I’m an OOS high school senior (in Florida to be exact) and was wondering if BCC and UC Berkeley have any agreements or if going to a specific CCC will improve chances of getting in (besides the fact of keeping your GPA up). I’m considering going to a CCC (if you can’t tell) because I really want to go to UC Berkeley for at least junior/senior year of college.
The UCs do prioritize the CCCs in transfer admissions, and there are certain CCCs that are known as “feeders” of transfer students to certain UC campuses. Berkeley CC, for example, is a prominent feeder to UC Berkeley; they had 137 UCB transfer admits last year, out of 427 applications, for an acceptance rate of 32.1%. That’s obviously not a guarantee, but it is clearly a better shot than applying to UCB as a freshman (the UCB freshman acceptance rate last year was only around 18.3%).
The problem here is that you are an out-of-state resident. While the UCs do prioritize CCC students in transfer admission, they also prioritize CA-resident CCC students over non-resident CCC students. In other words, attendance at Berkeley CC may boost your UC transfer chances, but being a non-resident may cancel out that advantage.
And it is unlikely that you will qualify for CA-resident status simply by moving to CA and attending Berkeley CC. To qualify as a CA resident, you would also have to find employment in CA that pays well enough to cover all of your living expenses, as well as your Berkeley CC tuition. If your living expenses or tuition are subsidized by an out-of-state family, then you won’t qualify as a CA resident.
would getting a job, at like a fast food place, which is pretty common for high schoolers/community college students here, help with getting CA residency? @Corbett
As @Corbett stated, you need to show that you are self sufficient and getting a job at a fast food place will probably not pay you enough for school tuition/housing/transportation etc… It is not just having a job, but you have to show that you get no help from family and outside sources. Also you have to show that you did not come to California for the purposes of just an education. You need to show that you plan to remain in California as a permanent resident. If you are under 24, it is highly unlikely can be gain CA residency unless your family moves to CA.
Residency requirements
There are four requirements you must fulfill in order to be a California resident for purposes of tuition at UC. All these requirements must be met by the residence determination date (generally the first day of classes) of the term for which you request a resident classification.
- Physical presence
You must be continuously physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date of the term for which you request resident status. If you moved to California primarily to attend the University of California, you are here for educational purposes and may not be eligible for a resident classification for purposes of tuition.
Read the full policy on physical presence (pdf)
- Intent to remain in California
You must establish your intent to make California your home one year prior to the residence determination date of the term for which you request resident status.
Read the full policy on intent to remain in California (pdf)
- Financial independence
If you’re an unmarried undergraduate under the age of 24 and your parent(s) are not California residents, you must be able to verify financial independence for the two full years immediately preceding the term you wish to enroll. Graduate students are presumed to be financially independent unless they were claimed as a dependent on their parents’ federal tax return for the most recent tax year.
Read the full policy on financial independence (pdf)
- Immigration status
You must have the legal ability to establish a permanent domicile in the United States, meaning that you must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or hold a valid, qualifying nonimmigrant visa.
Read the full policy on immigration status (pdf)
Short answer: No. You need to prove that you are financially independent. So you will need to find a job in CA that pays enough to cover all of your expenses for rent, food, and transportation – with zero outside support from your out-of-state family. It is extremely unlikely that a fast food job will pay enough to cover the high cost of living in a place like the Bay Area. And even if you do find a high-paying job, note that you will need to stay at that job for at least two years before you can qualify as a CA resident for educational purposes.
Alternatively, you can try to get a new family in CA. Consider marrying a California resident and getting financial support from your in-laws. Another approach is to get legally adopted by California residents (although this may cause strains with your original out-of-state family).
Here is the link I quoted in the above post for further details: http://ucop.edu/residency/residency-requirements.html
You and thousands of other OOS students.
As everyone is telling you above, if you attempt to attend school and work at a fast food restaurant, you will be assumed to have arrived for educational purposes. Transferring to a UC will cost you $60K for two years because your OOS HS transcript is a red flag and they will assume you are trying to get instate residency.
You have to be self-sufficient with absolutely NO HELP from anyone. Your W2’s and state taxes must match your budget and expenses. You cannot get discounted rents (even if the Bay area had them) because you must pay current market rates. You cannot live with relatives to establish residency. Assume rents starting at $2000 per month, not including your utilities, fees, transportation and food. Most people require first and last month’s rent. My dd will be paying $2500 for a 1 bedroom apartment shared. Even though you hope to work fast food for two years, you may have difficulty finding a job. There are plenty of takers.
The problem is that the cost of living in California is ridiculously high (especially in the Bay Area). Its not Florida, where everyone can afford to retire.
but thanks for all the info guys/gals @“aunt bea”