<p>If the classes at a CCC are not as difficult, why do UCs like accepting CC transfers? </p>
<p>I am a rising senior and I want to know if my chances at a degree from Cal are higher if I apply now, or if I attend a California community college.</p>
<p>I took a Psych class this summer and got an A (A+, but system doesn’t use +s or -s). If most of the classes at a cc go this well, I could potentially have a high gpa if I attend a cc. I already have a lot of units from AP exams and 3 from the class (could I be a sophomore at Cal if I have 30+ units?)</p>
<p>I currently have some extra curricular activities (2 leadership positions), 3.87 UW, 4.40 W, 2100 ish SAt (practice tests), 4.19 UC gpa, and a couple achievements in graphic design. I am first gen and low income.</p>
<p>Please offer advice and try to answer my questions! :)</p>
You are dead wrong from the beginning. CCCs are always underrated in people’s eyes . I agree that some classes at CC are a joke, but some science classes are hell…
Just want to ask you this: You love sitting in an auditorium of 400 people, watching a powerpoint presentation, having your papers graded by those folks that graduate before you a couple of years (TAs), OR sitting in a small size classroom, having dedicated instructors give you hands-on instructions?
If you can answer this question, then you already get the answer for your own questions :D</p>
<p>
I say apply to both (just in case) you will never go wrong with either way. Your stats look pretty good, so maybe coming directly to Cal maybe a better choice for you. However, if you cannot get to your dream school, going to CC is ABSOLUTELY NOT a bad choice at all.</p>
<p>Your premise is unsupported and not necessarily true.</p>
<p>Furthermore, UCs don’t “like” accepting community college transfers, they are legally mandated to give priority to community college transfers. The California Master Plan for Higher Education, which was developed in the 1960s, explicitly developed the path from CCs to UCs as a way to improve access to the UC system for underserved students.</p>
<p>Your stats look good enough to apply but if you don’t get in and really want to go to UCB, then as most here would agree, go to a CC first and then transfer. You can get your lower division classes out of the way and SAVE money in the process. Yes, some classes are a joke. My history and poli sci classes were so hilariously easy that an 8th grader who read well could pass. </p>
<p>Other classes I had to bust my you know what in just to get an A in. Why? Because it sometimes is not the material, but the professor. For example, Microecon can be very easy … or very hard depending on how the instructor presents the material and what he or she expects on exams.</p>
<p>Either route you choose though, good luck. You are on the right track.</p>
<p>While going to CC with the aim to transferring to a UC/CSU can be a very good option for many students (including some who could get admitted as a freshman to a UC/CSU), be aware that it may not be as suitable for some types of students:</p>
<p>a. Those intending to major in something where key lower division prerequisites are hard to find at CC (see [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) ). Computer Science at Berkeley is an example of a major whose key lower division prerequisites are very hard to find at CCs. After transfer, a student unable to take the lower division prerequisites at CC will have to spend a semester or two of “catch up” before taking upper division courses at the UC/CSU; this can make scheduling difficult and reduce the number of upper division major electives one can take.</p>
<p>b. Students who are advanced in a subject and want to take upper division courses as freshmen or sophomores.</p>
<p>You’re assumption that CC classes aren’t hard can’t be farther from the truth. </p>
<p>Try taking 2 years of calculus, 1 year of chem and bio, Calc based physics on top of gen ed classes to finish pre reqs for any chem/physics/engineering major and to try transfer in 2 years.</p>
<p>BTW: Read @snipehunter’s comment on why classes are harder at UC’s than CCC. I can assure you that it is 100% correct.</p>
<p>I’m currently at a CC and, I’ve had the privileged of having professor after professor who has the, “I’m going to make this class as hard as possible so that when you transfer you’ll be ready” attitude. May be it’s because I’m a chemistry major, Idk but what you just said is complete</p>
<p>It depends on your major. If you are a low unit major than a JC will be preferable if you do not get in right out of high school. High unit majors will not have it as easy at a jc but still it is better than attending nowhere at all. Also, SAT practice tests are different from the actual test so expect the worst and hope for the best when receiving your actual scores. You have decent shot at Berkeley but in this world nothing is guaranteed. </p>
<p>Also, check Cals transfer student guidelines. Some schools only accept a certain amount of credits and they will throw away the rest.</p>
<p>I think it all depends on your professors. I’m lucky to have had mostly “freeway runners” as professors who teach simultaneously at my CC along with private universities and local UC/CSUs. They use the exact same lectures in our classes but with the smaller class sizes it’s easier to get questions answered, etc. On the other had to drop a couple classes because the Professors treated the class like Junior High. Seriously, one had “notebook” checks where she made sure everyone had labeled dividers and 1 inch binders, so we could all learn to be organized. It was a joke. Overall, though I think I’ve been lucky to have been able to learn from many accomplished professors without the University price-tag.</p>
<p>This is the scenario for many students where I live. Out of high school, you can attend a public, huge and good school, or about 4 smaller private schools. Anything else is far away or out of state.</p>
<p>Tens of thousands apply for that one school, who with budget cuts, can’t accept everyone.</p>
<p>Choosing to go to a CC just 15min away, one who got denied will study hard for two years and apply again as a transfer. (an alma mater for some)</p>
<p>There’s an even more fierce competition to snatch the few seats of leaving undergrads from the big university, so CC kids prep hard.</p>
<p>Okay everyone, disregard the “less difficult” part. I tried to word it without giving the sense of “easiness,” but that didn’t work out so well. My point was that my GPA seems like it would be high at a CC (wrongly based on the unfortunately/fortunately easy class I took), and that might look better than my 3.87 Uw right now. I realized my mistakes in the original post. Thanks for the feedback guys!</p>
<p>Average GPA at California community colleges is about 2.7, lower than most four year universities, according to [url=<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/]National”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/]National</a> Trends in Grade Inflation, American Colleges and Universities<a href=“school%20list%20at%20the%20bottom”>/url</a>. California community college GPAs have not been inflating like at many other schools.</p>
<p>@ anothergalaxy
I hope u didnt feel attacked. I think u should apply both years. I do not know what CC u would go to, but alot of socal CCs like pierce, pasadena, and smc have limited classes and unless u apply super early, ur class registration date will be really late. I had to take a bunch of bs classes my first semester and the rest of the semesters i spent at a CCC, i had too take night classes because they were all that was left. there r also big gaps in the class schedules.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, i laugh at how much money i saved and now Im going to the school i always loved</p>
<p>Agreed. Not all classes at CC are easy. Science and math classes are pretty difficult. Don’t underestimate CC’s just because you took a little 3 unit psych class…</p>
<p>On a brighter note, your stats look good for Cal (out of HS). Write a good personal statement…and make sure you have some great extra-curricular activities. If not, CC is your next best option.</p>
<p>For Berkeley it might be worth it to go to a CC and transfer. For other schools, namely privates, your best shot is senior year in High School. With a few exceptions, it is nearly impossible to transfer into a top 20 university from any school. </p>
<p>So you will have to commit to Berkeley and remain so for two years. Depending on your major, your GPA will probably remain the same as your current GPA in high school. </p>
<p>By the way, this was sort of a redundant question. If you really desire to go to Berkeley you will no doubt apply in high school. If you don’t get in then, your only other option is a CC… What do you have to loose?</p>
. I agree that some classes at CC are a joke, but some science classes are hell…
you will never go wrong with either way. Your stats look pretty good, so maybe coming directly to Cal maybe a better choice for you. However, if you cannot get to your dream school, going to CC is ABSOLUTELY NOT a bad choice at all.</p>