<p>Regardless if your local community college is a joke or not, what matters if they have course equivalencies that will count to fulfill IGETC to transfer. If they do, and you can be certified, having gone to the best CC vs the worst, will not factor in to getting in. </p>
<p>Paying room and board, plus uc tuition in state is still significantly less than a private school price tag. Heck, even paying to room with someone near a better Community College in a different area, be it San Fran, LA, Santa Barbara, SD or wherever will still be cheaper than the 50K price tag of USD. </p>
<p>You need to speak with financial aid at USD, fill out the fafsa, and see if they offer you need based aid or merit aid for Fall 2011.</p>