College Help! (Torrance, Burbank, Santa Monica: apartments, rent, credit)

[trav07]

Ok so I plan to attend a community college in LA either by spring or next summer/fall.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they know about LA valley college or Pierce College.
I would like to go to a school north of Hollywood, but i am open to suggestions if there are any other community colleges you think I would enjoy.

I just want to go to a school that I would have fun at and enjoy going to. Don't get me wrong, education is important... sort of... haha.

Let me know what you guys think

[Charles]

Originally Posted by trav07

Ok so I plan to attend a community college in LA either by spring or next summer/fall.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what they know about LA valley college or Pierce College.
I would like to go to a school north of Hollywood, but i am open to suggestions if there are any other community colleges you think I would enjoy.

I just want to go to a school that I would have fun at and enjoy going to. Don't get me wrong, education is important... sort of... haha.

Let me know what you guys think

Why do you want to attend a CC in the LA area?
Where will be living?
Will you be working? Where?
Why north of Hollywood?
What do you plan on studying?
Do you understand CA residency rules as they apply to college tuition?
What is your high school GPA?
What is your latest SAT score?
What is your latest ACT score?

[trav07]

I will be trying to get into the state university system through the community college system. I have my eye on CSUN but I am not 100% positive.
I don't know where I will be living. (I'm going to need advice for that too)
My parents will support me throughout my college career. Either that or I will apply for a work/study program.
I've heard that the area north of Hollywood is nice from people I knew in High school. But I am open to suggestions.
I want to get my GE requirements to transfer. Then I plan to major in communication and minor in finance.
High school GPA is 3.0.
SAT is close to 1000.
I did not take ACT yet. I plan to do it as soon as I can.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by trav07

SAT is close to 1000.

Someone posted similar to your questions recently.
I replied that I've read Santa Monica College has a way to get straight into UCLA - you had better be one sharp dude though.

1000 out of 1600 or 1000 out of 2400?

[trav07]

out of 1600
How is the Santa Monica area though?

[Dwimmerlaik]

With those grades/test scores you could probably apply and get into CSUN right now without going the CC route. However, all of the California CC's (I spent 2 years at College of the Canyons, in Valencia, CA) have transfer agreements with the CSU and the UC systems. Essentially, when you start you are going to meet with someone at the transfer center at the CC. They will set you up with a plan that details what classes you need to take over the 2 years to qualify for the transfer. The requirements are similar but do have some differences. UC's require 2 semesters of foreign language where as the CSU's do not for example. As long as you follow the guide as to which classes you take and maintain 2.5 to 3.0 minimum GPA I think (for CSU and UC respectively) then you are assured a transfer place to the CSU/UC of your choice.

I know people who have gone to Santa Monica city college and really liked it. I had a great experience at COC. They have excellent facilities in terms of the library, performing arts center, etc. I went to COC to save money before transfering and actually ended up transfering to a major university in Washington, DC instead of UCLA because I thought that would be a good place to go to major in Poly Sci.

Like I said, with a 3.0 and 1000 SAT you could get into CSUN. I have a couple friends who just finished their Masters their and know quite a few people that did their undergrad at CSUN as well. Its a good school. But, if you are coming from out of state, it would make alot of sense to save money and establish residency in Cali at a CC and then transfer to a CSU/UC. You get the same degree after 4 years as someone that started out in one of the CSU/UC schools.

Good luck!

P.S. I used to work by Pierce college and it is in the west end of the valley, woodland hills. Its a nice area, can be pretty expensive, but then you can find apartments for 800 bucks in Reseda or Canoga park which is minutes away if you have a car. Its also near entertainment options on Ventura Blvd and Warner Center.

LA valley college is on the East side of the Valley but near the pretty nice parts such as valley village/studio city. It is closer to Hollywood and Burbank, and the area itself has more to offer in terms of funky restuarants and the like on this side of Ventura Blvd. That said, its also much closer to the more undesireable parts of the valley such as North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Sun Valley.

College of the Canyons, where I went, is located in Valenica, CA. This is about 10 miles north of the other two you mentioned in the next valley up. This is a more residential/suburban area but still has some good entertainment options. Although, if night life is your thing, Valencia is not the place to be. But it is by far the nicer and safer of areas in the LA metro area. Santa Monica City College is down in the basin, where as the others are up in the valley. Its near the beach and everything that santa monica / west LA have to offer, which is quite a lot. Rent will be more expensive down here, so thats a consideration. But its a nice place.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by Charles

Someone posted similar to your questions recently.
I replied that I've read Santa Monica College has a way to get straight into UCLA - you had better be one sharp dude though.

1000 out of 1600 or 1000 out of 2400?

I believe the program that helps students get into UCLA is the Scholars Program at Santa Monica College.

See here for application requirements: Scholars - Applying (http://www.smc.edu/Scholars/Applying.html - broken link)

[trav07]

Thanks.
I'm gonna do some research. Does anyone know what is the best way to find out if my credit transfer to the CSU system?
I tried calling CSUN but they said I would just have to apply in November and then they could tell me which classes transfer over.

I just don't want to waste this fall semester here by taking classes that won't transfer.

[jessemh431]

Originally Posted by trav07

out of 1600
How is the Santa Monica area though?

Santa Monica is one of the nicest areas of LA and SMC is the only CC I would attend. I don't know how the 1000/1600 converts to the 2400 scale, but it sounds really good. I am going to be a senior next year so I'm doing the whole college research. I would suggest going to Santa Monica College (SMC) and transferring to UCLA after two years. CSUN has a good reputation, but nothing like UCLA's. It is definitely in a nicer area. I take it you have never visited LA if you think all areas north of Hollywood are better than south. North of Hollywood has some nice areas like Sherman Oaks, Encino, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Studio City, West Hills, and a few others, but some areas are very bad. Same can be said for south of Hollywood; Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Palos Verdes, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Playa del Rey, Westchester, and few others are good areas, but there are also many bad areas.

So yeah, my suggestion is SMC for 2 years and then transfer to UCLA or go straight to CSUN without a CC.

[KnoxTown]

I got a 1430 on my SAT and was rejected from UCLA...