I am hearing more of this. Recently from a Clemson applicant. It sounds like the university agrees to accept you but first you have to attend 1-2 years at a designated community college. Outside of required gpa from cc, is this a guaranteed transfer admission? What schools, for example?
Do some universities accept you conditionedupon attending a certain community college for 1-2 years?
From what I’ve seen this happens mainly with Clemson, UT Austen, and Penn State. I’m sure there are other schools that I just don’t read about though. Also, it’s not really community colleges that I’ve seen but other public schools within the state or branch campuses. They’re conditional programs upon maintaining a certain GPA and taking all the required classes. At least from what I’ve seen.
It is a specific Bridge program agreement . Clemson’s Bridge program is a CC program with TriCounty tech . After successful completion of the required number of credits and maintaining the required GPA, they are guaranteed admission into Clemson without reapplying as a transfer student. This is different than a regular transfer program. Clemson bridge students bridge after 1 year. College of Charleston also has a new Bridge program where students Bridge after one semester .
You may be referring to an “articulation agreement” between certain community colleges and 4y colleges/universities (especially with 4 year public universities in the same state).
http://www.collegetransfer.net/AskCT/WhatisanArticulationAgreement
Most CCs have articulation agreements with their in-state 4 year systems; the Bridges are a newer variant for private universities. Vassar and Dickinson, for example, are working with their local community colleges to identify high-potential students and work with them to have them ready to transfer into the college.
UIUC also has Engineering Pathways with some IL CC’s. Once in the program, hit a certain GPA and you’re in.
It may be a cheaper way in to a top engineering school for some.
SUNY Binghamton has a program like this. You actually live on Bing’s campus but attend classes at Broome Community College. I think it is a way to fill the dorms while not requiring this school to add additional sections of freshman/sophomore level classes. The guaranteed transfer type programs also seem to be growing in popularity. In these programs, the student can attend anywhere for one year and then, subject to meeting certain requirements, can transfer for their sophomore year. I think schools want to make sure no paying seat is empty. Many more students transfer or study abroad than they used to.
@blprof, also there are a lot more upper division electives than there are intro classes, so it’s a more efficient use of resources for a public.
A similar situation came up in an article about Northeastern University in Boston MA which mentioned that this was being used by the university to boost its USNWR rankings since only fall freshman admits count towards the stats. It was proffered that they were gaming the system to make themselves look better by offering students just outside the top stats the chance to enroll the sophomore year after studying someplace else for the freshman year.
The compliance with a formal articulation agreement with a local CC is a different matter.
@MassDaD68 do you have a link to that article? Genuinely curious as I applied to transfer there
Bridge programs are different than articulation agreements in that the transfer usually occurs before the typical two year time frame and they also are able to use facilities on the campus . For example, Clemson bridge students can attend football games and other sporting events, try out for the band,use the library and gym facilities. They cannot go Greek. The Bridge programs in my state are through public universities not private. Bridge programs have such varying requirements , it’s really impossible and not responsible to make general statements.
agreeing with @carolinamom2boys - the reasons & structures are very different, between both public & private institutions. I heard people from Vassar & Dickinson talking about their programs, and the drive behind them wasn’t gaming USNWR but community integration with the community.