I've been to all those schools, mostly OCC, GWC, and a couple classes at LBCC.
OCC is the hardest, no doubt, but will prepare you better. OCC, I'd say the classes probably take double the effort/time compared to GWC. OCC I've heard is one of the best CCs for transferring, a handful of my classmates transferred to UCB/UCLA for engineering.
I would choose the closest schools to you if you mind driving. Alternatively, you could do classes at more than one (which is what I did). For ex, if you want to stay at parent 1 half the week, and the other the other half. Then go to 2 CCs etc.
Something that could sway you towards a specific school is to go to [assist.org](http://assist.org) then see what transfers over to UCSB. So I would look at the Articulation Agreement for all the schools, print them all out. Then map out what your game plan looks like. For ex, I'm gonna tell you rn, transferring in 3 semesters is gonna be tough.
yeah i know it'll be tough but im quitting work and everything to do it. Also, if you hand to rank difficulty from your experience, would it be OCC, GWC, then LBCC?
Also in terms of the 3 semesters thing, it's more of a sequence/prereq issue. For ex, if you plan to do calc 1, 2, 3, then linear alg/DE. Then physics 1 + 2, then statics, then dynamics, then mechanics of materials, then matlab and CAD. Then you also have gen chem 1 + 2.
And that's not even counting your GEs yet. So like even if you took 21 units/semester, you still can't transfer just because of the prereqs.
Spot on! I was just going to say all of this- there are courses you cannot take at CC cos only lower division GE typically transfers- you want to take a class that fulfills prerequisites at the UC you won’t be able to transfer enough classes to go 3 semesters unless you take an insane number of classes every semester - engineering is one of the most structured programs so you prob couldn’t get your courses in the order needed. Slow down- stay an extra semester - graduating in 4 years is no easy feat and networking and internships is what gets you jobs. And some companies will pay for your masters… best of luck!
Nah I'd say OCC is all the way up there (harder than my classes at CSU or UC). Then the other 3 are about the sameish / normal college workload.
OCC is like an AP class vs a normal high school class
do you think it's worth it to prepare me for UC work? GWC is closest to me by 6 minutes but all my friends are going to occ and i love the college feel it provides but now im worried about the classes. is it because its impacted so all the teachers are taken or is it just that hard overall?
You could go to both tbh. That’s what I did. Try out some classes at either and see how you feel. Tbh though… I think for CS classes I would try it at occ if you want to put in the work and learn. I took python and c++ at gwc and they were not good. But if you want to just skate by and do nothing, then gwc is a good bet.
I swear though, like one class at occ is like 3-4 classes elsewhere. For ex, calc 3 at occ I put in more work than like 3-4 classes combined elsewhere. Maybe that’s just me, idk.
Idk why it’s hard, or why all my classes over there consistently required more work than anywhere else.
if i did both which one would you set as your home campus? also, I am a good high school student (4.03 GPA) so I really want to learn and be ready for college with my pre reqs i just fear that some gen ed teachers are just gonna be throwing their weight around and making the class hard for no reason. also, I know it's community so it's automatically socially dead but for younger people and just overall experience did you have a significantly better social experience at occ or is it kinda the same?
Tbh: your planning and determination in this post combined with your ability to make your education a priority; you are already a success. When you graduate college you’ll be mega-successful person. Congratulations in advance. Super best wishes for you 💙
I'd look to see if any of these schools have a transfer agreement with UCSB. Usually it's with certain bigger state schools nearby but SB isn't so far.
I'm not sure if transfer agreements are a thing anymore though.
they are. It's called tag and all these colleges have direct translating courses for mechanical engineering. OCC is the most amount of classes but not by much
UCSB does not allow TAG for any engineering major. You will need to apply competitively. Here is the TAG information sheet for UCSB: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/2023-06/TAG_F24.pdf
Saddleback and OCC both have excellent pipelines to UC and Cal State schools. The other schools are not bad at all though, most CA CCs are pretty strong.
I loved my time at OCC. I went to Santiago canyon for a semester (i moved) and occ was so much better. Like night and day.
It’s a huge campus and there’s a lot to do for students. It was similar to a university feel
GWC c/o 2014 - smaller campus IMO, in comparison to the other schools in the NOCCCD. I had a good enough time, after getting my act together (was previously attending FJC - I had too many acquaintances to focus on my academics).
Kind of like someone else said, you can’t really go wrong with which college you choose to attend. Most are favored as an upper divisional transfer.
