BY NOW, MOST HIGH school seniors have received a response from the college of their choice saying whether they have been accepted. For the first time in 50 years, since California's Master Plan for Higher Education was implemented, the University of California did not have room for all the students who met its requirements.

The 7,600 students who qualified for UC are being asked to attend a community college for the next two years to fulfill the basic college classes -- Plan B. After doing so, they are guaranteed transfer to a UC campus.

Plan B is a product of the state's budget crisis. In an attempt to cut spending, Gov. Schwarzenegger is cutting budgets in higher education. Because of those cuts, UC has been unable to accept all the students who qualify.

Some will go to one of the campuses of the California State University system. But already 15 of the 23 campuses have turned down eligible students applying for fall enrollment. Others go out of state. Still, there will be thousands of the UC-eligible students who will take UC up on its transfer option and attend a community college where they will be guaranteed slots and have their fees waived.

With the community college system in its own budget crunch, we think the governor is being too generous. Community colleges are losing annual revenue from student fees -- a bit more than $4,000 per student. California's community colleges offer an excellent education at bargain rates. Even if the UC-transfer students pay the community college fees, they will be saving thousands compared to attending a UC or CSU school. While the free classes may soften the disappointment of the UC-bound students, they should pay the modest community college fees.

Additionally, others are being shortchanged. The UC-transfer students will be sitting in seats normally occupied by other students who for personal or financial reasons chose a community college. Where will they go?

Community colleges are already crowded and with thousands of additional students, their traditional open-door policy may have to be rethought. For those who can't afford a four-year college, who are training for a job, or who must work full-time, there may now be no Plan B.