So I’m from Connecticut and really wanted to get into a good UC and want to go into law, preferably in California. The best UC i got into was UC San Diego (traditionally ranked 3rd behind UCLA and Berkeley) and I’m going in as a Poli Sci and History major. My problem is that my parents recently moved to California but UCSD will not allow me to attend my first year as a resident of cali so i have to pay nonresident tuition (around 50,000 instead of 25-30,000) And I’m not from a rich family by any stretch of the imagination. I’m committed to San Diego at the moment (class starts at the end of the month really) but I’m willing to possibly give it up and attend a JC and transfer to UCLA after two years through the TAG program (Transfer Admission Guarantee) where its a secured transfer. Not only is UCLA deemed as a better school but I would save money in the process by only going for 2 years and 2 years at a JC. Do you think I should stick with UCSD and be happy with what I got? How much better is UCLA than UCSD really, I’ve researched each and they’re both deemed as very good schools
Sorry, you cannot TAG to UCLA, Berkeley, or UCSD. http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/guarantee/
Even if you start at a CCC as a nonresident, there is no guarantee that transferring to a UC will be at CA resident rates.
The tuition was going to be $55k when you applied… why balk now?
As @happytohelp notes, attending a CC this year will just cement your OOS status. With an OOS HS diploma, you need to sit out a year to establish residency.
It can’t hurt to ask UCSD if they will defer your admission while you settle into your new surroundings and make a few $. .
Good luck
Agree with^^ NCalRent that you knew you were going to pay OOS fees for UCSD unless your family thought by moving here would get you in-state rates? Take a GAP year and reapply if UCLA is your preferred UC. You could ask to defer but my understanding is that UC’s do not defer. No reason to at least try.
Hey Gumbymom, thanks for the reply. My dad has been working here since September of 2014 and registered as a resident on the 14th of January 2015. The residency offices have said he has to have been a resident since the second, so as a result I have to pay the full out of state tuition. After my freshman year I am 100% a resident of california, so the option would be taking 2 years of JC and then transferring as a transfer student. by that time i WILL have residency and save money. UCSD said I may not defer unless I’m in the military (which I’m not lol)
They did say I may not defer. and that i have to pay the full out of state tuition. My dad has been here as a resident since January 14, 2015 so I am guaranteed residency for my sophomore year. Obviously its difficult to apply as a transfer student after 1 year (need 60 credits all that jazz) so I was considering sticking it out for 2 years and applying as a transfer student to UCLA. I know they don’t do that TAG what I meant was that they are the most transfer friendly out of the big 3 UC’s (others being cal and sd.)
UCLA does off TAP. http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/tap/
If UCLA is your ultimate goal, 2 years at a CC seems like a better route. Good Luck.
In almost all cases, if you start your college career paying OOS tuition to a CC, CSU or UC, you’ll pay it until you graduate.
http://ucop.edu/residency/index.html
Take a year off - or be prepared to be considered OOS until you graduate.
yeah man I am going to CC route, paying 50,000 dollars after ONE school year is too much for my family in truth, its a shame leaving UCSD, such a good school, but transferring to a similar UC should not be too dreadful after two years. It’s also a matter of giving up a school by the beach 
Oh well, thanks for your help! I’ll be getting residency next year and not have to pay the tuition of OOS at a UC