<p>I live in central LA and I go to LACC. a lot of people I know choose to commute 45 mins away to SMC. Why is this? I've been to SMC before and it didn't seem that great.</p>
<p>SMC has the highest transfer rate among CCC’s to UCLA.</p>
<p>That’s basically the #1 reason.</p>
<p>Most likely just because many who are dead set on transferring in LA go to SMC. Seems kind of a waste of time. I commute 10 minutes and I still feel guilty when I make multiple trips in one day. I don’t go to SMC though.</p>
<p>Because they think that going to SMC will increase their chances of getting accepted to UCLA or other UCs. </p>
<p>It’s stupid. Just do well at your local jc and you should be fine.</p>
<p>LACC has a much easier honors program imo and it has better teachers.</p>
<p>Plus 1/2 the student aren’t motivated so it’s easy for a motivated student to stand out from the crowd.</p>
<p>Agrees with Rattus89
Those who aren’t aware of the transfer process probably are convinced or manipulated by SMC’s heavy marketing.</p>
<p>SMC advertises, has a better public image, famous alumni (Rivers Cuomo, Arnold Schwarzenegger), nice location, etc. I haven’t taken a class there so I can’t compare to the other three community colleges I took classes at. In my part of the San Fernando Valley, Moorpark has the same draw over Pierce. Some of my old high school friends drove farther to Moorpark because it was considered a better school and less “ghetto”. Having taken classes at both, I can say that neither was better.</p>
<p>i came from LACC and got into UCLA. SMC has more people that transfer, but it also has more people that apply. The community colleges are going crazy because of the budget crises (i hear things are bad right now at LACC) but that might affect SMC too</p>
<p>Valley College is my closest community college, but I choose to commute to SMC because it’s overall better. I prefer SMC’s professors, students and atmosphere. There’s also a plethora of inspiration surrounding SMC, which is needed to continue working towards one’s goals… unless you’re fine with being a robot. Also, SMC provides courses which Valley College doesn’t; for example, Calculus courses during the Winter and Summer semesters(it may also be the same with language courses… such as Japanese 1 and Japanese 2).</p>
<p>I live in LA and I go to SMC for several reasons. It has better transfer rates and everything but I also believe that most people there are trying really hard to transfer within two years so everyone is working hard. Professors are also a lot better. I’ve had professors that have taught at Georgetown, UCLA, Berkeley, etc. More classes are also offered and they have winter and summer sessions.</p>
<p>@Kcirtap if you don’t mind me asking, have you ever taken any classes at Valley College?</p>
<p>and @socali909 have you ever taken classes at LACC (or whatever CC is closest) ?</p>
<p>Just wondering, not trying to be intrusive :)</p>
<p>I am just going to SMC because organic chemistry was full at Moorpark and CSUN. Pierce, Valley and Mission had too much time conflicts with my other classes at Moorpark. The drive to SMC is not that bad, especially when I have music blasting in the car.</p>
<p>Yes, I’ve taken classes at LAVC; I was attending LAVC until I switched to SMC.</p>