<p>Couldn’t transfer because the classes were full? are you kidding me? SMC NEVER had any student who could NEVER finish their pre-reqs in time (2 years) before the end of Spring. And this is coming from a relatively large CC. Most colleges at a CC are small, 35-45 students and some of the general “easy” classes like Art or Music have 70-90, which is still smaller than the average UC GE classroom. </p>
<p>Transferring to a UC is a simple process:
-Finish IGETC, which accounts for a large portion of your unit count. The IGETC is your general ed. these classes are not full, and since there are over 100 classes that can be used to complete IGETC, it should be relatively easy to find the class you need.
-Finish Pre-reqs by the Spring before you transfer. IGETC classes overlap a lot of your pre-reqs, unless you are an engineering or hard science major. Again, shouldn’t be hard to find classes since CC’s offer ONLINE classes if you can’t crash normal classes.</p>
<p>I think you don’t understand the guarantee program. It’s like this…You get a 3.2 GPA and finish IGETC + Pre-reqs before you transfer, you are 100% GUARANTEED into UCI, UCD, UCSD, and UCSB. You just have to sign a contract with your counselor, and honestly if you cant pull off a 3.2 cumulative GPA, then you shouldn’t be thinking about going to a UC. </p>
<p>If you need fin. aid, the state and CC also offers financial aid…just like the UC’s. You don’t have to live at home either, get a job and rent an apartment if you’re so hellbent on leaving your house.
The transfer rate for UCM-UCLA is THAT HIGH because of the shared experience program. You cannot “sign” up for it like you can at a CC, you have to be admitted through it as a high schooler and stay at UCM for 2 years and keep up with a 3.6 GPA. Compare that to a 95% admit yield at a CCC - UCLA through the TAP (transfer alliance program) program that ANYONE can sign at a california community college that offers it. All you have to do is complete 5 honor program classes and maintain a 3.0 GPA. </p>
<p>Also Berkeley offers a TAP (transfer alliance project) for students who are low income, first gen, URM, again with a super high admit rate. </p>
<p>You have not presented me a single reason for any student to pick UCM over a CCC if you plan to transfer. Location? Merced = arm pit of California. CC? You can live anywhere, SMC = Santa Monica, PCCC = Pasadena, OCC = Costa Mesa, FJC = Fullerton, etc.</p>