<p>Next year I will be attending community college in hopes of transfering to a respectable school someday. Any former cc tansfers reading this, is there anything you wish you knew before transferring? How hard is it to get into top schools from community college? And, can you transfer sooner if you take summer classes?</p>
<p>I appreciate what you have to say.</p>
<p>I was crushed when I had to attend community college right out of high school...I really almost gave up, but my family pushed me.</p>
<p>I had a good time at my CC though (one class aside), and began my applications (transferring in as a sophomore, currently a freshman) over Christmas break when I had my first semester grades to put in. I applied to good schools, but coming from a CC with a HS gpa of 3.5, SAT of 1850 total, ACT of 29 and little to no EC's...I wasn't expecting much.</p>
<p>Well, so far I've been accepted to:
Vanderbilt
Lehigh</p>
<p>And I've been rejected only from UNC. Vanderbilt is ranked number 19 in the country...and I'm REALLY excited I got in. So going to CC is definitely not bad...you're able to get easy classes out of the way cheap, and then transfer to a great school!</p>
<p>Advice: Take the basics. I took Biology I and II, Chemistry I and II, English I and II, Calculus I and II, and some sociology, art, and history courses for good measure. Those classes form the pre-reqs for most other classes you take sophomore year and on, so I think that helped me get into some of those colleges. They are easy classes to give transfer credit for because they are taught everywhere, so taking simple pre-req classes makes the transfer process easier on the college...which makes them more likely to admit you.</p>
<p>Good luck...a year ago I would have said CC was a waste. Now that I'm about to attend Vanderbilt (and waiting on other schools), I'm all for it!</p>
<p>its a good step, community colleges aren't incredibly hard to do well at. Do your best, youll get like a 4.0 and have a variety of options for transfering. It is often easier to transfer from a community college than a 4year school</p>
<p>" community colleges aren't incredibly hard to do well at"</p>
<p>maybe if you aren't taking science classes</p>
<p>and word from the wise.. if you go into a community college thinking it will be easy and you won't have to study much, you are in for a big surprise.</p>
<p>If you go to the community college, work hard and study, you'll get good grades and you will be able competitive for any university out there!</p>
<p>well the level of difficulty also depends on what college you're going to. the colleges that are considered to be a part of the "better colleges", tend to be more difficult. </p>
<p>but then again what is "better"?</p>
<p>(rhetorical question)</p>
<p>im an international student. when i came here to study in comm college, i thought all comm college in the us has the same level of difficulty.
i think my comm college is not so good in CT. we dont even hv honor classes.
i know there are some other comm college here that have honor classes and many of their students go to ivies.
it's easy to get above 3.5 here, but it's not that easy to get 4.0
i'll transfer to drake uni next fall. i got rejected to purdue.</p>
<p>From my experience science classes at a community college are a joke compared to the science classes a four year college offers. But then again, in my experience most of the people I know who have taken community college courses have been able to wing 3.8-3.9 by basically just showing up. But yes, you should always work hard. But basically it may be "hard" to maintain a 4.0 but you should be able to maintain something that is relatively more attractive for the purpose of transfering than what you probably would have been able to get at a 4 year institution.5</p>
<p>I'm not necessarily the strongest science student, but I found my community college science classes on par with my first attempt at a four year university science course. </p>
<p>Also, use this time to eat up a lot of EC's. The community college I am currently attending is nice, but the particpation factor of many of the students is lacking. Participate in a lot of things outside of class - clubs, government, newspaper, etc. It gives you a little bit more of a college feel, in my opinion, and may better prepare you for university.</p>
<p>Also, even though it may be "easier", use this time to get into good study habits nonetheless, balancing between ECs and classwork. </p>
<p>You may be able to transfer into the Spring if you take summer classes, thereby earning your Associates quicker. As far as success, I'm sure if you have a strong GPA, ECs, and solid essays, your chances are as good as they can be to be gain acceptace into any institution in the country. Might as well give it your all and let the chips fall where they may.</p>
<p>Take the basics. Take honors courses. Getting involved in campus is frustrating because few students care but well worth it.</p>
<p>Don't fall in the community college trap. Most you'll meet there approach CC with the intent to escape. You got to keep that thirst for your studies.</p>
<p>I'm about to graduate from community college, and I wholeheartedly agree with the above advice. Of course, you need to take the basics. If you can, take honors classes. Get involved from the beginning. (I didn't until later, and I definitely regret it.) If your school has a Phi Theta Kappa chapter (Phi</a> Theta Kappa - International Honor Society of the Two Year College), I personally suggest joining it. Don't let the (possible) apathy of your classmates affect you too much. </p>
<p>If you do quite well (and I'm sure you can), you have a shot at going almost anywhere. As far as summer classes go, it depends on how many classes you take per semester, amongst other things. But I wouldn't worry too much about rushing out. Do the two years, and stay focused. Good luck with everything! :]</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice! Where are all of you transferring?</p>
<p>Take as many online classes as you can (assuming your CC offers them). You can take 3-4 per semester plus 1-2 classes at school and get out of there a lot quicker. They aren't as difficult as normal classes, and you save yourself the hundreds of lecture hours that you probably would have skipped in a real class. I went to CC for two years, stockpiled on online classes, earned a decent GPA and next year I'm going to Michigan!</p>
