<p>My parents would be unlikely to change their mind later, and my chances for being accepted into a local college would not be any higher.</p>
<p>Neither of these makes sense. First of all, you said that your parents’ concern is that you are not “ready” to move into a residence hall (which may or may not be valid). Two years at a local community college means two years of additional growth and maturity, at which point they may decide that you are ready to transition to a residential community.</p>
<p>I also think it’s false that your chances of being accepted locally would not be any higher. Many community colleges have articulation agreements with state universities that would allow you to transfer easily, and even if they don’t, two years of college and a proven track-record in college level classes will indeed make you more likely to get accepted. Your ACT scores won’t matter anymore, for one.</p>
<p>Don’t go to an online college. Most of them are for-profit diploma mills.</p>