<p>I've been accepted by a few universities, but things aren't really working out, so I'm considering to go to community college and transfer to another university.</p>
<p>Many people are saying that community college is a better choice if you aren't ready to go to a four-year university. How so, exactly? Are the courses at community college easier than that at a four-year university? I've the A Level, which is equivalent to the IB and AP. If you're an international student, would going to a community college be pretty much the same as going to a four-year university since you'd be away from your family after all? Class size at community college is small, but some universities have an average class size of about 30 students, too, even for the introductory level courses, so this doesn't necessarily mean that community college would be a plus since its class size is small, right?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Usually the tuition and fees are a lot lower at community colleges. That is the biggest benefit. Classes are often smaller than at large universities. For example, math classes at Happykid’s community college can only have 25 students because that is the number of desks that fit in the room. At a big university, the math class could have more than 100 students. Classes aren’t necessarily any easier than at a four-year school. One of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken was at a community college!</p>
<p>One difficulty for international students is that most community colleges don’t have residence halls. You might have to find your own place to live, and you might need to have a car if there isn’t good public transportation.</p>
<p>Why didn’t the universities work out? Were they too expensive? If so, there is no reason to think that they will be less expensive when you transfer from the community college. It is hard for transfer students to get scholarships, and it is even harder for international students.</p>
<p>If you have enough money to pay for your education in the US, but you just didn’t get admitted to any university that you like, starting at a community college can be a good thing. If you work hard and get good grades, you should be able to transfer to a four-year university after you finish your associate’s degree.</p>
<p>Community colleges vary widely. Some operate at a very low academic level. If you have A levels, you would find the level of coursework at our local CC far beneath what you are used to. I don’t think they even offer calculus, for example. In other places, bright high school students go to CCs to take courses beyond what is available at their HS. That would never happen here. Be certain that you know what the CC is really like.</p>
<p>Are classes at community colleges really easier than at of a four-year university? Even for the first two years? I mean, they definitely do not have higher level courses, but shouldn’t the introductory level courses be the same? So why do people tend to say that classes at community colleges are easier?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>My son (who is at the OP’s academic level) had many classes at a very good CC. I’m talking about the good CCs, since we have no experience with the bad ones.</p>
<p>Our state has articulation agreements between the community colleges and most public universities; the classes will transfer in most cases (given adequate grades, etc.) But even at the good CCs, in the good classes, that are just as difficult and cover just as much material as those at the universities, there may be more students who don’t really care than at the universities. My son got excellent education from excellent teachers in small classes, but was often frustrated at the low level of interest shown by other students in the classes. OTOH, there will be plenty of those students at most unis as well.</p>
<p>Equivalent classes could be called easier at CC than at uni because of smaller classes, or teachers who are more focused on teaching than on research. So not really easier material, but presented in a way more conducive to learning.</p>
<p>A way to see if the CC is appropriately rigorous or not is to see what articulation agreements it has with the various 4-year colleges it could feed. Another is to see if they have a Phi Theta Kappa chapter (2-year college honor society). Another is to see what kind of honors program they have, if any. I’d consider the articulation agreements the most important of these.</p>
<p>EDIT - Cross-posted with HappyMom</p>
<p>The quality of instruction at community colleges varies from one to another, from one department to another, and from one professor to another. The CC near me, and the CCs on your list may be completely different. Since CCs are open admission for students in their area, they do have a reputation for attracting poor quality students - i.e. students who simply can’t get in anywhere else. However, they also have always attracted a fair number of good to excellent students who either can’t afford a four-year school or who have other family and job responsibilities that prevent them from studying anywhere else. In the current economy, more good students are opting to start out at community colleges because they are cheaper. In my region, enrollment at the CCs is up about 25% in the past two years.</p>
<p>In a community college class, you will find a much wider variety of students than in a typical college class. For example, a calculus class might include a 13 year-old home schooler, a student who flunked out of MIT last year, a 50 year-old secondary school English teacher who is taking the math class to become certified as a math teacher, a 70 year-old retiree who just thinks it would be fun to learn some advanced math, and a whole bunch of traditional aged college students who either didn’t get into the college they wanted this year, or who can’t afford that college, or just plain want to take calculus at a college where there won’t be more than 25 students in the class.</p>
<p>If you are considering attending a community college, you should choose one that has a formal articulation agreement with a four-year college or university for the major that you are interested in. That way you will know for certain that the coursework that you take at the CC will transfer, and is of a level that at least one college/university finds acceptable. Many CCs will give students with IB, AP, CLEP and A level exam results advanced placement and/or credit. You need to contact the CCs that you are interested in to find out what is possible for you.</p>
<p>If I’ve been accepted by a four-year university, but enroll at a community college and then transfer to that four-year university by which I had been accepted, do I get a priority/have an advantage or would I be at a disadvantage? Would the university resent that I rejected their offer and put me at a disadvantage?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>You would need to reapply as a transfer. No, they won’t put a big black mark on your folder! You will just have the normal challenges of any transfer applicant.</p>
<p>Would I have an advantage? 
Since applications usually ask if you’ve applied or been admitted before. Thanks!</p>
<p>That is a good question! You would need to ask the admissions office about it.</p>