I’ve been wondering how the experience is at places other than where I went. I spent 2 years at De Anza College, a decision I’ll never regret. A long and complicated set of circumstances left me choosing between $35,000 a year for the University of Montana or a full tuition waiver and a Pell at a California community college, and I made the better choice, even though my parents vehemently disagreed with my decision on the basis that they think college costs and debt don’t matter and because they think going to a community college just shows employers you weren’t good enough to go to a university off the bat and gets you passed over for jobs (Incidentally, that is a great example of why I don’t listen to my parents.). I feel like I got a very good quality of education at De Anza without having to pay a dime, and now that I’ve moved on to SFSU I feel like my community college professors were more skilled and more engaged than most professors at this university. What about you guys? How was the quality of education? How did your parents feel? Did you save a lot on education costs?
Yes!
I personally didn’t go to a CC but I was close due to financial issues. However, I will say that employers will look at where you get your bachelors which is SFSU. Additionally, college choice doesn’t matter as much as happiness. People won’t be making fun of you for saving thousands of dollars. CC is smaller so there will be more 1 on 1 as opposed to SFSU. My parents were supportive of me going anywhere but because of ROTC I chose SDSU.
I have heard this from a number of students that went to community colleges and then transferred to 4-year universities. One of the advantages is that your De Anza College grades will not factor into your SFSU GPA. With California’s CC tuition being a measly $46 per credit, you have saved a ton of money (even more if you lived at home).
Our D went to a CC for 3 semesters and then transfered to USoCal, where she got her bachelor’s degree. Her CC only comes up when she chooses to talk about it. She enjoyed her terms there and it was practically free, great teachers, small classes, amazing food (they have a culinary arts program). She has no regrets and her degree from USC is as good as anyone else’s. Good for you, saving your money while getting a solid education!
I will adamantly agree that my professors at community college were much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much much better than my professors at my current university. They were more attuned to the needs of students and cared about your success enough to want to work with you that they’d invite you personally to come to their office hours.
Now of course they can’t do that for everyone but they’d do it for the students that they saw were trying their absolute hardest.
I kind of hated my first year at community college but the 2nd year looked up immensely. I was basically so proactive in my community college that I quite literally was the face of it for a while.
And past your first job, no one really needs to know where you started. Just that you have your degree from your eventual institution for their requirements.
@Jamrock411 I didn’t even pay that $46 per unit. I got my tuition waived because my family is low income. Plus, my school gives out free county public transit passes, so I didn’t have to pay public transit fares or spend money on driving school and then pay all the expenses of car ownership.
@DefineGravity I definitely got a lot of 1 on 1 at De Anza.
I did, though in the mid '70’s.
I’m one of 5 kids. Mom and dad paid for our college educations, with the condition that we start at CC, then attend a local school.
I did, and was (and am) very happy with the education I received.