<p>I have been looking at the the pre-reqs for Cal for my major (Comm.) and I have no troubles fitting them in my in schedule. But, knowing that a Comm transfer is not the easiest thing to accomplish at Cal I have been looking at UCLA which has a whole different set of pre-reqs. In order to make my timeline and not have to wait an whole additional year to try and transfer I would have to cut off two of my Comm. classes so I would not have a finished AA. Would this be a good idea or should or for two semester should I just stack up an extra class?</p>
<p>Up to you, I’ve realized that just by completing the IGETC I qualified for AA in Liberal Arts. So, see if you qualify for an AA; most of the time you are.</p>
<p>It’s not a bad idea to get the AA. According to the latest (2009) report from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov), the median income for those with AA degrees was $6K more than for those with only a high school education.</p>
<p>[Fast</a> Facts](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=77]Fast”>Fast Facts: Income of young adults (77))</p>
<p>Sometimes life throws curve balls. You might not be able to complete the 4 year degree. If this happens (and I know a few transfers who have fallen into this category) you will only be able to claim a high school diploma with ‘some college’ on job applications, etc. This would put you in the same boat as someone who took 1 course at CC and then dropped.</p>
<p>if you’re able to transfer to a uc, you should definitely be able to get an AA. check with a counselor because i’m positively sure you qualify for one.</p>
<p>If you know you’re going to transfer to a UC for sure and thats the objective you are trying to reach in a CC, then I say you can go without the AA. You’ll get a bachelors anyways right? But if you take all the classes that you need to transfer and it makes you applicable for an AA as well then why not.</p>
<p>@iMunster: Your reply to the OP touched on an important issue from my last post. The idea is definitely to get the BA/BS… but, what if something happens to prevent the OP from completing the 4 year degree (personal illness, emotional breakdown, etc.)? He/She will only be considered a High School graduate with ‘some college’. While an AA degree is small potatoes when compared to the Bachelors degree, it trumps a HS diploma in the job market (for many positions).</p>
<p>^ Yes I agree with what you saying and I’m assuming that he gets the BA/BS with no bumps in the road of course! :P</p>
<p>Stacking up classes just for the AA is a bad idea(imo obviously). You’re risking your gpa so you’re risking your chances of even transferring. AA is nice if it is as simple as filling out some paperwork but if it increases the risk of not transferring then don’t do it. </p>
<p>Once you transfer you can take 1 class during your summer breaks if you want to get that AA. Also, if you don’t end up transferring and willing to wait another year to apply to your goal school then taking the extra classes for the AA is no problem.</p>
<p>Easy decision, don’t worry about the AA for now.</p>
<p>At my CCC I would have needed to take a PE class and a diversity class. I didn’t bother.</p>
<p>If it means not completing major prereqs or delaying your transfer, don’t bother with the AA degree. It would be relatively meaningless anyways once you’ve received your bachelor’s.</p>
<p>If you really want one, do you know if you qualify for any other AA degree? Perhaps in liberal arts? I looked up random AA degrees at my college and apparently I qualify for three different ones (math, general science, liberal arts) just based on my IGETC courses and some of my major prereqs. lol I had no idea.</p>
<p>Thank you guy so much for all the quick responses. I took your advice and will qualify for at least a liberal arts one so I’m happy with that. Thank you all for the help,</p>