UC vs. CSU?

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p><em>I posted this in another forum, but since I'm going to be transfering and this half involves a UC, I felt this would be an appropriate place to post as well!</em></p>

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>It would be great if I had some opinion on this, and it would be much appreciated!</p>

<p>Okay, so here's the story.</p>

<p>I'm currently in my second semester of community college and doing fairly well, getting mostly As and maybe a high B. I'm quite ahead because of all of the credits I recieved from taking AP tests in high school (what do ya know, all that work DID pay off!), and from the classes I took last semester. My plan is to transfer into a university for Fall of 2011. Right now have a 3.3 (Dang Calc killed me >.<) but seeing how I'm doing in class right now, I'm projecting my GPA to be at least a 3.6 by Fall 2010 and only higher from there (I know it's a bit of a while to guess that far, but I have goals for myself, I managed about a 4.4-4.6 all through high school so I think /I can do it (:). </p>

<p>Anyway, my absolute goal is to get accepted and go to UCI as a Psychology and Social Behavior major. I am planning on doing the TAG, and I've already met with counselors a few times to discuss my education plan. I am one of the lucky few who has been able to get into the classes I need, both for IGETC/possible schools. In the beginning, my education plan fit for CSUSM, SDSU, UCLA, and UCI. Now it has been shifting, considering SDSU refuses to admit people from where I live, and UCLA seems like a bit of a reach (plus it's ridiculousy hard and seems more into research for psychology, rather than what I would like to do (counseling, helping people, etc.). Crossing those two off, I have UCI and CSUSM. UCI is where I REALLY want to go, and in a sense, it's my "dream school". It's a great, safe campus, woth wonderful people, faculty, classes, and they have a major that seems to be perfect for me! There more I read and look int it, the more I fall in love with it. Then it's CSUSM...:( which can be considered my safety, since I can commute, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a UC. But really...I have no desire for it. I wanted to have that college lifestyle, the dorms, living in campus, roommates, classes, clubs, invovement, being away from home, all of that, even if it would be for only two years. Do get me wrong, I'm sure CSUSM is a great school but I don't want it to be like CC, where I go to class, make a friend or two each semester, join a club, and go home and start the process over the next day.</p>

<p>And I bet many of you can guess the dilemma....MONEY! -___-</p>

<p>With the economy in the crapper and living on one parent's salary (about $ 73,000 +/- 2k)with a younger brother, money is tight. It's fine right now with me going to a CC, but what about a year/year and a half from now? I highly doubt the salary is going to go any higher, if anything, it's lower. Also, no college savings plan whatsoever. AND we're in that weird area where we're making to much for a certain Cal Grant (forgot which one, involves high GPA and salary) and wayyy too much for the other one (almost strictly low income qualify). I'm not an athlete, so no chance in money there. I'm not a top student but I'm no idiot either, so I'm doubting about any merit aid.</p>

<p>Basically 2 questions: How can I pay? What should I do?</p>

<p>Paying for CSUSM is a lot less problematic than UCI, but if I get into UCI...? (though I guess that would depend on FAFSA/possible school aid...)</p>

<p>If I get into both, should I just suck it up and go to CSUSM, relieving burden from my dad's wallet and needing mimimum loans? Or should I fight and do anything possible, high debt/loans included to go to where I feel I would belong and will help me more in the long run?</p>

<p>Any opinions, even not relating to money, is welcome! Anything about either schools, their programs, and everything under the sun is open for answers. If anyone is interested for more info (though I'm pretty sure I covered quite a bit here), feel free to PM me :]</p>

<p>I'll be trying to check up on this thread as often as possible, and thanks again!</p>

2

<p>That major at UCI is very easy to get in. You need like a 3.2+ with some good essays. Seems like you’re looking at an upward trend in grades so you should be fine. </p>

<p>In regards to the money problem. Get a job. Start saving. </p>

<p>You can also apply for scholarships and such. Might be a little tough with your gpa, but it’s probable. Go figure, I took the route of working, saving, and here I am – paying for a uci isn’t all that bad after a CC. (after i factored in everything)</p>

