So I’m planning to transfer to either a UC or CSU once I finish my GED in community college. However, I’m not so sure would be the most beneficial for me.
Here’s what I’m looking into:
Your first visit should be to an academic advisor at your CC.
You cannot transfer to a public university in California without first completing 60 transferable units. A GED places you as completing an equivalent minimum of high school requisites as required by the state.
Some of your coursework for the GED may overlap a little. Strong preparation is required. I’ve never heard of a student going directly from a GED to a university. Unless I’ve misunderstood your question.
UC requirements
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/preparing-admission/minimum-requirements/index.html
Cal state requirements:
https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/transfer/Pages/upper-division-transfer.aspx
The best university is one that you can afford. It is also the one that will accept you. Only you can decide which one will fit your budget, environment, taste, and social needs.
It’s on you to find out about your preferred career options and which universities will have coursework in what you hope to do.
It’s also on you to prepare yourself as much as possible so that someone will hire you. That means coursework, internships, extracurricular clubs and activities, part-time jobs, etc.
No one can say to you, “if you go to XYZ university, they will guarantee that you’ll be hired”. It doesn’t work that way.
You need to speak to your academic advising team throughout your time in community college. They should have transfer planning guides if you attend a CC in California.
You’ll find lots of lists out there but ,in reality BEST is pretty subjective and highly individual. Some large prestigious schools like UCLA have large lecture halls and much of the lower division instruction is actually done by a grad student. Others like most of the CSUs have full smaller classrooms and full professors do most of the lecturing. One isn’t inherently better than the other - but most students find they excel more in one environment or the other.
I agree with @“aunt bea” Since you are just entering a CC, I your first stop should be at your CCs academic advisors office to plan the courses you should take each semester - Science majors usually include sets of classes you need to take in a specific order - that part can be tricky to keep straight. When it comes to class selection for this semester, it really doesn’t matter whether you want to go to UCB or CSUChannel Island.
You can check for ACS approved chemistry majors:
https://webapplications.acs.org/Applications/CPTASL/app_list_search.cfm
You can look up what courses you need for junior transfer as a chemistry major at UCs and CSUs:
http://www.assist.org
Note that there is a general education pattern of courses called IGETC that can be used to fulfill general education requirements at most UCs and CSUs that you may transfer to.