Thanks for the tag @lkg4answers. So, yes, my older son did the CC to UC transfer route. He’s a junior now. It has had immense benefits, too numerous to delineate. Chief among them, the obvious ones of cost savings, and the ability to have “better” choices of schools. Of course it depends on the major, but as a whole, it is easier to be admitted to the UCs as a transfer than as a freshman. Another, for us, is that my son had great teachers and opportunities at CC that would not have been likely at a UC. This includes having a great mentor in one of his chem profs, that lead to a scholarship that he got to take with him to his UC. Another great benefit is that by the time someone is looking to transfer, they know much better what they want to do, and can then choose the best school for their major.
Socially, yes, it’s probably not as good as going as a freshman. But so what? If for all other reasons it’s preferable to go this route, then it is what it is. And like so many other things, it’s going to be what you make of it. And as someone said, some schools will do better “supporting” transfers than others, but unless all else is equal, which is rarely the case, you’re not going to choose based on that.
My son has done quite well (depending on how you measure it) by joining a fraternity. He, in fact, moved into the fraternity before even being “admitted” to it. This may not always be possible, but with COVID there were rooms in the fraternity available. It was the frat he wanted to pledge, and he knows someone who knew someone, and they started talking in the summer before he went there. So, now he has a lot of friends, presumably they will be the life-long friends others speak about from their college years. BUT he does say that if he had the opportunity, he would’ve been better off socially if he had gone as a freshman, that some of his peers know more people (of most importance, the females) from those earlier years.
But, again, so what? Know what I mean? He’s having a great time, and all is well. There can always be better scenarios. We can’t have it all. Choosing one thing will always preclude others, and each have their benefits. Now, this is easy to say as my kid is happy. Your kid will have to do the work to make friends, and get connected. It may be more of a challenge as a transfer, but it can be done. And if they failed to how would we know it was the fault of the transfer path?
Let me add, my husband and I both did the transfer route, and were both happy at our 4-years, and made lifelong friends. I don’t know about his situation, but I was housed with all other transfers, and I think it’s safe to assume that was important. We were all in the same boat, needing to connect, and all older. So, yeah, if a school has transfer housing, that would be helpful. Honestly, I believe most do, or at least try to group transfers with others. My son, before choosing the frat, was offered on-campus housing in one of the University apartments where he would’ve had, I think, three roommates which would’ve been a good start.
I am a huge proponent of CC and the transfer route, and recommend it for anyone who has to pay for school, and/or students who in one way or another need time to mature. If money were no object, and my son had choices as a freshman that he loved, we would, though, probably have chosen the straight to four-year. That said, I am relieved that he went away to school more mature, and thrilled that he got to attend the great school he’s at. I don’t think he would’ve had the same success academically had he gone as a freshman.
Hope that helps some.