Boston's best community college

<p>I am looking for a good quality community college in Boston, where I could easily transfer to a "top" university. Hopefully somebody can help me :)</p>

<p>I don't know much about community/county colleges in Boston area, but Middlesex County College seems to have a broad ciriculum. But your first consideration should be to PLAN you path to a 4-year school. That is, make sure you take courses that will directly transfer to a 4-year school and make sure you do very well in them. Start by completing "core or basic education" requirements first. I.e. college-level mathematics, a literature course or two and a hard science.</p>

<p>CCs in Massachusetts have 'Direct Transfer Agreements" with the UMass system. That might included private colleges such as Assumption, Emmanuel or even Worcester Polytechnic Institue. Look into it.</p>

<p>thanks! also, is Boston a nice place to study at? I would go to NY, but I think it's a bit too big for me.</p>

<p>Madeline, in which state do you reside, and would you relocate simply to attend an out-of-state community college [it's a non-traditional route but you wouldn't be the first person to do it]? States that I know have solid community college programs are New York, Virginia and Washington (Seattle area). As you probably know, if you work for a year prior to matriculation, you are eligible for resident tuition.</p>

<p>Also, most folks with any familarity with higher education say that Boston is a great place to be a college student, socially, culturally, etc. Keep in mind, that the cost of housing in the Boston area IS OUTRAGEOUS, unless you sleep three to a room. SMILE. I know of no residential community colleges.</p>

<p>LAKEWASHINGTON - quote - As you probably know, if you work for a year prior to matriculation, you are eligible for resident tuition.</p>

<p>It takes quite a bit more than the above ^^ to be eligible for resident status for tuition purposes - so would suggest you research this.</p>

<p>MADELINE20 - what state do you reside in now?? Boston has wonderful educational opportunities - is a great college town - tho at the CC level there are only a couple really in the Boston area - and none are resident schools - all are commuter schools. Cost of living in Boston is high - which would need to be a consideration - unless you have friend/relatives in the area. The CC's in Mass do have an agreement with the UMASS system for transfer - with certain GPA - so that would be a possibility - but out-of-state tuition for UMASS is one of the highest in the country for in-state and out-of-state state U's. </p>

<p>What are you thinking of studying in college?? There are many students in your situation who begin their college path at CC's - many who achieve an ASSOC degree - and then transfer for their junior year to another school - and for many reasons.</p>

<p>You will need to take into consideration that you will be an out-of-state student if you pursue a CC in any state other than your own.</p>

<p>Middlesex</a> Community College is not in Boston, technically.</p>

<p>OK, different state, but have a look at these for CC's:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sbcc.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.sbcc.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.fhda.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fhda.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.foothill.edu/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.foothill.edu/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/about/special.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/about/special.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Bunker Hill Community College is as close to Boston as you can get</p>

<p>thanks everyone! I am actually from Scandinavia. I do have relatives in Boston, so I could stay with them. How high can the tuition for out-of-state students be? What about Bunker Hill CC, what kind of atmosphere does it have? I would love to go to a CC with good academics, motivated, friendly and smart people (who also like to go out!). And if I can't find that kind of a CC in Boston, I can consider New York as well. But if I attend a CC in NY, can I later transfer to a university in Boston or California...?</p>

<p>Check out Massbay massbay.edu. If you contact students, you will find really kind, caring profs and many majors to choose from.</p>

<p>I actually attended Mass Bay Community College years ago - and transferred those credits to an out-of-state 4 year college with out a problem. I found the classes that I took - tho only a few taken there - were challeging and well attended - good instruction and support at that time for a community college.</p>

<p>It is just outside of Boston - west of Boston actually. You should be able to find the tuition info on the website.</p>

<p>If you are considering living in Boston with relatives - you might want to check out the University of Mass/Boston also - 4 year University - commuter school - on the waterfront. This may serve your purpose as well.</p>

<p>My sister graduated from Bunker Hill CC - Assoc degree in Nursing - She seemed to like it for a CC - but it is kind of a thing that is to each their own.</p>

<p>MADELINE20 - Why are you so concentrated on attending a CC rather than a 4 year school?? - Just curious. Any idea of what you would like to study?? The one benefit of a CC is being able to get an Associates Degree and transfer that to another school - tho not all credits may be applied at another school - depends on the school. Are you looking for this information and considering going to college next fall??</p>

<p>JeepMom...</p>

<p>To be eligible for resident tuition, many states require that you have had permanent residency in the state for at least 1-year prior to matriculation, and that you provide proof of income earned in that stateb during the same period of time.</p>

<p>It seems like it'd be easier for you to go to a four-year college - what is your motivation for going to CC? A four-year college would save you the trouble of transferring plus you'd have somwhere to live.</p>

<p>LAKEWASHINGTON -proof of resiency for TUITION PURPOSES - there are other requirements as well - this is an example</p>

