I’m a senior with above average stats. Got in to only UCR so I’m considering JC. Is it really that easy to transfer to UC after completing the requirements? Just sound too easy and too good to be true! Any thoughts???
It’s definitely do-able, but what’s wrong with UCR? If you decide to go the CC to transfer route, make sure you’re super pro-active at CC, get good grades and pay attention to the transfer requirements.
You know the saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
I would imagine that the transfer is absolutely possible. BUT that whatever factors kept you from being admitted this time around have to be fixed.
It isn’t very difficult, and if you keep your GPA above a ~3.4 (depending on the school/major) you can get guaranteed admission to any of the UC’s except UC Berkeley, UCLA, and I think UCSD. Going to a CC was the best decision I’ve ever made; I had very mediocre HS grades, but I went to CC and did well, transferred to Berkeley, and am doing well here.
You can also save a lot of money by going to community college.
Community college has been a lifesaver for my son. He applied to a super-competitive major and did not get in to any UC campuses. He is now thriving as a freshman in an Honors program at the local CC. Class sizes of 24 to 35 with priority registration, compared with 400 to 800 with free-for-all registration at UC. Free tuition for the first year, compared with $12K plus living expenses. He will transfer in fall 2020 to UC and if he maintains or improves his current 3.8 GPA, he should have plenty of choices.
Basically, you get a do-over, as your HS grades, SATs etc. are no longer in play. Just be 100% focused and take only classes that are pre-major or IGETC. I started at a CC many years ago, went on to UCSD, then to UCSF and UCLA for advanced degrees. Navigate the system properly and you will do great.
Be sure to make an appointment with a Transfer counselor at the CC you’re going to attend.
In conjunction with the counselor, plan the course trajectory for your next two years.
Remember that not all courses will transfer, so it’s best to work with someone who knows the system.
Do your research on the TAG program and be sure that you’re on target for that as well.
Good luck.
@PadreDeTres . How do you get free tuition for the first year?? Wow!!! Thanks for all your input! Those are good tips!
@goldencub - very inspiring!!! I did well in high school but the uc system failed me and I’m very disappointed at their process. Thanks for your encouragement and hope!!! That’s the coolest thing ever! Is it so much harder now at cal than cc or were u prepared for it???
@proverbs3v5 It’s more difficult than community college, but I went out of my way to take difficult classes. I was also very proactive about asking grad students/professors what they were looking for in essays (I’m a Philosophy major), and I worked on my writing accordingly.
If you did well in high school, you will do well in community college. You just need to build up a work ethic, and be self-motivated, since nobody in college is forcing you to do the work you need to do. If you work hard in community college, you’ll develop the skills you need to do well at a UC.