Tedi Greenleaf knew her mission. If she got good grades, solid SAT scores and participated in extracurricular activities, she could go to UC Santa Barbara.

Greenleaf, a senior at Riverside's Ramona High School, achieved all of her goals. The 17-year-old earned a 3.7 grade point average and scored about 1,100 on her SAT tests. She is the school's yearbook editor, plays soccer and was a cheerleader.

In any other year, she would have been assured a spot in the University of California. Since 1960, the state's master plan promised a spot in the UC system to any student in the top 12.5 percent of the state's high school graduating class.

But instead of getting a ticket to her dream, Greenleaf got an acceptance letter this spring to a community college.

Enrollment cuts prompted by the state budget crisis have forced the University of California to turn away eligible students for the first time in its history. About 7,600 fall applicants were redirected to community colleges for their first two years. Under Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan, the affected students are guaranteed admission to a UC in their junior year if they take the required courses.

But it's a deal Greenleaf is rejecting.

"I feel like if they didn't want me the first time around, I don't want them the second time around," Greenleaf said. "I feel like I got dumped."

She instead has decided to attend Cal State San Bernardino this fall. Students have until June 1 to decide, but so far high school counselors say UC-eligible students they know aren't welcoming the community college option.

Eileen Potterton, a curriculum specialist with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, said members of the class of 2004 were dealt the worst blow.

"For four years, I told these kids, 'If you follow our advice, you will get in. You will be eligible,' " Potterton said. "You feel like after all these years that the kids feel like you've lied to them and it's not a good feeling. I feel betrayed for them."

Schwarzenegger and higher education leaders, including UC President Robert Dynes and Cal State Chancellor Charles Reed, agreed to cuts and tuition increases this fall in exchange for modest fund increases in coming years. In his revised May budget plan, which reflected the deal, the governor also proposed giving community colleges an additional $121 million to pay for more students next year.

UC spokesman Hanan Eisenman defended the enrollment cuts.

"We're still able to accommodate almost 47,000 students as freshmen," he said. "While we couldn't admit all eligible students, we have worked with the community colleges to assure a seamless path to the UC. We realize some students are disappointed by this year's outcome ... but we did our best."

Greenleaf and other students also have concerns about getting the classes they need at crowded community colleges to complete the required units in two years.

Scott Lay, director of state budget issues for the Community College League of California in Sacramento, agreed that the system already is packed beyond capacity, but said community colleges can accommodate more students if the system gets more state money. Lay estimates that the state's community colleges will see about 20,000 more students this fall because of enrollment cuts at UC and Cal State University.

"Community colleges are going to bend over backwards to make sure that these students have the same educational opportunities that they would have had had they gone directly to four-year institutions," Lay said.

But redirecting students to community colleges will further burden an already cash-strapped, overcrowded system, said Martha Romero, professor of education at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont and a former community college president. "I think the perception that's it's going to save money is not accurate," she said. "I think part of the problem is the belief that community colleges can continue to take students."

In the meantime, members of the class of 2004 are making some tough decisions.

Hafsa Ahmed, who ranks seventh in her class at Ramona, is challenging UC's offer to attend community college for two years.

She said she likely will accept an offer of scholarships and loans from the University of Redlands this fall. "If I have an offer like Redlands, why would I go to community college, if I don't have a guaranteed spot?" asked Ahmed, 17.