Hello CC, I am a High School Sophomore Right now and I have the Option of taking Dual Enrollment classes at either Merced College (CC) or University of California-Merced (UC) for Junior Year.
I would have to take UC Merced Classes during Senior year anyway due to the fact that I would run out of STEM classes at Merced College.
Merced College
Pros: Free Classes up to 11 Credits, Already took a few classes there and did quite well, and Classes are cheaper.
Cons: Classes aren’t as advanced, Credits are less credible? and not as many utilities
UC Merced
Pros: Classes are more advanced, More Materials/Resources, Research Professor is also there, better preparation for University, and is a UC
Cons: Classes more expensive and lack of financial aid for these classes and Might have to apply as a transfer student for Undergrad colleges.
What do you all believe is a better choice for next year?
I meant that the classes aren’t “as advanced” as those of U.C. Merced. I talked to my HS counselor and she said that the U.C. classes would be more challenging and they have a larger list of advanced courses. I.E. UC Merced has Partial diff equations and Merced College doesn’t.
Merced college is a community college. UC is a four year research university. Community colleges typically only offer 200 level courses, whereas UC can offer up to 400 levels and sometimes 500 level (masters). For example my community college doesn’t offer Physidal chemistry, but offers Organic Chemistry which is typically offer in sophomore year of all colleges in the USA. If I want to take PCHEM I have to transfer to a four year school.
In conclusion, if want to save up money and take all General education plus some of your courses (major) then go to Merced College, then once you’re done you can transfer to your desired place!
Or go to UC Merced and finish your college career without transferring!
Why would you have to apply to colleges as a transfer student if you’re doing dual enrollment as a high school student? If that’s the case I wouldn’t do that under any circumstances, then you’d have to finish all of your core curriculum at a CC. I can’t see why this would be the case, but if so I wouldn’t take classes at the UC.
You’d probably be better off asking your guidance counselor or teachers, OP. Too many variables – cost, course selection, whether the credits will be accepted at your future college.
Your GC at HS and the UC Guidance Counselor should’ve able to answer these questions.
Our S took one statistics couse af a 4-year college when he was 15. He did not have to apply to college as a transfer and was a Freshman applicant everywhere. He also had 14 of more AP classes but didn’t take other college classes, so I’d want to be VERY sure how taking courses at each of the different schools might affect your eligibility for merit aid as an entering freshman, if that is of interest to you and your family.
Ok, I will definitely ask my counselor about whether or not I would be considered a transfer student. But the reason I speculated that I might be a transfer student was because another CC member had informed me that if I did dual enrollment with a 4 year University then I would be a transfer applicant. @NASA2014 I realize that Merced College was a CC and that UC Merced is a 4 year University. Partial Differential Equations usually follows after “Normal” Differential Equations. However, Merced College doesn’t offer Partial Diff Equations. @Hlmom Yes, I will ask the counselor about my status as a transfer or freshman student when applying to U.C. Merced and it sounds like your S is an intelligent and hardworking student which is awesome–I am sure he got into a great school!