Help a Newb full of Questions

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1

<p>Hi, I’m a current FULL TIME Santa Monica College student</p>

<p>Now, i’m wondering because in spring 2010 i intend on taking 20 units…12 at SMC and the rest at LACC and LAVC</p>

<p>So I’m wondering how is my gpa accumulated ? is it just all combined innto one from all the schools I attended?</p>

<p>Which CC do i graduate from if i attend more than one community college?</p>

<p>so is it okay to take classes at more than one CC or do UC’s look down on this?</p>

<p>my question ultimately is why do so many people transfer from santa monica college to the UC system when you can do it at so many other CC’s with the TAG requirement?</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

2

<p>1) good luck with the 20 units…sheesh</p>

<p>2) your transcripts will not combine the GPAs. I’ve gone to the four CCs in my CC district, and I’m moving to a different CC next semester. So when I apply to the UC, my transcript will have 5 different GPAs on it. However, when you apply to the UC, you actually insert your grades in your application. It works something like: select Santa Monica college, find the class you took on a drop down menu, select your grade on the drop down menu. Continue for all classes, all colleges. Your cumulative GPA will then be calculated. (btw-when you transfer, you get a new GPA for that UC, which is nice for honors and such)</p>

<p>3) you only graduate from a CC if you actually graduate…accumulating a certain amount of units and fulfilling requirements does not mean you’ve automatically graduate. You have to petition at whichever CC you choose to graduate, proving you’ve satisfied all the requirements for your AA, AS, or certificate. That CC will count units earned at any accredited school, but there will be some minimum units (typically 12) you have to have earned at that CC. Likewise, when you transfer, you’ll earn your bachelors at that UC, which will count your CC units.</p>

<p>4) I sure as hell hope not. </p>

<p>5) I’ve heard Santa Monica is a great CC. I don’t know much about it, but I’m assuming it has more classes, sections, extracurricular opportunities, etc. Nothing about the the college itself gives you an edge when applying to UCs, but there’s definitely and advantage going to a college like that. One of the colleges that I went to was large, but heavily focused on remedial classes, ESL, and certificate type programs. Another one I went to had many more “traditional” college classes. The quality of the profs were EXACTLY the same. But completely different experiences. At the 1st, I felt like one of the only students who wanted to do more than satisfy welfare requirements or learn English. There was almost no community, all of my classmates looked dead, and I definitely felt a little judged for being so involved during class. At the second one, I actually made friends-quickly. My classmates also wanted to eventually transfer, and there was so many on campus activities that definitely look good on applications.</p>

<p>Enjoy the rest of your time at the CC, and good luck with your applications!</p>