Community College or "real" college?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys,
I'm currently a Virginian High School Senior stressing out over the hectic/time-consuming college application and scholarship application processes that every career-oriented High School student has to go through during this time (Fall) of their senior year. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'm going through a major dilemma with a sickening potential of completely altering the outcomes of both my future career AND happiness. </p>

<p>You see, I'm presented with two options, (a) just go straight to a 4-year college immediately after High School, or (b) go to community college after highschool for two-years and then transfer to a 4-year college afterwards. </p>

<p>My visceral response to this dilemma is go with option (a) because that's what "most" kids my age do, however, complying with the stereotypical approach of my peers would limit me to a mediocre 4-year college due to my mediocre High School transcript (I have a 3.4889 unweighted GPA and a poor community service agenda). Being as ambitious and driven as I am, a "mediocre" college just doesn't suit well with me. So instead, I figure I should go to community college, and completely dedicate myself to getting a 4.0 and participate myself in tons of extra-curricular activities and community services so I can apply to an Ivy-Leage school afterward. Would this plan B work? Have I completely ruined my life dream of being in a Ivy-Leage? I guess what it comes down to is should I stick with going to a mediocre 4-year college and getting a degree to my major, or should I take my chances with a community college so I can transfer into an Ivy-Leage after? </p>

<p>Please someone lend me advice (any advice is appreciated), I'm seriously helpless, my mother is from Germany and has NO idea about American colleges and I can't really get "in-depth" personal advice like this from my High School guidance counslers. I really appreciate you reading this and hope to hear from someone soon.</p>

2

<p>I now realize this probably would have been better suited in the "College Search" board, my apologies. The "should I transfer out of CC?" question of mine fits this board, though.</p>

3

<p>Ivy League out of CC is nearly impossible, try NYU, USC, etc.</p>

<p>Though definitely, stick to a CC, I got a 3.43 in HS and I just started CC, I'm taking somewhat of a gamble but I feel this was a GREAT decision. I really opened up my options and I'm really gearing myself towards USC now.</p>

<p>CC is the easy way in, most colleges take CC students over University students due to the simple fact that they are already in blank university.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
Ivy League out of CC is nearly impossible, try NYU, USC, etc.

[/quote]

Well, bummer. But are you sure? </p>

<p>
[quote]
Though definitely, stick to a CC, I got a 3.43 in HS and I just started CC, I'm taking somewhat of a gamble but I feel this was a GREAT decision. I really opened up my options and I'm really gearing myself towards USC now.

[/quote]

Wonderful, I'm really happy you've made a decision that you're happy with. USC is a gorgeous one (well, from what I've seen in pictures) and I wish you the best of luck in getting accepted. Keep gearing yourself. </p>

<p>
[quote]
CC is the easy way in, most colleges take CC students over University students due to the simple fact that they are already in blank university.

[/quote]

I'm not really looking for "the easy way in" though. Obama made it into Columbia after transfering out of Occidental College, and Clinton made it into Harvard after transferring out of Wellesley College--neither Occidental nor Wellesley are outstanding "Ivy League material" schools. </p>

<p>So now I'm thinking perhaps my chances would be better to enroll in a 4-year college and then transfer into an Ivy-League like they did? Like I said, I'm planning on super dedicating myself to getting a 4.0+ and partipating in many extra-curricular and public involvement activities during college so I can [re]build my transcript and persona enough to hopefully stand out to an Ivy-League.</p>

5

<p>You can't compare someone transferring into the ivy league a few decades ago with now. It is much more competitive now, but it is not impossible. Harvard for example is not accepting any transfers at the moment, and the same is true with princeton. Cornell and maybe Penn take the most transfers, but still, it is not easy. Wellesley is an excellent school btw; the ivy league is not untouchable to all other schools. You sound like a prestige whore to me, because it seems you only care about getting into the ivy league and nothing else. You do realize that some of the schools that make it up are dramatically different than others don't you?</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
You can't compare someone transferring into the ivy league a few decades ago with now. It is much more competitive now, but it is not impossible. Harvard for example is not accepting any transfers at the moment, and the same is true with princeton.

