Community Colleges vs. 4 Year Colleges vs. Me

<p>Cross out the "me" part.</p>

<p>So it's CC vs Unis. Dun dun dun.</p>

<p>Do CCs offer a less rigorous course work then regular Unis? For example if I get a 4.0 gpa after x amount of semesters with transferable credits, does it mean anything at all once I get to the uni of my choice? I mean people continue to tell me it does matter because CC's are easier. The funny thing is I'm till up to par on information and knowledge with kids that go to Unis. That and the fact we use similar books. Ex. my CC econ book was the same as my cousins Northwestern econ book. </p>

<p>So whatcha think, home slice?</p>

<p>'Do CCs offer a less rigorous course work then regular Unis?'
I would guess yes. In my math and physics classes at my CCs, plenty of students got A's and near/above 100%</p>

<p>'For example if I get a 4.0 gpa after x amount of semesters with transferable credits, does it mean anything at all once I get to the uni of my choice?'
Probably not. I heard transfers do just as well as nontransfers at UC's.</p>

<p>i read on the UC website that transfers do just as well, but usually cc are easier then ucs but it might depend on your instructor</p>

<p>Hell no! I am in some easy as hell classes here at my top 20 university but I was struggling when I took summer courses at the CC.</p>

<p>But anyway, if you are wanting to stay at home or save money or something, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to community college, doing well and transfering to the university of your dreams.</p>

<p>at my school, transfers has a gpa of 0.20 less than other students who've been there since freshman year.</p>

<p>Is that how the system works or transfers tend to have lower gpas?</p>

<p>It depends on the cc. The one where I live is ridiculously easy, at least the courses I took were. But one of my friends who lives in VA is going to a community college there that is at least on par with a standard public 4-year, or better. But alot of people transfer to my university and do about the same as students that were here already, so I don't think it is that big of a transition.</p>

<p>Academically I don't think is a huge change, of course depending on the specific university and specific CC. However, I can't help but think that you'll miss out on a lot at a CC when you compare it to a university. You have more serious students, more intelligent students, and more opportunities. By the time a motivated person is a junior they'll usually be involved in various clubs, organizations, or greek life and so have the opportunity to get into those leadership positions during their final couple years.</p>

<p>Unless money is a huge issue, I would definitely recommend going to a university if at all possible.</p>

<p>I know for a fact students who go to CC for engineering then transfer to a Big U, always do better than the standard engineering students who go the full for years,.</p>

<p>Having transferred from a local community college to a big state university a couple years ago, I can see a big difference in the social life.</p>

<p>My CC had no dorms, very few students organizations and mostly business or nursing students. The students were, in my opinion, no less intelligent than students at my university. Many were African or Asian refugees, or were coming back after dropping out of college the first time - as a tutor, they seemed very committed to success.</p>

<p>My State U has about 20,000 students with maybe 1/3 living on campus or in local apartments. Student life is everywhere and we have some school pride (I hope to be one of their photographers this semester) in our Div I hockey team.</p>

<p>Most of the CC students attended for generals, but the State U has 120 majors, many business and education - just more choice for when they are ready.</p>

<p>"at my school, transfers has a gpa of 0.20 less than other students who've been there since freshman year."</p>

<p>really? how did you find that out?</p>

<p>I attend a CCC, and after talking to friends that attend various UC's and CSU's, I have concluded that the difficulty of classes is roughly the same. These are GE classes, mind you. </p>

<p>Courses are generally more intense at schools under a quarterly system, for obvious reasons. </p>

<p>I really do regret rejecting CSU schools in favor of doing the CC to UC transfer. The social life is almost non-existant.</p>

<p>Everyone is better off starting at a CC.</p>

<p>Why?
It doesn't matter where you go the gen ed classes are the same. At a Uni you are paying a crapload of money to sit some times on the floor in an auditorium with a class of 100+ to be taught by a grad student. At a CC you get the same gen ed classes except you are being taught by the teacher and the classes are small. </p>

