I am considering the following CC for freshman year (class of 2017):
Cerritos
-Cypress
-Long Beach City
-Los Angeles City
I did some research but I still want to clarify some things. If I go to CC just to finish my general education, will my credits transfer to a CSU, UC, SUNY, or SUNY? I am thinking of pursuing my bachelors/masters/Ph.D. in music education either in California or New York. I have a few 4 year colleges in mind (e.g., USC, NYU, Columbia, CSULB, CSULA). I am worried that if I start at a CC right after high school (because I do not have the grades to go straight to a 4 year right now), my general education credits won’t transfer, as well as if I complete an AA degree in music at a CC that does not transfer either. What should I do to avoid wasting time and money by making sure all my credits from these schools are transferable? What is complicated about this is that I am worried that I will not pass my CC general education classes with a C or better, and will fall even more behind. How should I plan my college route effectively with or without my HS counselor to help?
I’ve never seen Columbia and CSULA on the same list…
Anyhow, if you go to a CC in CA, it is pretty easy to validate what courses will transfer to CSUs and UCs by using this site: http://www.assist.org/web-assist/welcome.html
I don’t know about the others but, the UCs and CSUs are sticklers for their required classes. Be sure you take and pass what is required. For UCs, look into TAG, a transfer guarantee program that works as advertised but, you must follow precisely.
You’d need to look directly at the privates and OOS public schools on your list. USC takes a lot of transfers from CA CCs, I bet they have a list somewhere.
Reach out to your target schools for help. You will be surprised how much time they will spend with you, mapping your transfer plan.
As far as passing classes, you’ll need to do that or you will fall behind. Use your peers and sites like ratemyprofessor to pick a manageable mix of courses each semester. Generally, it will take 15 semester units to be on track for a timely transfer. In my experience, the counselors at CCs in CA are hit and miss. Conversely, the folks assigned to help transfers at UCs and CSUs are generally outstanding. Establish a contact at your target school early, they can provide all sorts on insights.
Just want to point out that NYU and Columbia are not part of the SUNY system.
Generally speaking, if your CC is accredited, it is highly likely that your credits will transfer. However, HOW they will transfer (for general ed or for specific major requirements) is more up in the air. Some of the SUNYs have “transfer” converters similar to what California does - look under the Transfer Student Admissions tab on the school you are interested in transferring to.
You are correct that generally you will need a C (sometimes a C- is okay, but you should aim AT LEAST for a C). Obviously the higher your grades at the CC, the more likely you will be able to transfer to your desired school (and NYU and Columbia will required a very high GPA).
Every UC will take your General Education credits (Just take classes according to the IGETC sequence.) CSU also has their own GE pattern–almost same as IGETC, but you have to take a speech class as well, or something.
As for out-of-state schools, good luck trying to get them to accept IGETC. But you might want to consider Arizona State. They take IGETC, have a Transfer Admission Guarantee for California students, and you could largely avoid out-of-state fees through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (not all majors elligible–ask if music majors are elligible.)