<p>Hello everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this. I just turned 30 back in March and now realize that I really need to go to college. It's sad to say that school was never a important factor in my life from about the time a got my drivers license. I barely graduated high school, never bothered to take the SAT's or anything. I am finally realizing that it was a big mistake for me not to do better in High School and further my education by going to college. I hate the fact that all my friend are done with college and have good careers making good money while I wallow in a low paying job.
This comming fall or winter, I will be starting at a community college here in Oregon. My plan is to in a couple years receive Associates of Arts Transfer Degree. My dream would to be able to get it to UCLA after I finish Community College. They have some programs that I would love get in to and I would like to go to a school in California. How plausible is this for me to do? Would I still have to take the SAT's at my age? If I do good in community college here in Oregon, would it be hard to transfer to UCLA? </p>
<p>Out of state transfers are hit and miss, but I believe UCLA favors “returning students.” You will not need to take your SATs. Talk to a counselor at your community college about transferring to a University and get an education plan set up. You will need to complete the IGETC pattern. If you meet the transfer requirements and maintain a solid GPA with good ec’s (work might even count for this), there is no reason you can’t attend UCLA. Good luck man.</p>
<p>It is possible to transfer from an Oregon CC, but it is much easier to transfer from a CA CC. If you move to CA and work for a year, you can attend a CA CC for instate tuition.</p>
<p>Good Advise, I am looking at Sacramento City College, but I am not sure how safe the area is around the school since I don’t drive and I walk or use public transportation.</p>
<p>I attend SCC right now and walk to class school because i live in the same neighborhood and it is really safe. Also the school has a light rail(free with student ID) station so you could easily get to it from other parts of the area without needing a car.</p>
<p>Do it man. Just go back and put all the effort you put into your “low wage” job into school plus your own personal motivation.</p>
<p>I am 28 and just finished my first full time year at CC. I thought I was too old at first, but now that I am back I get strait A’s and I am an Honor Student, in the International Honor Society, and just got my letter today saying I made the Dean’s List!</p>
<p>Best decision I ever made. I love school and am on track to go to Berkeley, UCLA, or a private. I have got awards and scholarships. </p>
<p>If you like UCLA I would recommend moving to CA if possible. I hear Santa Monica CC is the best way to get in there. I recommend doing the TAP program if you go to a California CC. That is a 90% chance of getting into UCLA.</p>
<p>If it takes 5 years to graduate, don’t get discouraged. You are going to be 35 anyway, you might as well be 35 with a degree from your top school.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the advise. I am really serious about this. </p>
<p>BerkeleyOrBust: Great advise, I looked at Santa Monica Online, seems like a great place, just that I doubt I would be able to find a cheap safe place to rent. I saw listing for $1000+ for just a tiny studio. Even if I found a job right away I probably could not afford out of state tuition and insane rent (…well compared to here in Oregon, lol).</p>
<p>Rent may be high in Santa Monica but after a year in California I can get residency and tuition would drop to $20 a unit which would help a lot.</p>
<p>I would think that long as I had a cali address at the time I go into the DMV to get a identification card, that’s all I would need. Then I could go enroll in school.</p>
<p>tuition even for instate WILL be going up come fall- it will still be cheap for CC but it is going to go up due to economic problems with the state.</p>
<p>UCLA does give extra consideration to people who are older, overcome adversity, and have work experience, they like the non traditional student. But having said that, priority is still given to in state community college transfers versus out of state ones. </p>
<p>Plenty of places have community colleges, your goal will be to find a place you can afford. Look for inland california locations vs coastal california</p>