UCSC CS or CC to UC for CS

aquapt
Sun, 19 May 2024 21:18:55 +0000

UCSC has a very strong CS program.

If the purpose of two years in CC is financial, that’s different, and a legitimate reason to choose that path.

But if it’s just because you think Davis, Irvine, or Santa Barbara would be incrementally “better” than Santa Cruz, reputationally… I don’t think it’s worth giving up a four-year experience (and the depth of involvement, faculty mentoring, etc. that being at the same school for 4 years will allow) for an increment that is insignificant-to-nonexistent in CS specifically. Having to go through the transfer application process introduces another layer of uncertainty and stress, and consumes time and energy that you could be spending on your advancement in your chosen field - applying for internships, building a portfolio, getting involved in research or project teams, and so on.

I’d take the excellent bird in the hand, unless there are compelling economic or other reasons to do otherwise.