<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I'm currently attending a CC and will have 29 transferable units after this semester. After spring semester and summer courses I plan on having about 53 transferable units. However, a problem arises in the fact that I feel I'm not getting a quality education from CC. We may in fact be covering the same material that UC students will but something feels slightly off. Maybe it's the fact that I attended a prep school and was accepted to my top college choice only to find out that I had to post-pone my attendance due to personal reasons and then again because I lacked someone to co-sign a student loan. After the year off I started slowly so it has been about two years since I have been at the peak of my academic abilities. This being my first full semester back, I feel as though I may have lost something, but at the same time I feel as though I have gained some patience, wisdom and maturity.</p>
<p>Considering this, I plan to transfer for Fall 2010 and graduate in Spring 2012 by taking some more summer courses. I am wondering though if all these accelerated courses which only seem to skim the surface of the material will affect my overall college experience and future academic ability. It could be that I feel this way because I've only experienced general education courses and once I get to my upper division work things may change. I am a bit saddened that I will only have two full years at the college that I had originally planned on having four full years and wonder if I will be somewhat impacted socially, spiritually and academically (the school is catholic).</p>
<p>I do plan to attend graduate school so maybe that will turn out better. Has anyone else had a similar experience or may be able to offer some insight?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>So to those who were transfers or who may be able to provide insight into their experience:</p>
<p>1) Will attending a CC and taking accelerated summer courses affect my academic ability upon transferring?</p>
<p>2) Are transfer students always weaker than the students that have attended since freshman year?</p>
<p>3) Have I missed out on opportunities or an experience by waiting to transfer as a second semester sophomore?</p>
<p>i went to a prep high school too. ranked #2 by US NEWS.
- I dont think any CCs will have summer anymore so dont even worry about it.
- Haven’t transferred yet but it’s not always true. Alot of CC students may be braindead, but those that due transfer to reputable 4-years like UCs are very determined and somewhat intelligent. They tend to adjust to college life easier than hs students. ALthough, i do personally feel like cc is a step down from my hs…
- Well of course you did…nothing else to say here. but one good thing u did miss out on is being in debt for 4 yrs</p>
<p>1) If you feel underchallenged, then go the extra step yourself. There are likely professors willing to mentor you in your field. Write a paper and submit it for publication or to a conference and present it. Look for internships. Become a tutor in the CC’s writing lab or tutorial center. Btw - what is your field? More examples could be given if we knew what your interests were.</p>
<p>2) You will hear anecdotal evidence that goes both ways. I think it is most reasonable to assume there is an adjustment period when the CC student transfers to a 4-year… but that it really only takes a quarter or part of a semester for the transfer student to get up to speed with whatever is going on at the 4-year college. Really. Just one go-around and I believe the majority of transfer students blend in just fine. </p>
<p>3) The reality is that you may just have no other choice but to wait and transfer as a junior. The what-ifs will just drive you crazy and there is no set answer. CC will give you a certain set of maturity that 4-year colleges do not… a need for flexibility and independence along with the self-made accomplishments (since nothing got handed to you). I attended a private top-50 LAC <em>before</em> attending a CC. I can confidently say there is something squishy about the LACers… life is a little bit too much in a pretty-bubble (even if the academics are intense) stuck at a LAC all four years. CCer who plan to transfer tend to (in my opinion) be much more grounded and don’t take education for granted. No squish factor, just desire and hard work. They catch up fast. That’s my take on it. You can fish around for other opinions, but since you are where you are, why not just take that outlook and use it to launch yourself into a successful transfer situation?</p>
<p>I’m taking 16 units this semester after beginning again slowly. I plan to major in psychology and eventually most likely become a clinical psychologist. </p>
<p>This flu season we are having isn’t helping me stay on top of my work at all. I’ve already been hit hard by a bug. </p>
<p>I have noticed a sense of maturity amongst the CC students who are motivated that I don’t feel from those who began as freshman at their 4-years.</p>
<p>At first, I felt a sense of loss in realizing that I may have missed out on opportunities, but now I realize I must do this best with what I have.</p>