I am deciding between going to UMASS Amherst and staying and going to community college. My situation is as follows:
-I have many AP credits so will only have to spend a year until being able to transfer instead of the typical 2 years
-I am pretty sure that if I go to community college I can transfer into a better academic school like UCLA or Berkeley
(I messed up in high school academically)
-I live in Los Angeles and Massachusetts is all the way across the country. I want to move out but Massachusetts seems a little much.
-UMass is a university i can see myself at. Its a good mix of social and academics, and the town of Amherst is a perfect college town.
-I want the college experience and I am afraid that transferring as a junior will jeopardize my experience. i.e. going into college as a junior and everyone knows each other already, missing my chance to get involved as a freshman, missing my chance to rush a fraternity
-I am really proud to have been accepted to college and want to rep UMass all the way, wear the jackets, go to games, and things of that nature.
-Financially: community college would cost maybe 2k plus money for rent for an apartment (probably 8k total) and id get a used car if i stay
UMass would cost me 34k
Money isn’t really an for my family, we aren’t rich and we aren’t poor, but id still like to save money if possible.
Summary:
I really want to go to college as a freshman and have the whole college experience, but the proximity of community college, the cost, and the possibility of transferring into a better college might outweigh the pros of going to university right away.
First, check whether the UCs you’re interested in would allow you to transfer after only 1 year if you have the appropriate number of credits, or if you need to spend 4 semesters there regardless of credit number.
Your cost estimates for cost of living are unrealistic - 6k for annual rent + electricity, fees + wifi + food is impossible in CA.
10-12K+ 2K would be the minimum - still cheaper than UMass, but not as cheap as you think. In addition, if you’re allowed to transfer after only a year because you ahve the requisite number of credits, your HS grades would also be factored in since you’d apply with so few college grades, so don’t think you’ll necessarily get into UCB/UCLA. If you get into UCSC, UCR, or UCM, will it still be worth it for you?
The OP can look online up how many credits the UC system will give. In fact if the OP has 30 semester units of credit as claimed then a 1-year xfer may work out especially well because AP units have a kind of magic.
However, lest the picture appear too rosy, it isn’t clear that Cal or UCLA will accept a 1 year xfer. You’ll need to apply to the UCs fall of the year you enter the CC so they’ll just have your midyear grades from your 1st term to judge you by, and maybe your AP scores (not sure about the latter). But I’m no expert here. If I was the OP I’d look at the xfer center of some CC’s in the area and find out when the UC rep is visiting, then go talk it over with them. UCLA’s website also says they offer telephone admission advising. Or go see your HS GC and see if they can find out more for you.
Thank you so much. I will look into this information. It had not occurred to me that transferring within 1 year will mean that i have no grades from college yet. I have made an appointment with the transfer coordinator to discuss my options.