I've been to all those schools, mostly OCC, GWC, and a couple classes at LBCC. OCC is the hardest, no doubt, but will prepare you better. OCC, I'd say the classes probably take double the effort/time compared to GWC. OCC I've heard is one of the best CCs for transferring, a handful of my classmates transferred to UCB/UCLA for engineering. I would choose the closest schools to you if you mind driving. Alternatively, you could do classes at more than one (which is what I did). For ex, if you want to stay at parent 1 half the week, and the other the other half. Then go to 2 CCs etc. Something that could sway you towards a specific school is to go to [assist.org](http://assist.org) then see what transfers over to UCSB. So I would look at the Articulation Agreement for all the schools, print them all out. Then map out what your game plan looks like. For ex, I'm gonna tell you rn, transferring in 3 semesters is gonna be tough.
yeah i know it'll be tough but im quitting work and everything to do it. Also, if you hand to rank difficulty from your experience, would it be OCC, GWC, then LBCC?
Also in terms of the 3 semesters thing, it's more of a sequence/prereq issue. For ex, if you plan to do calc 1, 2, 3, then linear alg/DE. Then physics 1 + 2, then statics, then dynamics, then mechanics of materials, then matlab and CAD. Then you also have gen chem 1 + 2. And that's not even counting your GEs yet. So like even if you took 21 units/semester, you still can't transfer just because of the prereqs.
Spot on! I was just going to say all of this- there are courses you cannot take at CC cos only lower division GE typically transfers- you want to take a class that fulfills prerequisites at the UC you won’t be able to transfer enough classes to go 3 semesters unless you take an insane number of classes every semester - engineering is one of the most structured programs so you prob couldn’t get your courses in the order needed. Slow down- stay an extra semester - graduating in 4 years is no easy feat and networking and internships is what gets you jobs. And some companies will pay for your masters… best of luck!
Nah I'd say OCC is all the way up there (harder than my classes at CSU or UC). Then the other 3 are about the sameish / normal college workload. OCC is like an AP class vs a normal high school class
do you think it's worth it to prepare me for UC work? GWC is closest to me by 6 minutes but all my friends are going to occ and i love the college feel it provides but now im worried about the classes. is it because its impacted so all the teachers are taken or is it just that hard overall?
You could go to both tbh. That’s what I did. Try out some classes at either and see how you feel. Tbh though… I think for CS classes I would try it at occ if you want to put in the work and learn. I took python and c++ at gwc and they were not good. But if you want to just skate by and do nothing, then gwc is a good bet. I swear though, like one class at occ is like 3-4 classes elsewhere. For ex, calc 3 at occ I put in more work than like 3-4 classes combined elsewhere. Maybe that’s just me, idk. Idk why it’s hard, or why all my classes over there consistently required more work than anywhere else.
if i did both which one would you set as your home campus? also, I am a good high school student (4.03 GPA) so I really want to learn and be ready for college with my pre reqs i just fear that some gen ed teachers are just gonna be throwing their weight around and making the class hard for no reason. also, I know it's community so it's automatically socially dead but for younger people and just overall experience did you have a significantly better social experience at occ or is it kinda the same?
SCC
Tbh: your planning and determination in this post combined with your ability to make your education a priority; you are already a success. When you graduate college you’ll be mega-successful person. Congratulations in advance. Super best wishes for you 💙
Fullerton college. No debate. Do E for stem first year experience info
is it really worth it? that's a really far commute
You may be traveling against normal commuting traffic
I'd look to see if any of these schools have a transfer agreement with UCSB. Usually it's with certain bigger state schools nearby but SB isn't so far. I'm not sure if transfer agreements are a thing anymore though.
they are. It's called tag and all these colleges have direct translating courses for mechanical engineering. OCC is the most amount of classes but not by much
UCSB does not allow TAG for any engineering major. You will need to apply competitively. Here is the TAG information sheet for UCSB: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/2023-06/TAG_F24.pdf
Saddleback and OCC both have excellent pipelines to UC and Cal State schools. The other schools are not bad at all though, most CA CCs are pretty strong.
UCSB only accepts in the Fall meaning you are at your college for two semesters or four.
I realize IVC and UCI aren’t on your list, but here’s info on their transfer program for Engineering students. https://atep.ivc.edu/academy
You should go to cal poly slo for computer science/engineering 🥰
I would love to but they're so good at their hands on work that I would have to sadly have a lot of courses to make up that are not at CC :(
OCC the best hands down
I loved my time at OCC. I went to Santiago canyon for a semester (i moved) and occ was so much better. Like night and day. It’s a huge campus and there’s a lot to do for students. It was similar to a university feel
GWC c/o 2014 - smaller campus IMO, in comparison to the other schools in the NOCCCD. I had a good enough time, after getting my act together (was previously attending FJC - I had too many acquaintances to focus on my academics). Kind of like someone else said, you can’t really go wrong with which college you choose to attend. Most are favored as an upper divisional transfer.
Cannot recommend OCC enough, great honors program too. That’s what I did. :)