<p>Hi everyone I'd like to start off by saying that I've been in a huge dilemma in deciding my educational path for college. I will be graduating from HS very soon and I have little time to decide whether to attend my local community college or Cal Poly SLO for EE. </p>
<p>I would really like to seek some advice and opinions on whether you think it is a smarter decision to immediately go to a traditional four-year university or to go to a CC and then transfer. There is equal incentive for me to go to both of these types of institutions and this is why I am absolutely stuck in deciding.</p>
<p>I am most likely going to stick with electrical engineering and I want to choose the best educational path for my future career. I also want my education to have the best return on its investment. Getting a well-paying stable job after college is by far my biggest priority</p>
<p>There is incentive for me to go to my local cc because I'd be able to save tons of money and have a job at the same time. Plus the academics are much easier then those of a CSU (at least from what I heard). I heard that the academics at CP SLO are pretty wretched too and it wouldn't make sense for me to suffocate in basic support classes if I have the ability to take an easier route and not tank my GPA. Along with that, I would have more time to spend toward my interests such as music and what not. I'd also have way more opportunities as to where I can go to through some of the UC's TAG programs after two years, where as if I went to Cal Poly, it would be more of a challenge to transfer if it was needed. Along with all of that I'd get priority registration through my CC where as at CP SLO I wouldn't, and I heard that getting classes at CP could be challenging. However being young still, I'd really love to meet new people and network with others from around the state. I think dorming would be a great experience too, but I am willing to sacrifice this experience if it meant getting a better job in the future. </p>
<p>I just really don't know what would be best for me though. I've visited CP countless times and I really do love the town and college. My parents are also extremely supportive for me to go there and are even willing to pay for my first two years (mainly because it is going to be cheap because of calgrant), but I do feel bad about putting that burden on them. I'd really like to hear everyone's input who had to decide between going to a cc or csu first, and whether or not they regret there decision or not. </p>
<p>Note:
Yes I am aware that CP SLO is a good choice for future employment, but I feel that most of the students who come out of the school become "vanilla" engineers and are just well-off. This is obviously great and I am not trying too sound greedy, but I'd like to strive for the best success possible in life. I've looked at the employment charts for higher ranked schools like Berkley and it's even more impressive. If I went to my cc, I'd definitely have a good chance of transferring there, and other higher ranked institutions.</p>