<p>I doubt anyone would know about your taking classes elsewhere unless you told them. You should not have to retake the SAT, unless a large number of years pass (check each school for specifics). </p>
<p>It will be a challenge to get your Texas classes transferred, but not impossible. You need to start early on the process. However, if you go the transfer route, taking the courses at a local CC is way cheaper, and at least for me, allowed me to take classes with more mature students. It made going back to school easier. Since I went to a school with a CSU transfer agreement in place, the transfer was transparent. </p>
<p>In a strange way this works in your favor. California schools, as you’re learning, are severely impacted. Budget cuts combined with families having less money have driven students into the state system like never before, completely overloading the system. This is why there is no winter enrollment. One of the easiest ways to assure yourself a spot is to live local to the school of your choice, and have completed with stellar scores your GE’s at a local CC. It makes you the most eligible student.</p>
<p>What do you lose at your final school? Well you miss out on a lot of the social development, friends, cliques etc, but there will be CC’s that transfer with you and you’ll get a much more diverse set of friends there. Your also expected you to understand their system from day one (there will be an orientation, don’t miss it), no big deal just gotta handle making mistakes for the first week or so. A lot of trepidation as you expect your CC background will not be as strong (not true as I found out).</p>
<p>It’s your choice which way you go, but either way keep your goal fixed and plan ahead and you will make it, and you will have a lot of fun along the way.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>oh yeah, pay the cc’s out of pocket if you can, and save the GI money for the big expenses later. gives you the ability to pack in a few more classes at your final school if you wish.</p>