<p>I attended community college for 3 years but didnt get a degree. I then transferred to a 4-yr university in 2011 and will graduate after 7 semesters (3.5 yrs). </p>
<p>So once I graduate and people ask me how many years I have been in college, could I just say 3.5 years or do I have to include the time I spent in community college?</p>
<p>You can say whatever you want, really. I’ve never had anyone ask me that question, and usually they just want to know what year I graduated.</p>
<p>Post-graduation, I’d probably include my time in community college. It’s still considered higher education/college, so why would you exclude it? People are probably going to ask a lot of questions like “whoa, how did you graduate in 3.5 years!?” because from my experience, more people tend to graduate later (usually due to major changes, taking wrong classes, transferring), than graduating early. But it’s really up to you as nobody will ever check your history if this is just a normal conversation.</p>
<p>But yeah, most people also ask me what year I graduate(d).</p>
<p>I’ve never actually had anyone ask me that question.</p>
<p>Are we talking about job applications or just random people? As far as job applications go, I’d put the real number, if it was even asked. Usually they’ll just ask what year you graduated, what degree etc.</p>
<p>As far as people that you’re just talking to…I highly doubt that question will come up very often, but you can say whatever you want. Why wouldn’t you be able to? It’s not like there would be some kind of “penalty.”</p>