<p>Valid driver's license in student's name (both sides must be submitted if license has been renewed or address changed)
Valid motor vehicle registration in student's name (car insurance and car title not acceptable)
Utility bill in student's name (dated no earlier than 60 days prior to registering for classes)
Valid identification card in student's name
Payroll stub with student's name and address (dated no earlier than 60 days prior to registering for classes)
Charge statement in student's name and address (dated no earlier than 60 days prior to registering for classes)
Closing statement in student's name (closing on residence must occur within 30 days after first day of semester)
New rental or lease agreement in student's name (dated no earlier than 60 days prior to registering for classes)
Current property tax receipt in student's name (must be place of residence or property)
Military identification card if applicable<br>
Notarized statement verifying residency signed by parent(s)if student is still in high school, accompanied by parent's proof of residency
If student is currently in high school, student may provide:
a) notarized statement verifying residency signed by parent(s) and accompanied by parent’s proof of residency
OR
b) notarized statement verifying residency signed by parent(s) and accompanied by current high school record (e.g., high school transcript or current report card in student’s name and address) </p>

<p>It is alot more difficult for a student to attempt to claim residency than you think - unless they live with a parent. Some states require 2 years of residency also - so it is not cut a dry. And this is for tuition purposes for in-state tuition - if you look at school web sites - you will see these requirements per school - and all are same/similar</p>

<p>I am basically going to community college because of the low tuition; with also staying with my relatives I am saving over 40 000 in 2 years! But it seems like the common opinion about CC's is quite negative? What kind of people study in there...? If I'd now apply to a 4 year university, seems like the deadlines for all the 'better' schools are already up. I'm doing SAT 28th january... Or should I apply for autumn 2007? I'd be so old by then :O
Is there any older students (a lot over 20) in undergraduate level, or are all of them around 18 when they start...?</p>

<p>Many different kinds of people study at MassBay. The largest groups I teach are students who want to study nursing and students who cannot go to a 4-year college right away because of financial reasons or family responsibilities. Although both groups contain traditional (18-22 year old) students and older students, I would guess the majority of students are younger than 35, with bulges about 20 year olds and 28 year olds. However, I have had students as old as 77 years old. Many students work part-time; a lot have held full-time jobs.</p>

<p>JeepMom--</p>

<p>I am sure the items you cite are all indicia of EXAMPLES of the documentation that schools would accept as proof of residency. I'd be surprised if anyone was required to show all or even most of them. The Supreme Court of the U.S. ruled on this long ago. Clearly, public colleges can charge higher tuition for non-residents, but the public colleges a.k.a. the states, cannot make "full residency" status unreasonably burdensome to attain. 2 years sounds a bit onerous but that probably passes muster for purposes of tuition. In some states a new resident can never get in-state tuition if they established residency less than 1-year prior to matriculation. Marrying a resident qualifies in some places, but in the relevant court case a new migrant to Minnesota was still denied reduced tuition despite her marriage to a Minnesota resident because her move to the state was too recent.</p>

<p>My point was, if you move to a new state and establish residency/a domicile for a reasonable (or state-mandated) length of time, you cannot be denied in-state tuition; whether your drive, own property, have minimal income, etc. or not.</p>

<p>LAKEWASHINGTON - then you need to read the residency requirements - actually you may want to check several state schools - for tuition purposes documentation at the school web sites carefully - proof does have to be provided to determine residency for tuition purposes to attend a state school - and there are several requirements that MUST be met.</p>

<p>Been there - done that - one needs to meet the criteria required by the state in order to be considered for in-state tuition - if not - then you are considered out-of-state. This can be appealed thru a process at the school - and some people do win - but for the most part - it is difficult for the usual college kid to establish residency for tuition purposes before applying to school unless they do it the right way - which includes moving to that state more than a year prior to application - with a parent and the PARENT establishes residency - but - the schools/colleges will be looking at where you graduated high school and also if you are a dependant of your parents tax wise - for the prior 2 years - and to which state those taxes are paid to.</p>

<p>Legal residency for other things is different - but for tuition - it is spelled out in black and white - quite concisely.</p>

<p>Again - an example of residency requirements for NC - for tuition purposes</p>

<p><a href="http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/uga/residgen.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/uga/residgen.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>For tuition purposes - it is NOT just domicile or amount of time - there are several other factors that are considered - again for tuition purposes.</p>

<p>Proof of residency - for tuition purposes - is the responsibility of the applicant - not the school - they just have to verify that proof - with the requirements set by the state - and when that proof is questioned - again it is the applicant who must PROVE their official status.</p>

<p>MADELINE - You may want to take a look at this link - it is from Bunker Hill Community College - in Boston - information for International Students - which I assume are - and check out the necessary requirements - especially the financial issues - unique to your situation. You may want to reconsider attending a CC - and consider applying to a 4 year school as well.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/IC/GuideAdmissions.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.bhcc.mass.edu/IC/GuideAdmissions.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>