To the OP: Your best bet is to do well in CC and transfer to a solid state school. Transferring into an Ivy is next to impossible, particularly if you are not a top-tier candidate with all of the necessary grades, awards, etc.
I had my choice of programs, and decided on a non-Ivy, based mostly on fit and culture. I actually inquired to a board member (who interviewed me) at my top Ivy about transferring after a semester in case my experience wasn't what I expected, and I was told that it was possible, but highly improbable....even though I had been accepted and declined.
In regard to the general topic......one of the biggest mistakes students make when they look at colleges is they focus on ranking and not FIT. I admittedly did much the same when I first considered undergraduate training, but once I started visiting colleges/universities on my list, it became much more apparent that I actually had to live at these places, and not just have their shiny brochures on my desk and their name on my CV. Networking is probably the best reason to attend an Ivy, but the education does not come without some tradeoffs.
An Ivy league education can be a great experience, but it is also very.....different. I'd strongly suggest that people evaluate their educational choices by visiting the campuses and experiencing the culture, because you will have to live with your choice for at least 4 years.
