<p>What major? If chemical engineering or chemistry, be aware that, at Berkeley, students start taking upper division courses as sophomores in the usual sequence. This means that transfers from community colleges need to do a lot of “catch up” after transfer, and have a high likelihood of delayed graduation. It is not like math or physics or several other majors where all or almost all of the lower division courses can be taken in community college so that little or no “catch up” needs to be done after transfer.</p>
<p>Which Cal Poly did you apply to? Pomona has chemical engineering, but SLO (the more selective one) does not. However, with your stats, it is hard to see you not getting into either of them. Berkeley looks like a pretty good chance also. For your peace of mind, you could have applied to a few other UCs and CSUs as safeties, but the deadlines are past now.</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) can help you determine which community college courses are needed to prepare for transfer to UCs and CSUs in each major.</p>
<p>Have you tried the net price calculators on each school’s web site?</p>
<p>That’s not the case in Illinois, at least not for the seven non-flagship state schools outside the Chicago metropolitan area. While all do have a commuter population, all also have many resident students with robust social goings-on.</p>
<p>I applied ChemE to UCB and Materials Engineering to SLO.</p>
<p>I have an older sibling at a UC currently who has calculated my family’s EFC to be ~0 this year, if that helps. Also, does the FAFSA look at different aspects of a family’s income? Because privates so far have only seen my CSS.</p>
<p>You applied to only UC-B and cal poly!! Why not the other UCs? UC-Davis has a honors program too. There are some community colleges in the bay area that are better than others but with your 2200 SAT, you might be bored. Sure you can transfer but that is yet another process. I think you will definitely get into Cal poly and most likely in UC B as well. By the way, got a friend’s sister at Case western. She loves it there, got similar merit aid.</p>
<p>And even if you go to a CC, what is the guarantee of UCB after 2 years? A lot of the CC kids (from my area) are transferring to UCD.</p>
<p>One other thing - you probably made ELC. Maybe one UC will be guaranteed even if you just applied to UCB ? Honestly I would settle for a UC than a CC (too many variables there).</p>
<p>I know, I was a bit stupid in hindsight, but I thought since my local CC has a contract thing for transfers to UCs (excluding UCB and UCLA), I could just go there and transfer.</p>
<p>EDIT: With a family income ~$45k, what would be a suitable amount of loans to take out in your opinion(s)? Just out of curiosity.</p>