<p>Which one would you choose?Just thought it would be an interesting topic and a funny one.</p>
<p>There are some incredible Community Colleges, so if you choose them, it would definitely be better than the worst 4-year.</p>
<p>If one attends a community college, one can transfer to a more preferable school upon completing one’s years at that community college.</p>
<p>Most definitely community college. I go to a community college right now, and honestly it’s not amazing, but at the same time it isn’t that bad. Yes, it lacks on the social aspect, but if you do really well you can transfer to a great school that you will like.
I didn’t get into any of the schools I wanted to go to straight out high school because of crappy SATs, and so I am now going to CC and hopefully will transfer to a 4 year university I want to go to.</p>
<p>Community college, definitely. My local CC has a relationship with Columbia, making it a feasible possibilty for someone who does well at the CC to transfer to an Ivy league school… I’d go for that!</p>
<p>It depends on the community college. Some are horrible, some are excellent.</p>
<p>In CA, that is in fact a pre-determined strategy for students targeting UCLA and Berkeley whose stats fall short of those required (4.2 UC Gpa, 1350+ on SAT) … typically these high school students have 3.1 - 3.5 weighted high school GPA, which can maybe get them admission to UC Riverside, Merced, or maybe Santa Cruz, but not UCLA or Berkeley, let alone SD, SB, I, D. </p>
<p>CA Community Colleges have structured programs to get community college students with about 3.0 into the more selective UCs, and if 3.3 and higher, into UCLA and Berkeley in some less popular majors.</p>
<p>Dunnin, apparently College of the Canyons in Canyon Country, CA has such a program with UCLA with only a 3.0 GPA needed to be guaranteed a spot upon transfer.</p>
<p>This back door way into UCLA is almost an insult to the kids that slaved for their 4.2’s to get into UCLA as regular freshmen</p>
<p>Is the CC a lot cheaper? Would I be able to live in a dorm and otherwise have a productive campus experience at the 4-year?</p>
<p>Re: “This back door way into UCLA is almost an insult to the kids that slaved for their 4.2’s to get into UCLA as regular freshmen”</p>
<p>Since the dawn of time, educators have known that different students mature emotionally and intellectually at different rates. There are plenty of students who get their acts together too late to earn a 4.2 in HS, but who really pick up speed once they figure out how to learn. Admitting transfer students is not an insult to anyone. Rather it is a recognition that people learn things in different ways.</p>
<p>Not to mention that enough of those students who earned a 4.2 in HS drop out, flunk out, or transfer somewhere else themselves leaving plenty of space for new students to transfer in.</p>
<p>Re: Dorms at community colleges.</p>
<p>[College</a> MatchMaker: Results](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board) finds 700 Two-year colleges with Housing available. You can refine the search by other items that are important for you. Good luck!</p>
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<p>That’s very true. It is also a recognition that even people who can’t afford four years at an expensive state school also deserve a chance at a college education. I get that CollegeConfidential is a fairly affluent community of people, but some of the things that people say here can be pretty narrow-minded and callous.</p>
<p>Hanna, don’t know if your CC question was in general, or to OP.</p>
<p>In general, CCs cost under $5k per year tuition. Students typically live at home, or off campus with a bunch of friends inexpensively. Let’s just say total cost of attendance is about $12,000 if living in inexpensive off-campus housing.</p>
<p>OK, here is TUITION only, no books, room, board, transportation –</p>
<p>Tuition Full Time:</p>
<p>Santa Monica College: $26/unit = $780 per 30 unit year
Cal State Long Beach $5,091
UCLA: $10,780</p>
<p>So tuition savings are $10,000/yr going to SMC first, then UCLA. Moreover, if the student lives more than an hour from UCLA, he/she will probably not be able to live at home, so add another $6,000 in rent… the costs are just so much less going to a local CC for two years first.</p>
<p>What are some of the worst 4-year schools?</p>
<p>I think it is more a question of peaking at different ages. Some kids mature early (or have parents heavily guiding them) and are able to show academic accompolishments starting in 8th or 9th grade. Some hit their stride in 10th or 11th, but that is FAR too late for schools like UCLA and Berkeley… so a late bloomer can pay for his/her sin of lateness by doing time at CC, then enter UCLA/Berkeley, and no-harm, no-foul. </p>
<p>It’s like a get out of late-bloomer-jail free card.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>How true! And how wonderful that it exists!</p>