How well do universities in the area regard the local CCs? (Los Angeles: transfer, high school)

[NIMBYS IN SPACE]

Pasadena is too far out of the way from Burbank?? PCC is closer and easier to get to than both WLAC and ELAC.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by jm1982

Yeah definitely a smart idea considering the crazy high prices of Universities today..especially the private ones.

If people got out of the status symbol mentality they could save a lot of money in general.

They just want to tell their social circle "My kid is going to XYZ University!"

BRAG BRAG BRAG

Reminds me of this quote:

"
“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”"

Yeah, my younger Gen-Y cousins-in-law are all drowning in school debt because their parents forced them to go to UCLA, Berkeley, USC, etc. They all have recently graduated but have no jobs since they don't have the work experience nor the social skills to get gain employment. A big part of it is also pride--they are too proud to seek entry level positions because they have degrees from these big-name universities.

At one point, their parents were all disappointed that my wife went to FIDM (2-year associate degree school). But my wife came out of FIDM with very little school debt and is one of the most successful of her generation in her family. She's been working in her field since she was 20.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by NIMBYS IN SPACE

Pasadena is too far out of the way from Burbank?? PCC is closer and easier to get to than both WLAC and ELAC.

Do you think that I would have a far better chance of getting accepted in to a UC going to PCC than ELAC?

If so, I would make the drive there rather than ELAC.

Also, would I still be considered out of residency considering I live in the city of LA? Or would community college prices be all the same? Back home, the CCs would charge based on you being in district or not, meaning the priced depended on if you lived outside or inside the zip code. So let's say you lived in North Hollywood but went to school in Studio City, you would pay the same price as someone from out of state. Yes, it was that ridiculous.

I am also looking to save on the price. I can easily cover with a years worth of CC courses with a single paycheck rather than taking out loans or saving up to go to a uni.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by genjy

Yeah, my younger Gen-Y cousins-in-law are all drowning in school debt because their parents forced them to go to UCLA, Berkeley, USC, etc. They all have recently graduated but have no jobs since they don't have the work experience nor the social skills to get gain employment. A big part of it is also pride--they are too proud to seek entry level positions because they have degrees from these big-name universities.

At one point, their parents were all disappointed that my wife went to FIDM (2-year associate degree school). But my wife came out of FIDM with very little school debt and is one of the most successful of her generation in her family. She's been working in her field since she was 20.

Welcome to the real world. I went to a top school, I mean it makes USC and UCLA look like a city college by comparison, BUT I envy the students here in CA who have all of these opportunities at their fingertips. The CCs are better than some of the universities in my home state. Cal Poly Pomona's arch school is amazing and I would trade in my top ten university liberal arts degree for a practical degree from their design school.

Kids do not know what they have and good for you for teaching them to stop reading US NEWS and just go to CC and transfer. In this economy it's not even really all that worth to attend a top ten (even an Ivy). All of my friends who stayed home and went to the local flagship and majored in Engineering, Accounting, Comp Sci are doing far better than any of my friends who went to the top schools and majored in liberal arts. Unless they went into banking, none of them mustered up more than 30k a year. They're all hoping, like me, to land a better degree in grad school.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Also, the classes are so cheap (for in-state)!

If you can get any! Good luck.
A dash for classes - Los Angeles Times
Fewer community college students completing degrees, transferring - latimes.com
Live discussion: community college students struggle after cuts - latimes.com

[radiolibre99]

Well at those prices I am surprised everyone doesn't skip out on the first two years of university and go straight to CC.

[Voyageuse]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

By PCC I am sure you all mean Pasedena Community College? That's a feeder into USC I am assuming while SMC is a feeder into UCLA?

SMC doesn't have an architecture program per se, only interior arch and design. I could study that but wonder if that will transfer to UCLA considering there is no interior arch program at it's arch school.

Pasadena is way to far out for me. I work in Burbank and was thinking ELAC was enough of a far drive. I would go though if it meant a better shot into either USC or UCLA.

PCC and SMCC are feeder schools to both USC and UCLA. I agree with the previous posters, PCC is much closer to Burbank than ELAC. If it has the classes you need, it would be a better commute for you

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Well at those prices I am surprised everyone doesn't skip out on the first two years of university and go straight to CC.

Many do. My son did. It's a topic of much discussion in college forums where you have the practical vs the "I want the freshman college experience!!!" types with a dash of how CC students and teachers aren't as good as those found in a 4 year. There is no winning that debate because there is no one right way to do a thing.

Doesn't LAIRD have a 1 year program for people who already have their BA/BS but what to transfer and get their M Arch? That seems fastest if not cheapest.

[radiolibre99]

Doesn't LAIRD have a 1 year program for people who already have their BA/BS but what to transfer and get their M Arch? That seems fastest if not cheapest.

LAIAD? Yes, they do but it's 800 bucks a month and they recommend you not have a full time job because its pretty intensive and crams a lot into one year.

[HarryKerryJr]

Many of the instructors at CC, also teach at UNIVERSITIES at the same time, especially the part-timers. The full-timers who retire, immediately get work teaching at the university. That's how good the CC's can be. Now, some instructors may have very close to the same standards for both their CC and university classes, but many understand that some of the CC students (not all as many CC students ARE UNIVERSITY material, but it's CHEAPER to get some of the required courses at the CC, and then finish at the university, and they get priority when transferring to a Cal-state or UC) may not yet be university material and these KIDS just got out of high school and this is the first time they will be treated as adults and weren't prepared for it in high school, and do more to try and bring UP those at the CC classes and prepare them for the less forgiving university. Yet, many CC instructors have university standards and simply won't accept work that isn't up to par and will have the student do the work again, telling the student what needs to be done for it to be acceptable COLLEGE work. I had one instructor who had high standards on the SUBJECT, but allowed us ONE free pass on the ENGLISH skills not so evident from the very first paper we turned in because he said there were quite a few poorly constructed sentences and he marked them all, but did not deduct THIS TIME ONLY and told us that NOW is the time to get our English skills up to par HERE at the CC for the university because they will just throw these papers in our face. The CC's are much better today with entrance exams that identify poor English and Math, and if you don't measure up on the entrance exam you are REQUIRED to take the "remedial" courses to get you up to college standards. I believe the state plan adopted some years ago was for the CC's to handle much more of the "remedial" to get students who needed it up to college standards and leave the Cal-state and UC to focus more of their resources on university level specialty instruction because the universities were getting overwhelmed with high school grads who had low level English and Math. Again, the entrance exams are better today.

Yes, each CC can have it's specialty. LACC is noted for it's film department and it program is excellent far more affordable than USC (whose students all seemed focused on being the next great director) and access to more equipment and far more hands-on real film making who are, in fact, more employable because they know how to do things in production or on set while USC seems focused on historical and academic knowledge of film and turning out the next generation of Steven Spielbergs.

Fullerton has a well-regarded music department that beats many university programs and a Theater Arts program that seems MORE university in its quality of instruction and facilities and employment opportunities. The CC's have very good general instruction, and EXCELLENT instruction in their specialties. Pasadena City College Nursing program is the place to go having a superior program to many universities. While USC has a famed Dental School, Cypress college (I think it is Cypress) has an excellent dental program, especially hygienists with high quality instruction and gets people EMPLOYED. Many people who hire or work in certain industries are aware of the CC's that have a particular well-regarded program and will hire those people, sometimes before a university grad. The B.A. or B.S does count for something and can get one higher pay, at least down the road, but employers want to hire people who can hit the ground running, and most university grads don't seem to have enough "vocational" skills to complement their academic knowledge.

The CC's here are really good, but like all adult and college endeavors, it is only as good as the student puts into it.