[/quote]

Yes I saw that too. Havard stated on it's website that it has been consistent for decades with precisely meeting it's set "admission amount" goals, and specifically mentioned that it was looking forward to admitting "transfer students" as it has done for years, which implies Harvard's admissions team is historically consistent with accepting a certain number of transfers. </p>

<p>Regardless, it's bumming to hear they won't be taking transfers because how do I know if in a couple a years when I'm ready to transfer out of CC that they'll be ready to take transfers again or not? Unfortunately this has decreased the odds and increased the stakes of potentially getting into a good college if I attend a community college. I appreciate you being willing to share this information with me. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Cornell and maybe Penn take the most transfers, but still, it is not easy. Wellesley is an excellent school btw; the ivy league is not untouchable to all other schools.

[/quote]

I'm looking at Penn as well and I would most certainly be satisfied with attending that school. Cornell not so much. </p>

<p>
[quote]
You sound like a prestige whore to me, because it seems you only care about getting into the ivy league and nothing else. You do realize that some of the schools that make it up are dramatically different than others don't you

[/quote]

Do I really? I apologize for coming off like that. However, can't the same be said about anyone who expresses interest in attending an Ivy League? The overiding reason why anyone wants to attend one is because it's an Ivy League - the phrase "Ivy League" encompasses the reality that the Ivy League offers an excellent educational curriculum taught by an extremely renowned faculty for those "prestigious-whore-students" who actually just want the most out of their college education, it has an astounding reputation which increases the students' chances of securing a decent career afterward (personally, this is the most important reason), it offers extensive top-notch research facilities for those students who are most passionate about their studies (what more can you want from a college?), and it instills a certain sense of self-pride within all of it's admitted students because of the academic excellence it takes to be accepted. So again I ask, aren't those the reasons anyone who wants to attend an Ivy League school wants to attend one? If not, then I guess yes I am a prestige whore. Though I'm not sure how big of a prestige whore I am considering I've narrowed it down to Princeton as being the main Ivy League I have my eye on, and I would never in my right mind even consider going to Brown unless someone paid me (way too liberal). I also have my eye on the College of William and Mary which isn't an Ivy-League at all, but again I'd have to transfer out of CC to get in because of my horrible HS transcript, unfortunately.</p>

7

<p>That is such a myth. Ivys do take people from community colleges. Three of of the twenty some people that got accepted to Yale last year accepted as transfers were from a community college. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm looking at Penn as well and I would most certainly be satisfied with attending that school. Cornell not so much.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Why not?</p>

<p>Honestly, and I'm not trying to come off as hostile, if you're dead set on transferring to an Ivy league you should just quit and save your money. They tend away from accepting people with HS GPAs unlike their freshman class. Not saying it's impossible, it's just highly improbable. </p>

<p>My advice would be to go to a CC in Virginia with a transfer agreement to UVa, and when the time comes you can still apply to the Ivy Leagues, but on the probability (and it is a probability) that you don't get into any, you could still go to one of the best schools in the country.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
Princeton as being the main Ivy League I have my eye on

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Princeton doesn't take transfer students. Ever. Literally.</p>

9

<p>First of all, you seem out of touch with what the "ivy league" really means. Cornell, for example, is an excellent school. In fact, many people consider it the most difficult of the ivy leagues, in terms of maintaining a high GPA. There are only 7 real ivy league schools, and quite a few others that are definitely comparable to them (Duke, Northwestern, etc....) It seems to me you seriously need to open your mind to what other universities can offer.</p>

<p>On another note, I strongly recommend you go to a four year college, rather than a two year community college. Your opportunities will be limited, the work will not be challenging, you will be missing out on the college experience while all of your friends are having fun at their respective colleges, and finally transferring is a difficult process! I am saying this from my own experiences- I am currently at a CC-.</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
First of all, you seem out of touch with what the "ivy league" really means. Cornell, for example, is an excellent school. In fact, many people consider it the most difficult of the ivy leagues, in terms of maintaining a high GPA. There are only 7 real ivy league schools, and quite a few others that are definitely comparable to them (Duke, Northwestern, etc....) It seems to me you seriously need to open your mind to what other universities can offer.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Agreed with all of this. What he/she said about the Ivy League schools could be applied to almost any school within the top 50. I hate that school of thought that puts Ivy Leagues in different categories than the rest of the schools. People really don't realise that the only thing "Ivy League" really has to do with is football. </p>

