Is it possible to go to community college and a CSU?

I missed a college deadline, should I apply for Spring semester, or attend the community college and transfer?

• I'm a high school senior about to graduate and I really want to go to SFSU, but I missed the deadlines for taking the required csu placement tests. I am DETERMINED to go to this school, I planned everything out before I knew I missed the deadline. I'm so sad I can't go this Fall.. But anyway. Is it a better idea to just wait until I can apply as a freshman for the Spring semester, or go to the City College in San Francisco for a semester and then transfer to SFSU a semester later. What will I have to do, and also a question about financial aid. Will I still be able to have the same financial aid I was offered at SFSU Fall semester, if I were to apply to Spring semester? Annnyyy help at all is deeply appreciated! Just a note: I live in Hayward, and I really just wanna get out and dorm at SFSU. I don't want to attend any community colleges here. Also, I understand I might have to commute the first semester if I were to pick City College. Unless anyone else has a better idea...

• Answer:

  First, find out if SFSU will be accepting students for the spring term. Even if they are now, ask them if they think they *will be* for this upcoming spring. Most of the CSUs last year could not accept *any* spring students, due to the budget issues in your state. I would not be surprised if that happens again this year. This might mean you can't attend SFSU until next fall. Be prepared. If you were to apply as a transfer student, having gone to a cc first, it's possible your financial aid offer might not be the same. Likewise, if you were able to apply for spring, it's possible your aid might not be the same. It really depends on what they offered you - what went into your aid offer. Without me seeing that, there's no way for me to give you the answer to this question. But you can ask it if SFSU - they can tell you. If you do decide to go to another college first, take a moment right now and read up on the SFSU transfer requirements. The transfer requirements at the CSUs and UCs tend to be very strict, so read them and make sure you know what you'd need to do at the other college in order to be able to transfer to SFSU.