community colleges vs. 4-year

<p>Do college admissions officers look at students from 4-year colleges differently than students from community colleges?</p>

<p>i think the answer is yes,,
but as long as you are a great,smart applicant..
it wont matter</p>

<p>Yeah. I think the answer is yes, too. But to varying degrees, I bet, depending on how selective the school is--the school you're applying to, I mean. </p>

<p>I know in Florida, community colleges don't seem to be (typically) looked down upon by Florida state schools. So, applying to UF, I'm not worried about being a community college student... If anything, it's actually beneficial to me with the 2+2 transfer agreement. (And I've heard many states have similar agreements.) </p>

<p>However, if I were applying to an Ivy League school or something (ha), surely the fact that I attend community college would be considered, and not in a positive way (unless it's Columbia GS).</p>

<p>Then again, I'm not by any means an expert on all this. I'm just another confused student, trying to figure it all out. But this is the general impression I've gotten.</p>

<p>Jill goes to Barnard and has a 3.5 GPA with a 2150 SAT; Lucy goes to a local community college and has a 3.8 and a 2050 SAT. They've taken all the same classes and have very similar activities. Who's going to be accepted at Williams, or a comparable school?</p>

<p>They are both the same race and are in the same financial situation.</p>

<p>did you get denied from williams and thinking about transferring after 1 year?</p>

<p>nope. this is totally hypothetical. jill and lucy are not me.</p>

<p>I feel Ms Barnard would get in, however I think if it was lower than 3.5 that may not be the case.</p>

<p>Anything that is 3.5-4.0 from any college will be impressive.</p>

<p>obviously it would be very close. The key is whether it is worth it to go to a 4 year for that little edge that may or may not even be real. </p>

<p>Try calling your admissions department. I know many state schools that couldn't give a hoot if you got a 4.0 from Harvard and wanted to transfer. You'd be in the same standing as Bob who went to a community college and got a 4.0.</p>

<p>I can help you with what I have done research on, in dental school it is not a big deal if a student has come from a community college for their first two years. It is not really a detriment to your application as long as you have good grades and have completed all of the prereqs and received your bachelors degree.</p>

<p>I hear that 3.5 is the magic number for some colleges (see other posts). I posted this thread because I've taken courses at several different institutions, and know from experience that CCs are just WAY easier than 4-year universities (I've taken courses during summers in high school and college at Stanford, NYU, San Francisco State, and a CC). I was just wondering how colleges account for the difficulty level of an institution. Is there a point system?</p>

<p>I don't know if there is a point system, but I'm sure they take into academic rigor, the work load, the course load that a students takes. I think it makes a difference to go to a four year institution if you're going to take upper level courses before transferring, but if you're going to just take intro level classes, that's kinda stupid. Course load and work load can definitely make a difference for a lower GPA I think. Or I hope. We shall see.</p>

<p>In my experience community college is a lot easier than a four year school. I have friends who took classes at "top" community college who have said "I got an A for showing up". They also have said I can't believe this guy got a PHD from XYZ (prestigous school). I think, at least I hope, colleges seriously consider the place where the GPA comes from, the course rigor, and seriously takes them into account - any other way just wouldn't be equal.</p>

<p>well actually community college sometimes are priority over kids from 4-year when it comes to transfer admissions. </p>

<p>the only way to know the school's policy is if you actually talk to your school.</p>

<p>I think that's more the case with state colleges.</p>