Moving from CSU to CC

killmyentourage
Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:15:10 +0000

Depending on your situation, you might find the credit limit to be a problem. For most of the UCs, you need to make sure you keep your total UC transferable units under ~80 or 90 (variable, depends on which UC) to transfer in at all. First, you need to check how many of your CSU classes are UC transferable to see how many units you already have. I was under the impression that you haven’t been there long?

For TAG at UCI, you can not have any courses at a 4-yr college so that’s out. For TAG at UCSD, you need to complete 30 units (2 semesters at least at a CC) and maintain a 3.5 GPA BUT you can NOT exceed 90 units (which would include your UC transferable CSU units plus your UC transferable CC units). So you would be able to TAG there technically. You have to look up all the other TAG programs because I am lazy but their requirements vary. Keep in mind that TAG only guarantees admission to the SCHOOL, not into your major, so if your GPA isn’t amazing, you might just be accepted into your backup or as undeclared.

Like you were saying, for an Engineering major, you traditionally should’ve focused on your math and science pre-reqs (calc 1-3 & lin alg, physics seq, gen chem, bio, ochem, usually a comp sci, sometimes an engineering class) during your first 2 years at schools. If you don’t have any of these classes, it’s going to be really difficult to finish all the ones they recommend prior to transfer. Especially considering that you have a unit limitation.

Getting accepted is another thing… If you don’t mind going to UCR or Merced, I don’t think you would have much of a problem but if you wanted to get into some of the more renowned schools for Engineering (like UCSD), you are going to be competing with a lot of other student due to the major generally being impacted. Speaking from experience, it is REALLY hard to get into impacted majors without TAG, you basically have to have about a 3.8 and all your pre-reqs, IGETC, AND recommended classes to be the best candidate.

If you can accomplish all of that, if you do go to a CC, I think you will be there a minimum of 2 years, with a good chance at 3, followed by 2-3 years to finish at a UC (since Engineering requires a lot of Upper Division coursework). If you’re not too picky about where you go for your degree, you can definitely do it but if you’re expected to get into one of the top UCs, it’s going to be a long process that might not come out how you want it.

Just a precaution. But if you are truly dedicated to this, then I think you should go for it.