UC Extension or CSU to take pre-req's

[capone2975]

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Just wanted to see thoughts on doing pre-reqs at a UC extension vs. a CSU school?

 

[JohnBasedow]

If you want A's go w/ the CSU.

 

[youthman]

If you want A's go w/ the CSU.

why do you say that?

 

[capone2975]

does anyone know what looks better to the adcoms?

 

[imrep1972]

does anyone know what looks better to the adcoms?

Here I go again... 🙂

Actually, the answer really depends on the individual CS, and the individual AdCom.

However, IN GENERAL (please note - I realize there are exceptions), CS will not look as good to adcoms as UC. CS generally has a reputation as a lower tier school system (easier to get into, lower quality of education, easier to get higher grades - as someone else noted already). I don't know if the UC extension courses show up on your transcripts as anything other than UC courses (doesn't look like "UC lite" or something). As long as they look like true UC courses, I would think your transcript would be more impressive going to a UC than a CS.

There are CS that give good quality education. I understand that CSUSF has a good reputation. I can't speak to particular CS (other than CSUSB), but you really should just look into the individual schools you are considering and what their national reputation is.

 

[daretodream]

I don't mean to steal this thread, but I thought I'd throw out some related questions here. If you've already received a bachelor's degree (non-science), how difficult is it to enroll in classes at a cal state? I've heard that due to budget constraints and impaction, cal states are not accepting applications for people seeking a second bachelor's or post-baccalaureate courses. Can anyone comment on this?

 

[imrep1972]

I don't mean to steal this thread, but I thought I'd throw out some related questions here. If you've already received a bachelor's degree (non-science), how difficult is it to enroll in classes at a cal state? I've heard that due to budget constraints and impaction, cal states are not accepting applications for people seeking a second bachelor's or post-baccalaureate courses. Can anyone comment on this?

Dunno about 2nd bachelors, although I would think that might be a little easier, but I *can* speak to the post-bac work.

I enrolled at CSUSB almost 2 years ago as a post-bac (non-degree seeking) student, after being told by CSUF and CSUDH (Dominguez Hills?) that they would not have room for me as an enrollee and I would have to be an extension student.

After one quarter at SB, I was informed that thanks to Herr Schwartzenegger, all the CS's were being closed to new students enrolling who were not pursuing a degree. SB was one of the only (if not THE only) schools that was not yet closed, because the school was still young, still being developed (new buildings) and therefore still budgeted to add attendance.

After my third quarter, I was informed that the budget had been cut further, and now, even SB was closed to students pursuing non-degree classes. The only reason that I was allowed to continue was that I had already been accepted to the school.

After one and a half years, I was sent a letter by SB being told that, thanks to even FURTHER budget cuts, I would no longer be able to attend the school *AT ALL* unless I entered a degree program.

So, I can't speak with certainty for every school, but yes, I would be concerned about gaining entrance to a CS without pursuing a degree at this point.

 

[youthman]

I don't mean to steal this thread, but I thought I'd throw out some related questions here. If you've already received a bachelor's degree (non-science), how difficult is it to enroll in classes at a cal state? I've heard that due to budget constraints and impaction, cal states are not accepting applications for people seeking a second bachelor's or post-baccalaureate courses. Can anyone comment on this?

It's true, thanks to the Governator, even the CS schools are closing their doors to 2nd degree/post-bacc students. As one of the Cal-Poly advisors told me, they had to cut money somewhere, since they figured we already have at least 1 degree, they can cut our programs. Shouldn't just blame it on Arnold though we have always placed education as one of our lesser priorities, he's just continuing the tradition. 👎

Then you look around and see schools like UNC - Greensboro that basically has an open admissions policy for 2nd degree/post-bacc students and you have to wonder are both states part of the same country??