<p>I have also taken a few online classes - just make sure that you are disciplined enough to keep up with them. I found it hard to stay motivated with my online classes - it's perpetual homework. I'm not afraid of a little work, mind you, but I guess I just like being able to talk to the professor face to face and look at girls.</p>
<p>I have been accepted at James Madison, and am waiting on Maryland, Virginia, and Illinois.</p>
<p>I wish someone had advised me at the beginning to pick my professors carefully. I've had some professors at my CC that treat the students like being at a community college means you are stupid and need things dumbed down quite a bit. On the other hand I have had excellent professors that model their courses and the work they give out in them after four year universities. I'm a science major and I've found if I pick a good professor the course has the same content as courses my friends at other 4yr schools are taking. Use ratemyprofessor.com, usually people complain about the professors who give out challenging work, pick those professors....I've found they usually do give out challenging work and I think that's a good thing.</p>
<p>Do you have a choice among a few CCs? I love my CC, I have brilliant professors that I really enjoy learning from. My one complaint, though, is that the selection of math and science classes abysmal, and too often the sections overlap in ways that makes is nearly impossible to take both a math and science class in the same semester. If you have a selection of CCs available to you pick up a schedule and try to pick the one that has the best selection of classes that matter to your major.</p>
<p>PS -- Online classes are not always easier.</p>
<p>I dont mean to steal the thread from the OP, but could someone give me some insight on what to do?</p>
<p>I plan on attending my local Community College in the fall. I am going to major in Liberal Arts. I would like to get involved in the school (although there is not much to be involved with), do a lot of volunteer work, and get the highest GPA I possibly can(I will say a 4.0). I would like to transfer to a 4 year school after my freshman year of community college. I should be in prospects to having at least 30 credits by the end of my freshman year. The only thing I am afraid of is my high school stats.</p>
<p>Prospected GPA: around a 2.2 (I know yell at me)
ECs: None
SAT II's: 1500 for all three sections
Volunteer Work: Close to none</p>
<p>If I work my ass off my first year, would I have a shot at getting into a private out of state Liberal Arts College? When should I start applying for colleges during my freshman year? </p>
<p>Thanks alot!</p>
<p>My personal suggestion would be to stay at community college for two years. This way, your 2.2 will seem less important. You'll also save thousands of dollars in the process, and, the out of state LAC that you're trying to get into will likely give you more of a nod with a 4.0 in completed coursework. This is just me - I'm somewhat ignorant on the entire subject of transferring. However, I see a lot of people on this website discussing transferring after one year of CC - to be honest, I don't see the point. Might as well get your general studies out of the way first.</p>
<p>Would you guys not recommend taking online classes?</p>
<p>Hey man/girl! LOL I totally felt like you a few years ago! So I’d love to give u some advice on transferring. First of all, I started taking CC courses in high school (gave me priority registration). I went to 2 CC’s so I can get the right classes. I became very active within one CC (leadership positions/honor societies/ student body) and I’m pretty much done with all my prep-work. Finished 85 semester units and all my GE’s and major requirements done to transfer. For some schools (like UCs) they really care about numbers (GPA, SAT). But if you want to go to a top university like Ivys, I’d be active, get some internships, and have a 3.9 plus GPA. Also, make sure your high school grades are as high as they can be. But most importantly, get to know your CC. Make sure you make your own transfer guide, know which courses are transferrable, what GPA you need, etc. A lot of universities don’t have that much information on transfer apps because they usually care more about freshman admits. So I’d really take the time to visit the schools you plan on transferring to (if you can) or just call admissions. Another thing, if your really determined go out and research yourself! I’ve had numerous counselors tell me the wrong things. A lot of counselors also assume that you’re just a normal “community college student.” Not to brag, but I could handle taking a lot of units/courses and I would always get counselors tell me its a bad idea and not to do it. Just trust yourself and go out to transfer because no one is gonna help you more than yourself. I’m currently a second year at a CC in Los Angeles area, and I got accepted to BU School of Management and I’m waiting for USC Marshall. My high school friend just started taking classes and I’m really pushing him to get a 4.0 before transferring (because I wasn’t able to keep that) and I’m really glad to see him strive! Hopefully you and him will get into ivy leagues after CC’s so good luck and make sure to stay motivated! 
(private message me if you have any more questions).</p>
<p>@mike1990 I’d really start researching and visiting schools now! To be totally honest, most schools will take your HS records into a lot of consideration if you transfer as a Sophomore. Your GPA and SAT are not that great, but I don’t want to discourage you not to apply. Check the schools you are interested in and look at their avg SAT for admits. If yours matches roughly (within 200), then I’d say you have a chance. A 4.0 at CC will look nice and community service will help your application, but the really bad thing pulling you down is the high school. My best advice, stay at school for 2 years, get a 4.0, start doing extra curricular work, jobs, anything pertaining to your major, and make sure to have good letters of rec. Also, for your essay I would include how you overcame your poor grades in High school and what changed for you to get a 4.0 at CC. Also, what you plan to do with what you learned at the 4-year university. Good luck though!</p>