I will be attending community college this fall but I was sad on missing all the fun a unique experience people are getting by going straight. It’s not about partying or getting drunk, I don’t even drink. It’s more about coming in as a freshmen, getting involved right away, making the friends of your life, taking advantage of research opportunities and all that. I feel like two years is too short to do all the things I want.
This article summarizes really well what I mean by the college experience:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130130154330-17000124-why-the-college-campus-experience-still-matters
What do you guys think? do you think you missed out? Can you get this by taking the route of community college transferring? I was also wondering what university do you think would be good to transfer to for the college experience I’m looking for?
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im still in community college but i definitely feel like im missing out. especially the dorming experience. being able to live among your peers and learn how to live on your own and have fun and just get around on your own… going to freshman events or other cool events or conferences a 4 year college may provide…
i commute from home so i dont really feel that independent or anything. the people at community college tend to be older, tend to have jobs and families they need to go home to. it’s a very different atmosphere i imagine. so as someone straight out of high school, you sort of end up acclimating yourself to that more serious/mature environment. people dont just hang out for no reason or laugh loudly or go to clubs or socialize or go to school events or anything like that. you sort of get used to that more serious mentality. when i visited some colleges recently, i realized just how more…‘immature’ everyone seemed (not in a bad way. i suppose a better word would be ‘young’ and not in appearance). there were people just hanging out in groups, swimming, just doing stuff for fun. you never really see that in community college because everyone tends to just go to class and then go home, they’re not really there to make friends. people at 4 years, in my opinion, look like they have a much easier time making friends and socializing.
also i feel like im missing out on studying abroad. as a transfer your only real shot is to study abroad during your junior year cuz you usually need at least one full year (senior year typically) on campus. and your junior year is your first year at your new school and you don’t really want to just leave the first semester or year without ever getting to know the school first. i feel like 2 years aren’t really enough to do everything. you have to build relationship with professors to be able to ask about research, and that’s something that freshman get to build in those early years so once they’re sophohmores or juniors they already have those connections they can go to. i dont know how true this is but that’s just something im worried about or that i perceive ill end up missing out on when i transfer.
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who gives a shit. good life > experience imo. sure, you can’t go back in time and get the dorming experience, but you’ll have much more experiences in your future life trust me lol
The college experience is highly overrated and is only a personal preference. If you really feel you must experience it, you can transfer out of community college to your next school and live on campus there.
The experience of a four year sleep away college, is of course, different from the community college/commuter student experience, but different doesn’t always mean better, and it doesn’t always mean worse. It is much more expensive for most people so the bottom line is usually a huge factor in the type of school you end up going to. If you can afford to go to a sleep away college then perhaps you should reconsider your choice. If you can’t afford it, focus on the positives, that is that you are going to get an education, the major reason for going to any college.
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Given that nationwide more students live at home and commute to local community colleges and affordable local colleges/universities, than move away from home and live in college residences, the commuting experience is the “true” college experience. Don’t let all of the movies and marketing brochures convince you that you aren’t a real person because you are at a community college.