I haven’t seen any recent posts comparing the two colleges, so I figured I’d start this thread. Despite having good grades (straight As & a 3.99 GPA), I believe my high school hasn’t prepared me to go straight to a 4-year for a number of reasons - one being possible grade inflation. Because of this, I have decided going to a CC is the best choice for me. I am choosing between De Anza and West Valley colleges and would like to know which one (preferably based on personal experience) is best for transferring to a UC or CSU in two years. I am an Anthropology major and my dream school is UCSC; I was waitlisted by them this year. Thanks in advance!
My stats:
Weighted GPA: 3.99
SAT scores - 1090, English: 580 Math: 510
- 1060, English 620 Math: 440
Founding member/leader of two clubs at my school + library volunteer
Accepted: SJSU, SFSU, Sac State, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Riverside
Waitlisted: UC Santa Cruz
Clearly my math is behind which is a part of the reason I’m leaning towards attending a CC first.
I have no personal experience with either sadly, but I hear so much about De Anza on this forum. So many transfers to USC, UCLA, etc. have mentioned going to De Anza. This would really lead me to believe that they’re a great transfer-centric CC 
My community college wasn’t terribly helpful, so I’ve always thought that’s why it took me two transfer cycles before I got into decent schools. I feel you on the math. The only B I ever got in CC was in a math course. I let myself get so rusty.
I would recommend Foothill if you’re looking at De Anza. We have a great anthropology program and an Honors Institute that offers honors anthro. Also, I they do study abroad in Ireland every summer too.
West Valley has an honors program too: http://westvalley.edu/services/academic-success/counseling/honors.html
If you’re interested in performing arts programs while you’re at CC, they are excellent at WVC.
But when it comes to your core GE’s and lower-division classes, it’s more about being proactive about getting the best instructors, than about which campus you pick. If I were you I might look up the Anthro faculty at each school and see what you can find in terms of reviews and other online presence. Regardless, you’re going to have no difficulty transferring to UCSC. (They are under their quota for transfers, so they’re not turning qualified CC transfer applicants away, and you’re obviously going to be qualified.) So go wherever you feel like you’ll have the best experience for a couple of years, even if that’s based only on your preferred extracurriculars or electives.
Have you taken the Accuplacer math placement test yet? I would think you would probably place at least into Intermediate Algebra, but if not, then be aware of the Statway Integrated Statistics sequence that will back-fill the remdial material and still get you through Intermediate Algebra and Stats in a year. WVC and DeAnza and Foothill all have it. It is purported to build a lot of confidence in previously math-phobic students.