<p>A University of Oregon study found that, for math and physics, students with low SAT math scores (under 600) had a very low chance of doing well in those majors, but no similar phenomenon was found for any SAT section for any other majors (including biological sciences). UC studies found that SAT scores were not good predictors of graduation compared to high school grades. So that is likely a reason for the de-emphasis on SAT scores at UC.</p>
<p>However, if the student is pre-med, standardized tests are probably better predictors of other standardized tests (e.g. MCAT) than anything else.</p>
<p>proudmommy make your own thread so as not to hijack from this students question to yours.</p>
<p>OP, there is considered a large difference in quality of education between UCLA and CSULA. UCLA is internationally and nationally ranked and CSULA is not so that is one difference. There is a significant level of difference in your peers. The students at UCLA will come in being the tops in their class for the most part, and will be more academically focused, and more motivated as a whole. This means more competition but more stimulation. The graduation rate is much, much higher at UCLA, you will be around people who are going to have the skills and motivation to finish. You may be more exposed to opportunities to go to grad school. Depending on your field some employers will prefer to hire UCLA grads. They will consider them brighter students with more rigorous classes. Depending on what you want to do, CSULA will be fine sure, but UCLA is more distinguished if that makes any difference to you, seems not. Don’t overlook that you learn from your peers in college, and not just academically. </p>
<p>CSULA is one of the worst CSU’s, with lots of students in remedial classes and a dismal graduation rate (more than 90% can’t graduate in 4 years, 25% students have LESS than 380 on any given section of the SAT and the top students score around 480-500.) Simply by attending UCLA and being buoyed by your peers you’ll increase your odds of graduating (they actually studied this and the results are stark.) Your opportunities will be greater and your peers will stimulate you so you can perform at your best level. You’ll attend a university that is heavily recruited, with way more resources than CSULA - in short, you’ll have better odds of doing well in college, graduating on time, and landing a good job if you attend UCLA.
Just go spend a day on each campus. You’ll understand the difference.
Now, CSULA is not representative of ALL CSU’s. SDSU, CSULB, CPP, not to mention Cal Poly SLO, are all great schools, and Sonoma or Chico’s Honors program are quite good too, to the point students may have to think hard before they choose between those or a UC.
CSULA or CSUDH are another matter. If you’re still a junior, you could apply to UCs and a few CSU’s such as CPP or LB or SLO (etc), but if you’re a senior deciding between UCLA and CSULA, I would pick UCLA in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>While CSULA’s four year graduation rate of 7% is quite low, it is not like CPP (11%), CSUC (19%), and CSULB (13%) are that much better. The only CSUs with four year graduation rates over 20% are CPSLO (28%), SDSU (32%), and SSU (27%), despite several of the others offering four year graduation pledges.</p>
<p>I think in August they open enrollment for SPRING 2014 at CSUs I am pretty sure I saw that on Chico’s web page. Is that a possibility? Still a CSU but one judiciously selected to suit you?</p>
<p>You could call the CSU you like and ask if one quarter at UCLA while you wait would hurt your chances…</p>
<p>What is particularly unappealing about CSULA? It is not even the least selective CSU.
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<p>What is particularly appealing about it? I could answer that question with regards to at least six or eight CSUs,and CSULA is not onie of them.</p>
<p>However, the bigger part of my point is the special relationship - policy wise - that the UCs have with the CCs for transfers. I ‘knew’ they preferred CC transfers, than UC to UC transfers, then all other, but I had it driven home pretty starkly the other day when I had a reason to look at the transfer acceptance rate by UCLA for 2013. about 28% of transfer applicants from CCs were let in (higher than its freshman applicant accept rate) about 21% of UC to UC applicants were accepted (I was surprised at how high that was) and something like 10% of applicants from ‘others’ were let in. CSUs weren’t even given their own category.</p>
<p>To the OP, if you want to look at US News’s ‘regional’ colleges you will find a bunch of CSUs there. But on reputation, some of the best I am aware of have already been mentioned in this thread: Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona, CSULB, Chico State honors, etc. I am NOT trying to imply that CSULA is awful, just that it is not a CSU I would expect to see many choose over a UC, depending on interests, and there are some CSUs I which do fall into that category.</p>
<p>I think with effort, and it’ll probably take more, that this person will be okay and competitive. I think doing something complex as the bio-sciences will help his/her aptitude towards taking standardized tests in the future. I’d be more concerned about the immediate for this person because low scorers in the ACT or SATI tend to need more time to adapt to college.</p>
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<p>I think the main difference in why cc transfers have greater success in transferring to UCLA and UC in general is that they tend to stay on top of all their prereqs for their prospective majors at UCLA, over anyone else including those transferring from other UC’s and certainly from the CSU’s. The typical transfer applicant from these last two are typically those who want to transfer right away or are disgruntled with their original campuses, and they don’t plan their transfers to UCLA very well. The ones who are successful, bide their time at their u’s, take the needed courses to step into their majors at UCLA, and apply when they are transfer-ready. </p>
<p>And related to my post above regarding ucbalumnus’ points, I do think there are some people who should definitely consider a CSU over a UC. I don’t think it’s as cut and dried as some here base things to be, especially since CSU has night classes for those who need to work, and CSU would ensure a more easy transition to college. The graduation rates are problematic, but this might be because of a larger part-time crowd.</p>