<p>So I want to pose a few questions and I'll give you a quick background of my situation... </p>
<p>I was very successful in high school (and all of my schooling) until my junior year, in which I became bored and rebellious and dropped out and got my GED. I had a full-time job and felt like I was able to learn more independently than they were teaching me there.</p>
<p>Anyway (long story short), I blew my opportunity to get a scholarship and get into a top tier school right away, which I believe I definitely could have done. I entered into community college last year and have maintained a 3.8 gpa so far. I'm a member of Phi Thetta Kappa as well.</p>
<p>I plan on transferring after two years to a state public university (Oregon) and will continue to perform at an honorary level. I also hope to get into research once I get there (I'm studying Physics). </p>
<p>My dream is to "climb the ladder" if you will, and work my way from being at a community college to getting into a graduate program at a top 10 institution. Has anyone ever had experience with this and/or do you think that it is possible? </p>
<p>My second question is, if I maintain my current performance, do you think that I could possibly receive scholarships in the future?</p>
<p>Number three, how difficult is it to attend graduate school in the UK, coming from the US? Although it may be a pipe dream, my dream has always been to attend Oxford. </p>
<p>Any information on these questions would be much appreciated. Thank you very much.</p>
<p>My father went from LA Valley Junior College to a Ph.D from UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>I’m going from Contra Costa College to an M.S. from Indiana University.</p>
<p>The only barrier imposed by a community college is one of your own making - thinking that the institution where you do your first two years of college defines you for your entire academic career.</p>
<p>The biggest leg up you can give yourself if you’re looking into elite grad schools is to do research in your field of interest as an undergrad (which you mention, but this is really not optional for your goals). Grades are important, but frankly, the others you will be competing with will have those grades as well. Set yourself apart with getting involved, as soon as possible, with the research work of a professor who you think is doing something cool. That assures your potential future advisor that you’ve seen how real research operates, and still want to do it (plenty of people are more into the idea of research than the actual - frequently boring - bench work that goes into it).</p>
<p>You should not wait past your first semester to get into this. It’s possible to just go up to a professor, ask if they have a spot, and they’ll give you something. However, keep in mind that even if you volunteer for no pay, that is work for that professor, and they have to give up their time and that of their grad students to train you. What might have better odds of success is to take a class with a professor you’re interested in, and really go out of your way to excel - not just great grades, but volunteering in class, coming to office hours to discuss class and/or research you’re interested in. At the end of the semester, ask if they could find a spot for you, or if you could volunteer with them. Get involved in any physics-related activities as well, it’s a great place to network.</p>
<p>Oxford is a heavy lift in the best case, but this is how you’re going to need to make the grad school transition no matter how you slice it.</p>
<p>Can’t speak to the scholarship situation at Oregon (although it’s often harder for transfers to find money), but if you are accepted into a top-10 physics department for grad school, you will not be paying for it. Most degree programs in the hard sciences are paid for through a combination of teaching assistanships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Oxford actually wouldn’t admit you if you don’t receive funding.</p>
<p>I don’t believe that research is actually taking place at my community college. I could be wrong, but does that even occur at community colleges? Right now I’m just working on my transfer degree. My grades are around 3.8. </p>
<p>As soon as I get to the U of O I will look to get into volunteering and research work. That has been my plan since day one.</p>