<p>Go to a CC and join the honors society. I would also recommend doing study abroad trips I met a lot of people that way and getting into activities at what ever major university is near you.</p>

<p>At every insitution of learning, there are going to be teachers more laid back than others. </p>

<p>With the rise of ww.ratemyprofessors, one can choose the best prof for one's needs, challeging or laid back. </p>

<p>Also, you can't compare a senior math course with a freshman advanced algebra course.</p>

<p>In addition, you have more probability of getting higher grades at a CC because you would have more chances. A professor at Big State U with 300 in a class is going to have 3 exams, while a professor at a CC will probably have 5 exams, which means more chances to do well.</p>

<p>Financially the CC has an advantage, but I think the most important aspect of college is the social aspect. I don't mean partying, I mean making friendships and connections that can affect you and your career path over your lifetime.</p>

<p>I'm sure there are driven students that just didn't have the money to go to a university, but there are also many students there because they weren't smart enough. </p>

<p>Consider this: rather than CC vs Uni, why would you want to go to a CC over a Uni? As I said before, besides the financial reasons, there simply is no advantage. Why miss out on the friendships and opportunities that can come through a University so you can save a little money? In the long run a few thousand dollars is not going to make a difference.</p>

<p>yeah I agree. Its gonna be hard for me to make decent friends at my new university since everyone who's been there since freshmen already know each other</p>

<p>I completely disagree. I went from western conn. state univeristy, which is actually a step up from CC, to McGill, and there's no comparison. None. I do 3000x as much work at McGill. I can;t imagine the transition from say, podunk cc to MIT.</p>

<p>I'm sorry, but what are you guys smoking? CC's don't even offer upper division courses by definition! The 4 yr school I transferred from at least offered higher level classes, but they were a joke! You can't take advanced game theory or nuclear engineering at community college. And how the heck could they offer a challenging philosophy course, where they seriously grade papers, when it would mean 99% of the kids fail out! Are you guys just trying to be nice?</p>

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<p>What a narrowminded statement. You obviously no nothing about what it means to go to a CC. There are quite a few other advantages that your ridiculous post failed to mention.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Say you didn't get into the college of your dreams. Many community colleges are designed to get you out in 2 years to a 4 year university. You start off with a clean slate. This means a second shot at getting into an Ivy League or a top UC. As a matter of fact, in California, the UCs place transfer students from CC at top priority meaning its easier to get into UCB or UCLA as a transfer than a high school student.</p></li>
<li><p>You say that there aren't people at a CC capable of giving you connections you need for your career? That's complete, utter BULL. CC's are filled with many adults who take classes that will enable them to make a career change or jumpstart a career. Often these are people who have already established themselves in the work world with skills and experience that take many years to acquire. I'd rather get my connections from an adult at a CC than from some undergrad who still has to finish classes for their major to barely get their foot in the door. CC's aren't filled with poor people and morons you know. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>On top of that, many CC's do offer interships, Education Abroad, scholarships, and resources to help you find jobs relevant to your major. Great stepping stone for that career path doncha think?</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I know several people who started off at a CC and are now very sucessful. My uncle, for example, went to CC, graduated from Berkeley with a degree in light engineering, and is now vice president of his company. So what exactly did he miss out on by going to a CC hmm?</p></li>
<li><p>Consider this: which is a better learning environment? A 300+ lower division class that every freshman has to take in a university, or that same class in a CC with 50 or less people in it? More intimate learning environment, classes where profs know who you are in the classroom setting (handy for those recs), more room for lively discussions....I'd choose CC over the 4 year public university.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you Sweet</p>

<p>And no duh CCs don't offer upper courses those are usually for juniors and seniors.</p>

<p>
[quote]
"at my school, transfers has a gpa of 0.20 less than other students who've been there since freshman year."</p>

<p>really? how did you find that out?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>because the department head tells us at orientation. They do a survey at the end of the semester for each class, after taking the course you put down your gpa and whether you're transfer student. It's not that hard to find out.</p>