 

[daretodream]

thanks for the info, imrep1972 and youthman. i guess i'll have to concoct some other way of taking my pre-requisite classes, unless the situation at the cal states changes soon. taking classes at a cal state school would have been ideal because of the low cost (i'm already up to my eyeballs in debt from school loans). i'm entertaining the idea of attending community college but i'm afraid that adcomms will not look favorably upon this, especially since i've attempted science courses at my first undergrad institution and fared poorly due to immaturity/lack of effort. i'd like a second opportunity to prove myself, but money will play a huge factor for me because of my sizeable existing debt. if anyone can offer any ideas, i'm all ears.

 

[youthman]

I'm looking at going out of state. With a formal post-bac or 2nd degree program you can get financial aid, and the cost of living will be cheaper than CA (I pay rent here anyways and I know it's more than some people's mortgages elsewhere).

 

[notdeadyet]

It's true, thanks to the Governator, even the CS schools are closing their doors to 2nd degree/post-bacc students.

Not true. I was just accepted to SFSU as a 2nd degree student in Biology (SFSU is a CSU).

 

[youthman]

Not true. I was just accepted to SFSU as a 2nd degree student in Biology (SFSU is a CSU).

That's true, SFSU is an option, I've read quite a few bad reviews about em on here though 😛

 

[capone2975]

Dunno about 2nd bachelors, although I would think that might be a little easier, but I *can* speak to the post-bac work.

I enrolled at CSUSB almost 2 years ago as a post-bac (non-degree seeking) student, after being told by CSUF and CSUDH (Dominguez Hills?) that they would not have room for me as an enrollee and I would have to be an extension student.

After one quarter at SB, I was informed that thanks to Herr Schwartzenegger, all the CS's were being closed to new students enrolling who were not pursuing a degree. SB was one of the only (if not THE only) schools that was not yet closed, because the school was still young, still being developed (new buildings) and therefore still budgeted to add attendance.

After my third quarter, I was informed that the budget had been cut further, and now, even SB was closed to students pursuing non-degree classes. The only reason that I was allowed to continue was that I had already been accepted to the school.

After one and a half years, I was sent a letter by SB being told that, thanks to even FURTHER budget cuts, I would no longer be able to attend the school *AT ALL* unless I entered a degree program.

So, I can't speak with certainty for every school, but yes, I would be concerned about gaining entrance to a CS without pursuing a degree at this point.

Can't you just say you are going to pursue a 2nd degree but just do the pre-req's?

 

[TwoLegacies]

Just wanted to see thoughts on doing pre-reqs at a UC extension vs. a CSU school?

speaking about UCSD and SDSU specifically:

UCSD extension courses won't satisfy pre-requisites. They're for people who are already health professionals and want to enhance their knowledge or whatever... UCSD Concurrent Students (different program) enroll in actual UCSD undergrad courses, if they can get permission from the professor after the class has begun (i.e. if there are any spots left).

At San Diego State, they aren't accepting 2nd bachelor's degree applicants. You can, though, do the same thing as at UCSD- not register formally, but enroll on a class by class basis. I think it's called extension, but I don't remember. Anyway, you have to get the prof's permission to enroll in a class if it has space.

I don't know how it is at the other UCs/CSUs, but that's the deal for San Diego.

Personally, I'm just going for whichever classes fit my schedule and budget. UC classes will look better I suppose, but you're learning the same stuff. Ochem is Ochem is Ochem, and having taken it at a community college after graduating from UCSD, I can say that the class is still damn hard.

 

[notdeadyet]

That's true, SFSU is an option, I've read quite a few bad reviews about em on here though 😛

I've heard mixed. It's a pretty good program and good community of students, but big classes. If you live in the Bay Area, it's well worth a look, but I don't think I'd recommend anyone move to San Francisco for the sake of attendance. Tough to beat the price in state though ($1,600/semester, full time).

 

[imrep1972]

Can't you just say you are going to pursue a 2nd degree but just do the pre-req's?

I suppose you might be able to do that. However, I would think that unless you are going to major in a subject that is closely related to biology, you are going to have a very tough time registering for the courses. I know at most CS, the classes are full, or nearly so, with Bio students already. I don't know if they are going to be that quick to let a marketing (for example) major in.