I am currently a senior in high school and I have to start filling our college applications soon.Everyone in my school is either going to a community college to get their associates degree then transferring,or just going straight to a 4 year university.I really don’t know the difference between the two options,or if one is better to do than the other.Please respond and tell me your thoughts or what you did after attending high school.Thanks!
The usual reason for choosing to start at a CC and then transfer to a 4 year school is that you are not admitted to any desirable 4 year schools as a frosh, or they are too expensive. How likely this is depends on both your financial situation and your high school academic credentials (course work, grades, test scores).
If you are a strong high school student, you may get good scholarship offers from 4 year schools, or admission to the most selective 4 year schools with the best financial aid. This could make going to a 4 year school as a frosh less expensive than starting at a CC, since scholarships are less available to transfer students. Starting at a 4 year school as a frosh, you would not have to worry about whether the CC courses match the 4 year school courses for transfer credit, and you can take more advanced courses in your first two years.
However, if your high school record is not that strong, then you may not be admitted or get enough scholarships and/or financial aid at desirable 4 year schools, so starting at CC may be a way to improve your selection of 4 year schools if you do well in CC.
If you want others to help you more specifically, you may want to post your basic academic stats, cost constraints, state of residency, intended or possible majors, and any other preferences or constraints on college choice that you have.
Have you taken the ACT or SAT? If so, what your scores? What is your GPA? What state do you live in? How much can your parents pay for college?
I really feel that your guidance counsellor and/or parents have let you down if you are not further along in the process. Did your parents go to college?