<p>
[quote]
On another note, I strongly recommend you go to a four year college, rather than a two year community college. Your opportunities will be limited, the work will not be challenging, you will be missing out on the college experience while all of your friends are having fun at their respective colleges, and finally transferring is a difficult process! I am saying this from my own experiences- I am currently at a CC-.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I kind of disagree with this. If you're not happy with how you did in HS and are dead set on transfering community colleges will give you better options, and if you take upper level electives and honors courses the work load is
really the same as what you would be doing at most state schools. </p>

<p>I'm in my third semester at a CC and have almost nothing bad to say about it. To each their own though, I suppose.</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
That is such a myth. Ivys do take people from community colleges. Three of of the twenty some people that got accepted to Yale last year accepted as transfers were from a community college.

[/quote]

Yeah, I know it's a myth. I think he's saying that because of my horrible HS GPA, which pretty much guarantees I won't be able to transfer into one. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Why not?</p>

<p>Honestly, and I'm not trying to come off as hostile, if you're dead set on transferring to an Ivy league you should just quit and save your money. They tend away from accepting people with HS GPAs unlike their freshman class. Not saying it's impossible, it's just highly improbable.</p>

<p>My advice would be to go to a CC in Virginia with a transfer agreement to UVa, and when the time comes you can still apply to the Ivy Leagues, but on the probability (and it is a probability) that you don't get into any, you could still go to one of the best schools in the country.

[/quote]

Well, I was thinking about doing something similar to that, only with the College of William and Mary instead of UVa. UVa and College of William and Mary are more or less equivalent in pertinence to entrance difficulty level (both have average GPA's of 4.0 and are renowned schools), and there's this one community college called "Richard-Bland community college of the college of William and Mary" in Virginia that has a guaranteed articulation agreement with William & Mary--any student who attends Richard and Bland community college for 2 years and obtains a 3.0 will be automatically admitted into William & Mary. Also, RB community college offers freshman dorms and housing so I'd still have the opportunity to experience "socializing" and living with new friends like those who go to 4-year colleges. Any downsides to that? </p>

<p>Anyone interested can read about it here - Richard</a> Bland College</p>

<p>
[quote]
Princeton doesn't take transfer students. Ever. Literally.

[/quote]

I wouldn't say 'literally' unless it is in fact 'literally,' is it a new policy that they won't ever take transfer students? Because if they've never taken transfers, they wouldn't have the note to transfer students on their website apologizing for not being able to take them this year.</p>

12

<p>Princeton literally never takes transfers.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
First of all, you seem out of touch with what the "ivy league" really means. Cornell, for example, is an excellent school. In fact, many people consider it the most difficult of the ivy leagues, in terms of maintaining a high GPA. There are only 7 real ivy league schools, and quite a few others that are definitely comparable to them (Duke, Northwestern, etc....) It seems to me you seriously need to open your mind to what other universities can offer.

[/quote]

Not being rude but please explain to me how I'm out of touch? Is it because I said "Cornell not so much" ? I don't doubt Cornell is an excellent Ivy League school, I just personally have no interest in it. I could never afford to live in NY which is a reason why I also have no interest in Columbia as an Ivy League option either. The two schools I am in love with so far are Princeton (but the people here don't seem to t hink that's a feasible possibility) and Georgetown (is this considered Ivy League?). </p>

<p>
[quote]
On another note, I strongly recommend you go to a four year college, rather than a two year community college. Your opportunities will be limited, the work will not be challenging, you will be missing out on the college experience while all of your friends are having fun at their respective colleges, and finally transferring is a difficult process! I am saying this from my own experiences- I am currently at a CC-.

[/quote]

I appreciate the advice. I'll probably end up transferring anyway if I end up going to a 4-year college though because the only colleges that will admit me are mediocre ones, of which (and you can call me a prestige-whore for saying this) don't suit my personal standards.</p>

14

<p>
[quote]
I kind of disagree with this. If you're not happy with how you did in HS and are dead set on transfering community colleges will give you better options, and if you take upper level electives and honors courses the work load is really the same as what you would be doing at most state schools.

