How well do universities in the area regard the local CCs?

[theGreat1]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I keep reading about how some of the local community colleges are top notch and will get you to the CA school of your choice. I was talking to a prof from East Los Angeles College and he talked about his department as though it was that well regarded in it's field that if I did well there I could get into pretty much any CA university of my choice. I was floored. Back home where I am from you would be lucky if the local city college took a look at your transcript from CC. If they didn't have a partnership with that school already, it was about as much a luck of the draw as going in straight out of high school.

I already have my bachelors degree and now am looking back to start over again in architecture. So far I've found a great program at West LA College, but they partner up with a private insitution in Koreatown and their courses are too expensive; they would run me 800 bucks a month for a year!

East Los Angeles College is supposed to have a top notch Arch program too where supposedly their students who complete the two year basics go on to top arch schools like Cornell, UCLA, USC, Cal Poly and Woodbury.

I haven't checked Santa Monica College if they have a program but I keep hearing that SMC is a well regarded junior college with excellent transfer rates to the top UCs in the State. Is this true?

Also, the classes are so cheap (for in-state)! It's a great deal.

Most of the UC schools do not accept 2nd bachelor's applicants. Very few programs that do.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

ELAC to Sci-Arc! That is AMAZING. That is like going from Bunker Hill Community College to MIT. Something that hasn't been done since Matt Damon did it in Good Will Hunting!

I just wanted to go from ELAC or any other reputable JC arch program to UCLA.

Cal Poly Pomona has a reputable architecture program, and would likely take you, since you hinted that your grades are above average.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by theGreat1

Most of the UC schools do not accept 2nd bachelor's applicants. Very few programs that do.

The OP has stated that she/he is seeking an M.A.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by genjy

You can go to any California CC and transfer to UCLA, USC, Cal, Pepperdine, and so on.

It's not the CC's name that matters, it's your GPA, activities, achievements, and courses taken that get you into the university.

SMC has a good name, but the reason why it has the most transfers to UCLA is because it's close to UCLA, so SMC attracts students who plan to stay on the westside for their schooling.

Yes - many of the CC's are integrated with their "feed" campus in the UC or CS system.

Harrier knows that he qualified for guaranteed admittance to UC Riverside because he had a GPA above the requirement, and had graduated from Fullerton College, the school for which the UC in question had an agreement.

Harrier chose to attend Cal Poly Pomona instead, for a variety of reasons, including that he believes that it is the best school for him.

Don't worry, Harrier only speaks in the third person while posting on City Data.

[radiolibre99]

I would kill at the chance to go to Cal Poly SLO or Pomona. I would pack up and move in a heartbeat. Both schools are tops for architecture.

Honestly I would be grateful to attend any school in LA for architecture. I am hoping to push hard and excel.

Now the only thing that scares me is when I finish school I will be pushing 34 at the the oldest, 33 at the youngest. How will that look? I am so freaking nervous about age discrimination its not even funny.

[The Illusive Man]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I would kill at the chance to go to Cal Poly SLO or Pomona. I would pack up and move in a heartbeat. Both schools are tops for architecture.

Honestly I would be grateful to attend any school in LA for architecture. I am hoping to push hard and excel.

Now the only thing that scares me is when I finish school I will be pushing 34 at the the oldest, 33 at the youngest. How will that look? I am so freaking nervous about age discrimination its not even funny.

Don't give up on your dream man. Don't let things like that scare you out of pursuing what you really want to do. Life is way too short for that.

[katnip kid]

I'm glad you brought up the issue of age discrimination, radiolibre99. It's just what I wanted to ask about.

Would an older adult be welcome at a CC? Many schools have that non-discrimination policy, true, but are older students really welcome at California CCs? Are older students common on campus? I plan to pursue a degree, not take enrichment courses.

I ask because my other half and I are planning to relocate to CA. It would probably be best to wait until we move to work on a degree, as CA is where I'd be living and working. However, at my age (52) I cannot afford to wait.

[radiolibre99]

It's not the CC I'm worried about. They can't discriminate and teachers there love to help. I was welcomed with open arms at ELAC and they have me all the info I could ever ask for.

It's once I get out into the real world again at age 33-34 once I'm done and that's if I don't screw up and have to retake a course. I'm afraid of age discrimination in the workplace because I know employers like 'em young.

[katnip kid]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

It's not the CC I'm worried about. They can't discriminate and teachers there love to help. I was welcomed with open arms at ELAC and they have me all the info I could ever ask for.

It's once I get out into the real world again at age 33-34 once I'm done and that's if I don't screw up and have to retake a course. I'm afraid of age discrimination in the workplace because I know employers like 'em young.

At age 33 you are still a young 'un. Try being in your 50s and doing the school and job hunting thing! Now that's when you will encounter age discrimination! Trust me, you are still young at that age. I hope your plans work out for you!

[Chatteress]

Try Rio Hondo College in Whittier ... They also have an architecture program