<p>edit: will you live on campus or at home?</p>

3

<p>For UCI, I would be living on campus, no car ( I live about 45 min-1hr away, so if I wanted to go home for a weekend/if there was an emergency, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.</p>

<p>For CSUSM, I would be living at home and commuting (about 20 min drive)</p>

4

<p>there are pleanty of scholarships for 3.0+ gpas that would help you.</p>

<p>first look at your Community College financial aid office and tell them to give you a list of the scholarships they know about. my CC has a foundation of its own and they give nice scholarships out to kids who are transferring out.</p>

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<p>I’ll look into that, thanks!</p>

6

<p>If money is the biggest issue and you really want to go to UCI, why don’t you just live at home and commute? An hour isn’t bad at all. People in socal have way worse commutes than that. I commute from Riverside to UCSD. It takes me about an hour and 45 minutes each way. I’ve been doing it for about 9 months now and it’s not bad at all. The days I go I usually spend the entire day there, So I kinda get a taste of the whole “college experience”. Then again, I don’t really care about the “experience” I just want a top notch education.</p>

7

<p>@USMC wow…I really give you credit for making a commute like that. At least you get to take the i15 the whole way there. </p>

<p>Im sure you have already thought about this but you should look into cheaper hotels to stay at periodically. I know thats what my sister did when she had a similar commute. Once a week she would stay at a hotel near by the campus.</p>

8

<p>Honestly your not saving much by commuting like that</p>

<p>I would say hour 1/2 drive 100 miles a day both ways so 200 miles a day </p>

<p>24 mpg on freeway average so about 10~ gallons a day at 3.01 a gallon about so about 30.00 bucks a day for gas x 16 class days a month i assume. </p>

<p>which is about 480 bucks~ add in stress you can probably find a co-rent place for around that and much less wear and tear on your car</p>

9

<p>The traffic isnt bad at all. I only catch about 10 minutes of traffic on the 56 west right before I get to UCSD. I also have planned my schedule very nicely so that I only have to go 2 days a week. Initially, I went about 4 days a week because I was going to the discussion sections and all that crap, but I realized very quickly that they were useless. I spend to full days at UCSD these days, and I do well. The lectures are good, and so long as you study your butt off your golden.</p>

<p>I was a bit skeptical about the commute at first, and was considering going to UCR instead (30 minute drive there) but im 100 percent happy with my choice of UCSD. The profs are brilliant, the students take school seriously, and for the first time ever im actually happy with the quality of my education.</p>

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<p>ahh nm at 2 days a week commute then it’s not too bad</p>

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<p>@peterr86, my commute costs me 136 dollars a month. I have a 4 cylinder Camry and it costs 17 dollars round trip. I go to school 2 days a week, 8 days a month. </p>

<p>Im sure not everyone likes to commute, but I dont mind it. To each their own i guess. Im happy with my current school situation, it works for me.</p>

12

<p>I have a gas guzzler… :(</p>

<p>18 mpg and about 340 miles a tank…yeah communting is definitely not an option. And I would really really dislike commuting for that long, however many times a week. :/</p>

<p>And I don’t think hotels would be an option either :/</p>

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<p>just rent a place with friends or find people to rent with probably get down to around 300-400 a person per/month</p>

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<p>yeah commuting that long would be a killer for me. i’m sick of 50 miles a day right now and im on a motorcycle (car pool lanes)…</p>

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<p>@peterr86 - I’m would be a transfer and i know NO ONE there, so moving in with friends would be out. Plus rooming with strangers in an apartment is calling for trouble :/</p>

<p>@andrewexd - Exactly…:/</p>

16

<p>honestly if I were you, I would just go for UCI, don’t be miserable at MB… you already saved a ton of money by going to a CC, don’t miss out on the rest of your college experience. I would just wait and see what your financial aid package will look like, then you can take it from there - see if it’s viable. What really sucks is you’re right over the limit for the blu and gold plan which would have covered your tuition ($70K is max)…</p>

<p>if you were under $70k a year, the blue and gold plan would cover your tuition AFTER pell grant and cal grants. You would be eligible for cal grant A i would think. you would still have to take out some loans for housing though… I think sharing an off campus apartment would be your best bet as far as expense goes.</p>