California Universities Commit to More Transfer Students

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I went to a 4 year university and honestly I wish I could have done it over. I actually got into UCLA(wanted to be CA...made it finally!!!), UNC, NCSU, and WF. I decided to go to NCSU for biomedical engineering. I actually did okay at first, but during my spring semester I got caught in the crazy lifestyle. I then decided to go to a JC even though I was against the whole idea. That was the best decision I had ever made and know I'm working on my doctorate. I also left engineering for biology and found something I really enjoy. I actually thought the students at the JC were far more serious and did better in the long run. At NCSU you were another number and you had to search for help or hang out DH Hill library. I urge everyone to consider going to a JC if money is an issue or if you have not decided on a major. I'm looking at $100k+ in loans even with scholarships, grants, jobs and work studies. All JC's help students get into a 4 year university but they also have great programs in nursing and technical fields. I urge everyone to do a study that will make you happy and keep your priorities in line. Take your time and do it right because its your journey!!!

FRAZ of CA 3:43AM February 10, 2009

hoooray for transfer students!

kenny of CA 2:04AM February 10, 2009

Is that true about only admitting TAG students!? I am a cc student and could not apply for tag since I have some university credit as well. What about schools like berekley and LA who do not have tag? I am qualified for ucla's TAP. Are they only accepting TAP students for Fall 09?

cis of CA 1:15AM February 10, 2009

In case you have not heard, a lot of the UC's and CSU's have had budget cuts due to the poor fiscal situation in California and have therefore announced that they will as of right now only accept TAG transfer students from the community college system in the fall semester. This caught me by surprise, I am not due to graduate from the community college that I attend until the end of the fall 2009 semester and I was supposed to start UC Davis in the Winter 2010 quarter. I now have to submit an appeal in order to get into Davis at the proper time, and despite good academic standing and the fact that I am a military veteran, I may or may not be able to attend the school that I have worked so hard to get into. As for all of you who have made disparaging and condescending remarks regarding community college transfer students, get over yourselves! Most transfer students attend community college first because they cannot afford the 4 year schools right away and it is more prudent to complete their lower division courses at a 2 year school. In addition to that, many transfer students are older, I myself am 26 and spent the first 5 years after high school in the Air Force. The comment I found particularly insulting was the one that claimed that transfer students "water down" the 4 year schools. As if non-traditional students are any less academically capable is ludicrous! Also, due to the fact that we are quite often older than traditional college students we usually don't have the desire to spend our nights partying and hunting for dates. It sounds as if someone has a chip on their shoulder because they didn't get into their chosen school right after graduating from high school and want to blame it on someone other than themselves.

Lynn Slaughter of CA 12:45AM February 10, 2009

The reason there is higher transfer % is because people by 2 years in CC have been able to see real things and real life and not go into the schools blind. i have a 3.97 at a community college and hoping to get into ucla berkeley or stanford. I have busted my ass off to get to where I am at my community college and also KNOW which major I want to go in.

Colby of CA 9:31PM February 09, 2009

Umm, most if not all transfer students who apply are accepted to either UC or CS schools.
JCs are best for students who are undecided about their field of study. And for the people that are just not ready for UC or CS schools.
Tranfer students will miss some of the college life from school such as UCLA and suchs. Most CS schools are commute campus. Students don't miss anything by transferring.
But when it comes down to it. It's about $$$. It's either saving students some $$$ or bringing UCs and CSs more $$$.
PhDs don't know how to teach for $hit anyway why waste the $$ on them for the first 2 years at UCs or CSs.
JCs are good filter for students are just not made for college.
Advise for transfer students here: Stop hanging out academically with your friends from JCs or even HSs when you tranfer to UCs or CSs. Time to broaden your academic base. That's what the UCs or CSs are for. More new friends to choose from.

Insider of CA 9:27PM February 09, 2009

I attend community college right now and can personally say that I work extremely hard. I have a 3.92 (with only one B and the rest all A's) and am in the Honors Society for community colleges. I have worked full-time since I graduated high school two years ago and have one year left at community college. I cannot afford to attend a university right now, so I have chosen to complete transfer courses first. I truly believe that most people who have the intention of transferring are pretty dedicated individuals and that a high school senior does not necessarily work any harder and is not any stronger than a community college student. I was accepted to UCR, Pepperdine, UGA, CSF, etc. There are many people like me who get accepted into universities, but cannot attend them right away, so I do not think that community college is an easy way out to getting a transfer into a university.

Meagan of CA 9:05PM February 09, 2009

Research after research demonstrates that community college (CC) students that earn transfer admissions do just as well in the sophomore and senior years than those who went to the four-year as freshman. CCs offer coursework with the same content and rigor as four-year fresh and soph. years; if not there wouldn't be articulation agreements between CCs and four-year universities. Try learning calculus or O-Chem in a lecture hall format at a four-year compared to the small class sizes of a CC (with, for the most part, a Ph.D. who is not pressured to "publish or perish" but to actually TEACH!). Four-year universities are not stupid. They know the value of a CC student who worked hard to EARN transfer admissions.

CC of CA 8:54PM February 09, 2009

Actually, that's NOT what the JC's are for. The JC's are for awarding associate degrees, otherwise every single JC student would end up transferring.
It's sad for high school applicants because the acceptance rate of JC transfers is significantly higher, and arguably the pool of JC transfer applicants isn't as strong as those accepted from high school (otherwise they'd get in the first time). JC transfer applicants deserve a chance but not at the expense of much stronger high school applicants.

Howard of CA 7:54PM February 09, 2009

The UCs like Berkeley and UCLA only accept the top 3% of high school graduating classes and they are really expensive. So going to a much lower cost community college makes sense. But demand is so high that graduating in two years is almost impossible. Then it seems unfair if there are more kids with grades good enough to transfer but some are locked out because there aren't enough openings at the UCs or Cal States to admit high achieving comm. college grads. There needs to be a balance between accepting only high achieving comm college grads so as not to water down the 4-yr college degree and enough transfer seats to admit these kids who deserve to be accepted with a transfer.

SP of CA 7:25PM February 09, 2009