I am new to this topic. Trying to understand the pros and cons of it. My daughter is finishing high school and has got admission from Sonoma State / SF State in Engineering. She wants to go to UC (still awaiting results).
Question A: Does it make sense to go to SF State and take a chance of transfer from there to UC? Or it is better to go to CC and attempt at UC transfer through TAG?
Question B: If it is better to go through CC route, we have 2 options of CC. One offers grading of A, B, C etc…the other offers grading of A+, A, B+, B etc…finer granularity. Does that give a student a better chance of getting a higher GPA to be eligible for TAG?
I was not accepted to any schools I had my heart set on straight after high school. I decided to go to my local CC and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Not only did it save my parents money, but I am also going to be attending my dream school this fall (UCSB). I wouldn’t have had a chance of getting in right out of high school so it was nice to have the opportunity to raise my gpa over the 2 years at CC. I have also matured more over the past 2 years and feel much more comfortable leaving home. As for your second question, I’m not entirely sure how much that would effect her gpa but as long as she’s getting good grades overall and completes the IGETC at CC she should be able to get into plenty of schools.
CC is the best route to transfer to a UC, especially using TAG. Transfer priority: CC > UC > CSU.
I did not know cc or any colleges give grades of A+. Is it weighted as a 4.3?
Assuming there is no such grade in college as a 4.3, it is a toss up between a traditional solid grade system vs. a system using +/-'s. An A- or 3.7 or a B- or 2.7 in the UC system can hurt.
Some schools like the University of Washington goes down to an even more granular level using a numeric system from 0,0 to 4.0 rather than a letter grade convertible to a numeric. For example, rather that giving a letter grade A, B, C, etc., students are given numeric grades: 4.0, 3.9, 3.8, 3.7,.3.6, 3.5, 3.4, etc. An A is 4.0, 3.9, 3.8; an A- is 3.7, 3.6, 3.5; a B+ is 3.4, 3.3, etc.
The UCs will not look at A+ in the college setting, so the A+ will translate to an A. Your daughter will be way better off taking engineering at a CCC. Berkeley, for one, takes almost all their engineering transfer students from a CCC.
A). No. You have a lower chance of getting in with a mid gpa of 3.5 at a CSU. You have a higher chance getting into a mid-range UC given that your GPA qualifies for TAG and maintaining that GPA.
B). UCs only accept letter grades with no +/-. An applicant only has higher chances if all their pre reqs are completed with a high GPA.
I made the mistake of going to a CSU when I really wanted to go to a UC. I’m at a community college now and it’s been a wonderful experience, so much better than that CSU. It’s a gamble if I’ll get into any UC, even with a decent GPA (though lower because of poor performance at said CSU).
Don’t settle. If UCB is where she wants to go, enroll in the CC and go from there.
I’d enroll in a CC. I had a similar situation in high school and I thank the lord and my parents for guiding me to the right direction (CC). It’s great that your daughter got into a 4-year… but let’s be honest she could do better than those schools
It is MUCH harder to transfer from a 4-year state school to a UC, then from a CCC to a UC.
I don’t think you guys should choose the CC based on whether the grading scale is weighted or not. Pick the one that has the most approved prereqs for which ever UC she wants to go to. It also helps to go to a CC where you don’t have to fight for classes… there are a lot of CCs like that, they’re overpopulated and it’s really hard to get your classes
But for what it’s worth, I prefer the non-weighted scale. Since your daughter is aiming for UCB, I’m assuming she’s gonna be aiming for a 4.0. Not saying she has to get it, but I expect her to at least aim for if she really wants to go to Berkeley. That being said, I always found it nice that a 90% is the same as a 100% at my school (non-weighted).