<p>@DrGoogle, I’m certain doing CC will save me more money (even if I do another two years). Thing is, I got very little financial aid for my first year at UCI (had to take out max loans my first year and family had to contribute a lot still). So this is why I am not so keen on doing another year at UCI when I just want to transfer out. Unfortunately I live about an hour away from UCI so commuting is not ideal, but I can definitely commute to a CC. Even if I chug it hard and commute to UCI, it will cost a lot by tuition alone (no gift aid, just loans and family contr.)</p>
<p>I think after reading some responses and thinking over it, I really want to do the UC-CC-UC route, but I just need people to play devil’s advocate and know the disadvantages/risks in doing so. For sure I’m going to talk to a college counselor asap (currently out of town for a few days so won’t be able to do so til next week).</p>
<p>And even though I know GPA is the most important part of your application, I still can’t help but feel doubt at myself because I lack ECs (a whole lot). I know the upper UCs like Cal and LA review your application more holistically so I’m kind of scared for that. So this is why maybe going a little slower and doing 2 years at CC (keeping in mind the unit caps and fulfilling prereqs and whatnot) may be more advantageous since I can strengthen my ECs.</p>
<p>Oh for reference, I haven’t decided what specific I want to apply to (I know I have to know this soon too), but I am leaning to a physical science (math/chemistry/physics), so for UCLA for example it will be a major in the College of Letters and Science. Not engineering for sure (besides the fact that I don’t see myself doing that), oh man it’s like 7% transfer acceptance rate to UCLA’s HSSOE.</p>