration of a major or the maximum number of units a student may accumulate prior to graduation from the University. Students who enter the University with AP credit do not have to declare a major earlier than other students, nor are they required to graduate earlier.
University</a> of California - Counselors

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<p>To be honest, though, since you said you got 1800 on the SAT, unless your math score is a lot higher than the 600 this roughly implies then engineering may not be a great pick for you. But that's your business, just something to think about.</p>

<p>concur with mikemac:</p>

<p>Unless you have extenuating personal circumstances, your appeals into engineering are real long-shots (eng is math, math and more math). But, with your AP credits, and first year coursework (which may require summer school at either end), yes, you can qualify for soph standing and apply again to UC next fall if you can amass the total credits. Note, however, that gpa is important so taking 20 units at a Juco and earning B's, is not as valuable to you as taking 15 units and earning A's.</p>

<p>Transferring from a UC is much, much harder than transferring from a juco honors program. If you are in Orange County, Orange Coast College has an excellent transfer rate to all UCs, including Cal & UCLA. Santa Monica college is the top feeder school to UCLA.</p>

<p>If money isn't an issue I highly recommend allowing yourself to have a freshman dorm experience at a 4 year school. UCM does offer a transfer program provided the student meets the academic requirements. So either way you can transfer to a higher prestige UC.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that all the UCs except Berkeley accept transfers every quarter, so you can apply whenever you finish two years of coursework. It's not necessarily one year vs two.</p>

<p>umm, UCLA's Transfer Brochure does not indicate that it accepts non-fall transfers. And, an applicant must have 90 quarter (60 semester) units to apply as a Jr transfer.</p>

<p>The UCs are raising tuition price so if you don't care for the freshman dorm experience, you should go to CC for 1-2 year before transferring to UCLA/UCB.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Keep in mind that all the UCs except Berkeley accept transfers every quarter, so you can apply whenever you finish two years of coursework. It's not necessarily one year vs two.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think this is completely false.</p>

<p>UCB has semester system</p>

<p>
[quote]
Transfer From Semester to Quarter System</p>

<p>All UC campuses use the quarter system except UC Berkeley and UC Merced, which use the semester calendar. If you are enrolled in a community college or other institution with a fall term that does not end before January 1, you cannot transfer to the University for the winter quarter.

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