[/quote]

Precisely what I think.</p>

15

<p>Honestly, you'd have a better shot at getting into an Ivy by going to a four-year university and transferring from there. Do you have any idea of what schools might be a match for you out of high school?</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
Honestly, you'd have a better shot at getting into an Ivy by going to a four-year university and transferring from there.

[/quote]

Thank you. I'm considering this, but do you have anything to back up that notion?

[quote]

Do you have any idea of what schools might be a match for you out of high school?

[/quote]

George-Mason University and American University are my top 2 matches right now (Good fit schools), ones I'm fairly certain I'd be able to get in. But I'm not entirely satisfied with those 2.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
Princeton literally never takes transfers.

[/quote]

How extraordinarily pretentious of them. That lessens my opinion of the school.</p>

18

<p>I'd never really held Princeton in high regard to begin with, but I agree with the charge of pretension.</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
Yeah, I know it's a myth. I think he's saying that because of my horrible HS GPA, which pretty much guarantees I won't be able to transfer into one.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yours isn't horrible, just mediocre. Mine's horrible. Certain top schools will overlook mediocre, or even horrible, if you've shown a lot of growth. Others won't give you a second look. It depends where you apply. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I'll probably end up transferring anyway if I end up going to a 4-year college though because the only colleges that will admit me are mediocre ones,

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is why I would go to that community college you posted. It's TAG checks out, that way you'll at least have W&M to fall back on. Don't waste your money going to a school you don't really want to go to and then potentially wind up getting stuck there. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I don't doubt Cornell is an excellent Ivy League school, I just personally have no interest in it. I could never afford to live in NY

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Cornell's in Ithaca, NY. Not NYC by any means. To the contrary, a lot of student's beef with Cornell is that it's in the middle of nowhere. I, however, think it's beautiful: </p>

<p>

<a href="http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo170/0lives/cornell_view.jpg%5B/IMG%5D"&gt;http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo170/0lives/cornell_view.jpg

</a></p>

<p>
[quote]
Georgetown (is this considered Ivy League?).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No. Georgetown is a very prestigous Catholic school in Washington DC. I was considering transfering there (I might still), but the Catholic thing turns me off. Not that I have a problem with religious people, I'm just not religious and am a little afraid I'll be too much of an outcast. Once you get past that though it's on par (or better) than the <strong>IVYS</strong> academically, has a beautiful campus, and actually admits a fair amount of transfers. I think it's admission rate is about 20-30%, which is high for a school of it's calibur. I highly suggest you put G-town on your short list.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'd never really held Princeton in high regard to begin with, but I agree with the charge of pretension.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Word</p>

20

<p>
[quote]
This is why I would go to that community college you posted. It's TAG checks out, that way you'll at least have W&M to fall back on. Don't waste your money going to a school you don't really want to go to and then potentially wind up getting stuck there.

[/quote]

I'm not sure what TAG is, and if you don't mind me asking, what college do you attend? The logic you display is pretty much the same logic I'm going by - I don't want to (nor can I afford to) waste money on making stupid decisions that I'll later regret. If I go to the RB community college (the one that has an agreement with W&M) and make a 4.0+ and lots of extra-curriculars, are the odds of me getting accepting into a good school like Cornell and Georgetown inccreased, decreased, or the same as they are right now with my 3.4889 GPA right out of HS? </p>

<p>The thing is, I'm under this notion that suceeding for the first 2 years in a '4-year college' and then transferring looks more impressive than succeeding for the first 2 years in a 'community college' and then transferring, because getting into a 4-year college straight out of HS is harder than getting into a community college. However, my guidance counseler tells me that colleges look at community college transfers BEFORE they look at 4-year college transfers. Can anyone clear this up?</p>

<p>
[quote]
No. Georgetown is a very prestigous Catholic school in Washington DC. I was considering transfering there (I might still), but the Catholic thing turns me off. Not that I have a problem with religious people, I'm just not religious and am a little afraid I'll be too much of an outcast. Once you get past that though it's on par (or better) than the <strong>IVYS</strong> academically, has a beautiful campus, and actually admits a fair amount of transfers. I think it's admission rate is about 20-30%, which is high for a school of it's calibur. I highly suggest you put G-town on your short list.

[/quote]

I'm not catholic either and I'm seriously interested in Georgetown, regardless of it's religious affiliations. Good luck with your decision!</p>