WARNING this is probably a rant. OK so let me get started with this. I am a first-year student at my community college, 19 years old and fresh out of high school. In high school I was never a great student academic wise, I had around a 2.8 GPA and never took the SAT or ACT (didn’t even apply to any 4-year university). During the end of my senior year of high school, I saw all my friends applying to college’s and it made me realize how much I am missing out by not doing so. During the second half of my senior year, I really pushed myself to get better grades, and it showed but it was obviously too late to get into any university. So since then, I am using community college as a second chance to redeem myself and get into a great school. However, during my time here in community college, I’ve run into some obstacles along the way. So far Academic wise it has been surprisingly easy for me. I have a 3.8 GPA (hopefully it can bump up to a 4.0 by the end of the semester) and academic wise so far so good. It is just that going to a community college I feel left out in the sense that I see all my friends having the time of their lives in a four-year university (going to parties, greek life, living in dorms, meeting new people, etc…) This to me is killing me right now because I want to go out there and have the time of my life!!! I’m so sick of living with my parents in the same town that I’ve lived in. Not only that but as a STEM major it will take me 3 years to transfer out, so the same year I transfer is the same year I graduate so I would hardly be infused into the school that I transferred into. Not only that but I will be missing out on internships over the summer (due to the cc classes I have to take prior to transfer) as well as studying abroad since I want to be part of the campus. Sorry for my long rant, I hope you understand my frustrations of being a cc student 
Why wait 3 years to transfer? You can transfer now for the fall semester, without your Associate’s, if that’s what you choose to do.
Good job on the GPA! I agree with the previous poster…if you can transfer sooner go for it.
Think of the upside - if you spend just 4 semesters at the CC and then go to a four year school, you will have saved a ton of money! Believe it or not, that time will go very fast. You might even find yourself continuing for a masters. You are just getting started. Remember, it isn’t how you start the race but how you finish. Focus on transfer, keep up the GPA, and you will be where you want in no time!
As an adult, I would counsel you to look at this a different way.
You can be 40 and look back and say: Thank God I turned my life around when I went to CC. I worked hard, transfered to State U and got a degree in Engineering! That led me to this great career. Yes it would have been good if I did that in HS, but I can’t imagine where i would be if I hadn’t done that.
Your friends may have done less partying in HS to get the grades for college.
When you go to college, you can still meet people, go to parties, and join greek life. Take this time in CC to shine and set your self up for future success.
@bjkmom Stem majors on average take 3 years. With all the major prep that I have to do it will definitely take 3 years to transfer.
In the scheme of your whole life 3 years will be minimal. You are on the right path - enjoy it! You have great things in your present and in your future. This is your journey - be proud.
Our relative applied after the 1st term of CC to transfer to a 4-year U and was accepted to begin after she completed 3 semesters. She got a part-time summer job in a field she wanted to pursue while she was attending CC. That strengthened her application for the college within her U, so she didn’t feel she wasted time. All but 1 of her courses from CC transferred and applied toward her degree.
She was glad to have saved money while attending CC and felt freer to take courses she was curious about with no grade or other pressure in CC.
Her HS guidance counselor advised her to wait to apply to a U after she had 2 years of CC but she didn’t want to wait and is happy she proceeded as she wanted to.
Talk to some of your CC instructors and contact the jobs center at your CC to see if there might be research or part time internships available that you can do concurrent with taking classes. Your stellar GPA might well earn you some benefits even before you transfer.
Several of my son’s friends who went the CC route are STEM majors and it’s taking all of them 3 years to transfer. I know it’s frustrating. Hang in there and keep up the excellent work. You can’t change the past but you’ve got a solid handle on the future.
I’m sorry, I still don’t understand.
You don’t have to have your Associate’s Degree to transfer.
And I was a math major at a CC, and transferred with my degree after 2.
@bjkmom - The prerequisites needed to be admitted into certain STEM majors can take 3 years to complete in some systems. Especially if the student doesn’t have advanced credit (via APs and DE).
With many Us, you must complete at least 2 years or more if credits at their U to get your degree from that U—check the requirements of each U you’re considering.