Going to a two-year college right after high school seemed like the right choice at the time. I had it all planned out.
I would be saving money and earning an associates degree. I could stay close to home.
Fast-forward two years and here I sit at Delta College, overloading on units, taking summer classes and struggling to get my general education units done so I can transfer.
Between the budget cuts, tuition hikes, increases in students and the elimination of the drop-in policy, I’m struggling to get the classes I need in time to transfer.
I applied to several California State University (CSU) campuses for fall, but that was a waste of time and money.
I cannot go to any of those schools because I cannot get the science and math classes here at Delta that I would need to transfer.
This means I would transfer in as what is called a “lower-division” transfer student.
Guess what?
Schools don’t accept lower-division transfers because they do not have the room on campus.
This means I would have to stay at Delta another semester, not including summer, just to qualify as an “upper-division” transfer student.
And who’s to say I’ll get all my classes?
Spring 2013 registration opens in August and Fall 2013 registration opens in May 2013.
This means I could chance getting my classes and apply for spring 2013, but only about 4 CSU’s are accepting transfers then, again due to too many students and not enough classes on those campuses.
On those four campuses, my major is either impacted or isn’t offered.
So my best chance is waiting another full year to apply for next fall.
To me, all this waiting and chancing my education is a total and complete waste of time.
This is why I have decided to apply to private schools, out-of-state.
Out-of-state schools have different policies than CSU’s or the University of California (UC) system.
Also, most, if not all, private schools do not charge out-of-state tuition.Instead, many have a base rate that everyone pays.
Also, most out-of-state private schools have “rolling deadlines,” unlike UC or CSU schools.
This means students can apply every month to the school by a specific date.
My “dream school” is Pacific Lutheran University (PLU).
PLU accepts applications on the 15th of each month. The school doesn’t shut students out as many of the CSU campuses are doing.
Also, a student will know within two weeks to a month if they have been accepted. Even better, a student can re-apply each month.
Many private schools also offer scholarships that are much higher in value than public institutions. Loans are much easier to pay off because of how closely the counselors work with students.
The online applications for private schools are usually free as well.
If I remember correctly CSU schools charge for their online application that you are allowed to submit once per year at a specific time.
This is what I’m finding to be my best option to avoid repeating the situation I am in now.
So be careful and think if you really want to go to a CSU/UC or in-state school that is not private.
It just make come back to bite you.
Because the system has failed me, this is what I’m finding to be my best option to avoid repeating the situation I am in now.