<p>I'm currently going to be attending a community college in New Jersey called Essex County, with the goal of transfering to a 4 year university.</p>
<p>I always thought you have to finish community college and get your associates degree and with that and (if) you have a decent GPA, you can transfer to a 4 year university. (My high school grades were very poor).</p>
<p>My aunt and uncle whom I am living with at the moment are professors at Essex County and Pace University. They both tell me that if I get a good GPA on just the first semester of community college, I can use that to apply to 4 year universities, even without SAT. They said I need to write an essay explaining or rather lying about why my high school grades were poor and showing them that I am determined to do well by showing them my (if) decent first semester transcripts. </p>
<p>Is this true? Will 4 year universities (the main schools I want to attend are higher tier SUNY schools like Stony Brook, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Albany, or any UC school) actually consider and/or accept my application just based on ONE semester of community college if my GPA is high?</p>
<p>Would finishing my associates degree and THEN applying increase my chances, or is it the same as just applying with 1 semester. </p>