Thanks for the suggestions. Obviously the only way 55k would work is if I can transfer after I finish my gen ed. Also, I’m looking for a safety college, would you say I could consider any of those safe?
A lot of Cal States would be your safeties. Also, check the weather in Monterey… it may be a tad cool for you in the summer. (often dipping to low 50s at night – in July!)
This is like having a crush on someone you’ve never met.
Sounds like your parents prioritize value for money. It’s hard to see the value in paying 50+k in OOS cost for a CA public school, when so many other alternatives exist. Coming from a “fairly privileged” family which may be unlikely to qualify for much/any need-based FA, be aware that in general, the opportunities for merit money for transfer students is much more limited than for new freshman.
You’ve got your priorities seriously mixed up. There’s not a single academic criterion listed here.
Lol, this is a shopping list for a vacation resort, not a college education.
With the majors you mention spending an extra $100K just to go to schools in CA for undergrad has no payback. You will need a graduate degree in psychology to practice, and philosophy is usually good prep for grad or law school. Spend the $100K on that instead.
Your HS GPA won’t matter for transfers in any case. You can re-assess at that time and see which options are open to you.
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That said, my parents aren't quick to spend, but they have already looked at California schools with me.…
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Did they look at the costs
With those majors, what’s your budget for graduate school? You might want to find a less expensive undergrad experience. Take the long view.
See Whittier, maybe.
if your parents can pay for anything, UCSD (? high stats needed), SDSU, and USD, CSU San Marcos, Cal State Chico Honors.
The Claremonts if your stats are good enough, Occidental, Chapman, LMU, Whittier, Cal Lutheran, URedlands.
Look into ASU Barrett for year-round good weather and good academics.
For beaches with good weather, UNC Wilmington, Christopher Newport, Eckerd - are hard to beat.
What’s your UCGPA? (Try to calculate it).
@MYOS1634 - I think you missed this criteria, because it knocks out most of your suggestions! In addition, I’m sure you know ASU isn’t CA —but even if we expand the search to AZ, some may not consider it as having “good weather year round” because it can get pretty hot!
OP - Biking distance to beach is really going to limit your choices!
^you’re right lol… I thought sunny, dry, and good temps from sept to April would cut it.
I also prioritized CA for some other suggestions - simply because most areas in CA aren’t near a swimmable beach or any beach at all.
Not sure how much this will matter until OP tells us How much exactly his/her parents said they’d pay
Shhhh… don’t disillusion OP about California beaches. He/she’s seen so many movies where it looks just heavenly 
My hope was that most or even just some of my criteria would be met, not necessarily all of it. Also it would have to be less than 40k a year. Above that would be when I would transfer after Gen ed. My main focus is the year round (or most of the year) pleasant weather. I didn’t add academic criteria because my majors are pretty general and the UCs were the result of my prestige hunt, I am now just looking for a nice college to attend if I don’t make it into any of those. It doesn’t have to be movie-style I just thought I could find places nicer than Iowa. My unweighted gpa is 3.65 (I know that’s low for UC) and ACT-30
Being from Iowa will help you. UC’s really are trying to be “national” or “global” schools (and like the money from out-of-state students). Iowa is one of the rarer states (though Wyoming, Montana, or perhaps one of the southern states would be even better). Harder to get any financial aid being a transfer unless you have a hook or some sort of special skill. I don’t know how the California public colleges give out merit scholarships, but being from out of state will make getting that more difficult, especially as a transfer. You want likely coastal, so that will make it more difficult to get money, but UC Irvine, Riverside, or some of the less sought after UC’s might be possible. Monterey, Chico, as safeties a good idea, though Chico is about 3 hours from San Francisco. Some of the privates are larger and might like that you’re from Iowa, so don’t dismiss those, as they would be more likely to give some merit money. I am thinking University of sAn Diego (not to be confused with UCSan Diego or San Diego State University) at about 8,000 undergrads or Loyola Marymount (LMU) in Los Angeles at about 6,000. Bet you’d get merit from both, especially LMU which is looking to expand out of state students. LMU is pretty near the coast and also downtown Los Angeles, so a great location and weather.
As others have pointed out, OOS transfers are tough and OOS tuition is high. I’d look at some of the Jesuit/Catholic schools such as USD (University of San Diego), Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount or privates like Occidental, University of Redlands, or Chapman.
Not mentioned yet (I think) is Concordia which is in Irvine, Pepperdine in Malibu and Soka in Aliso Viejo.
You actually may not like Soka because it is really small (you mentioned no small schools). Irvine isn’t too far from the beach and Malibu is a beach city.
I would run the Net Price Calculator for the UC’s/CSU’s and privates to give you an idea of the costs. UC’s and CSU’s give little merit aid to applicants. Most is need based aid for in-state students. As stated by several posters, UC costs will be around $55K/year. CSU’s will probably be around $36K/year so within your financial constraints. Also as stated by other posters, the UC’s and CSU’s accept Junior level transfers and priority is given to local CCC students and residents. As a transfer, FA/Merit aid will be hard to come by unless you consider some of the privates listed in the above posts. You seem to have a very unrealistic view of California colleges and definitely need to book a visit before spending the money on application fees for schools that may not be affordable or good matches based on your stats.
Someone upthread recommended University of the Redlands. Warning: quite HOT in the summer - average temp in August - 96… it drops to 92 in September.
Because of the prices - 36k even for state schools - I will be going to the University of Iowa for two years, or if decide pursue graduate school, then my entire undergrad. GPA should not a problem then, only being out state, and I intend to score better on the SAT than my ACT, so I think I have chance at UC to finish school. I hope to go to Santa Barbara or Irvine if I can, and I will also apply to Cal Poly SLO and San Diego State, but that won’t be for a little while. Thanks everyone for your input!
Smart decision. Good luck at Iowa – and beyond.
Have you actually ran NPC 's on some of the private universities mentioned (where instate /oos doesn’t matter)?