<p>Have you really investigated the offerings and culture at the cc’s you are interested in? As you know, California has made major cuts to all budgets but the cc’s are showing the effects in drastic reductions of classes, cut backs or even elimination of summer classes, and so on. In many cases, the classes retained are more core curriculum (feeding into UC GEs), so perhaps not the opportunity there to explore as you might wish. In addition, the composition of many Cal cc’s are students who a) are working full or part time to help with costs, b) were not as serious about their eduction in HS and trying to improve grades, work habits, c) took irregular paths (left another college, took time off to work, had a child and then later decided to attend cc, etc. It is not always easy to find a solid cohort of high achieving (11 APs), academically charged up peers, although of course they are there, too. I’m not knocking ccs, but do think you may need to consider what you are giving up when you say that you do not care about college culture at all. At cc’s, there will be much less sense of community (many students work, have other commitments) than at a university. If any of this gives you pause to consider, you are wise to think it over more.</p>