School stuff for Unseelie

[danaeris]

Unseelie would like to get his AA through CCSF in order to transfer to the psychology program at UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, or UC Berkeley with a strong perference for UC Berkeley because then he could stay in the basic Bay Area.

In order to do that, he needs an excellent GPA... the only person we know who has done this and gotten into all three of those had a 3.95.

He has two options.
-transfer his credits from Mass Bay College, which may have low grades (he doesn't know/remember), and possibly graduate by the end of the summer while working full time
OR
-throw out the old transcript unless it turns out to have surprisingly good grades, and start from scratch... which suggests going to CCSF full time.

This brings up a number of questions.
(1) Anyone know how good the various psych departments are at UCSC, UC Davis, and UCB? How hard they are to get into?
(2) Anyone have any sample points of folks who transferred from a CC to one of those UCs with a lower GPA than 3.95?
(3) Anyone know of any other UCs or Cal States which are in this area?
(4) Anyone know what kind of financial aid he can get for a place that has tuition of ~$250/semester ($18/unit/semester), given his status as an independent with no savings virtually no possessions of value, and a debt or two to boot?

Anyone have any strong opinions about what the sensible course is here? I'm leaning towards saying fuck it and getting him financial aid so he can accelerate this process and still wind up at a good school. But if he could graduate next term and transfer to a less well known Cal State or UC, thus cutting 1-2 years off the schedule, should he? And are there such options that are conveniently located?

Comments

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I know SF State Univ. has a great *nursing* program, but I don't know how they are for psych. Still, they're local and might bear checking out.

And what about Cal State Hayward?

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

True 'nuff, SFSU isn't as prestigious as UCB, but in many respects, if a guy can graduate with honors from a solid school, it doesn't really matter *which* school it is - and despite a lack of prestige, SF State is solid. It's also about a fifth of the cost! ;)

[nytemuse.livejournal.com]

I have a friend in the psych program at San Jose State (CSU San Jose). Not quite as local as Berkeley, but more so than Davis or Santa Cruz. I can inquire, if that's an option worth pursuing...

[ianhess.livejournal.com]

You might want to look into pell grants for JC tuition. They used to be pretty easy to get if you were taxed at a low income, and you don't have to pay them back. They usually cover tuition and books, or thereabouts.

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

(1) Anyone know how good the various psych departments are at UCSC, UC Davis, and UCB? How hard they are to get into?

UCB is by far the hardest to get into. You'd most likely be able to get into the other two with a lower GPA. I don't much about the psych programs at any, but UCB would be the most prestigious.

(3) Anyone know of any other UCs or Cal States which are in this area?

SFSU, SJSU, CSU Hayward, CSU Monterey, CSU Sonoma, Sacramento State, CSU Stanislaus. UC Merced (if they ever decide to open it) and CSU Humboldt are a bit further away.

[kaligrrrl.livejournal.com]

When I transferred from a CC to UMass, only the credits transferred, not the GPA. So, his GPA at CCSF will be what the UCs will be looking at.
I *flunked out* of a community college 10 years ago and still got into a Ph.D. program at UC Davis.
I can give you info. on UCD, if you like.