So, for anyone taking the time out of their lives to read and answer this question/concern of mine , thank you so much an advance !!! You’re awesome . Now , that I’ve gotten that out of the way , it’s time to talk about that the situation that I’m currently in . As of this very day , I’m merely just a high school graduate – I graduated in May of 2013 – I know , I’m pretty old , lol .But I am preparing to go back to school full-time in January of 2016 , though. I plan on attending a community college to save some money and I guess to give myself a clean slate as well, considering that I played around in high school and didn’t take my studies too seriously . Once I enroll into community college , my goal is to attain 30 credits and transfer into a four-year college and transfer in with sophomore status . Although I’m very stubborn and determined to see this plan of my come to fruition , there’s always the possibility that things won’t go as planned ( In the case that my grades don’t wind up being good enough to get me into a bigger school ) , and in turn this would obviously force me to stay at the community college longer( which I would absolutely dread and HATE ) . In anticipation of this happening to me , is it possible to completely finish my associate degree and apply as a freshman at four-year college(2+4 or 2 + 3 1/2 ) ? I am asking this simply because I know that people with G.E.D’s can gain freshman entry and so can people who already have a bachelor’s degree , but want to earn another . I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to , unless there’s a rule of some sort that I’m completely unaware of .Thanks again for reading .
No, you won’t be a freshman you will be a transfer. To see how a particular college defines transfer, see their admission pages. Some count ANY courses as a transfer, while others say anything less than a FT year.
It is very difficult to be admitted for a second BA.
gED us simply a hS diploma equivalent. No college. So of course you would be a freshman.
@BrownParent You have a point . And thanks for your input , but isn’t an associate degree seen as slightly more valuable than someone who holds a high school diploma or an equivalent ?! I would think so , in my opinion . So why wouldn’t I be able to compete with those guys for admission ? If there’s some rule out there that does disqualifie me , that just retarded to me . I’m not gonna get upset now , because who knows what could happen later down line ?And who knows what opportunities may lie ahead for me ? Ya know ? But , if that is in fact the case , it won’t make too much sense to me . I’m preparing for the worst , but I’m just hoping for the best too…because my future depends on it .
Then it wouldn’t be fair. Pitching a community college student who has studied in a college environment, and earned a degree in with a couple of kids who’re fresh out of high school? Nuh uh. Not cool. If what you’re thinking would happen, then Masters students would have more leverage than high school students if they would be applying for a second Bachelor. That would place high school students at the bottom of the chain.
Your posts sound a bit confusing about the admissions process. So, first, let me explain the different admissions processes. Community colleges are typically 2 year programs, where students earn an associate’s degree, which is a 2 year degree. Four year colleges offer a bachelor’s degree, a four year degree. It is possible to transfer from a community college to a four year college with up to 2 years of college credit, and then complete a four year degree. There is no need to compete with entering freshmen. One can be admitted as a transfer student. Hypothetically, if you could apply as a freshman, your high school transcript would be part of admissions. The way to apply with a “clean slate” is as a transfer from a community college. Many of them have articulate ( agreements to take credits) agreements with state 4 year colleges, and you can transfer to other colleges if you gain admission. For some colleges, transfer is competitive too.
Community college can be a path to completing a four year degree. Once you start at a CC, your future depends mostly on your hard work and academic credentials from that point. Once you attain college credit, you can not apply as a freshman. That’s the rule. However, if your high school transcript is not up to par, as you described, a CC can be a second entry point to getting a 4 year degree. Although you are concerned that if you struggle academically in a CC, you may have to stay there longer, consider this. If you struggle at a CC, you would just as likely struggle in a four year program.
There is another pathway, and that is that a four year degree is not the only entry into the work force. Community colleges also offer degree pathways to jobs that require training that isn’t offered at traditional four year colleges. If you find that you are struggling in a college transfer program, it is possible that another job training pathway appeals to you. A suggestion would be to visit the guidance office and or career planning office at the CC and see what options are available.
These various paths exist because people are not all the same, nor do they learn the same way. This is as it should be. We need people with different talents and skills to do a varierty of things. The task of a young person looking for job training is to find which path fits you, not the one for somebody else.
Also, give up the “R” word. It’s offensive.
@DarkEclipse I know , haha , I totally understand where you’re coming from . Excellent point and I agree , but we’re merely and strictly in the arena of undergraduate studies and admissions . And I know with my comment/proposal , that could potentially open up pandora’s box , when you alluded to applicants with graduate degrees getting priority over high school students and other classes of undergraduate students . But if you’re going to grant someone who didn’t even graduate high school the opportunity to apply with people who DID for freshman admission/transfer admission . Why not extend that same curiosity and opportunity to people who want to turn their academic careers around for the better ?! Is that really asking for a lot ?
Rather than question the rules, which have been established by people who run colleges- because they probably learned long ago that this was the most effective way to handle admissions, why not follow the paths that are established for students like you who wish to enter a college degree program?
I don’t know if these rules make sense for every student, but perhaps they are there because they make sense for most students and are the best way to run a college. Maybe there are ways you think they should change, but for now, for you, these are the rules you need to follow to achieve your goals.
Why not extend that same curiosity and opportunity to people who want to turn their academic careers around for the better ?! Is that really asking for a lot ?
They do. It is called a CC transfer ( to 4 year college) program and also associate degrees that lead to other jobs/careers. You can spend your time debating the rules, or spend it learning about what paths are open to you.
@Iamthatguy I understand what you’re saying, so I’ll break it down, part by part.
My previous post was addressing this.
That’s why they are called freshmen. For this very purpose.
Because they had their chance when they were in college. Plus, it’s possible to change fields even after you graduate. For example, it’s possible to get a Masters in Biology even if you have a Bachelors in Physics. If college grads can avail this option, then why should they get leverage in freshman admissions? If grads got a second chance, then a lot of high school students wouldn’t get their first chance.
It sort of is. Plus, it’s easier for grads pursuing a second Bachelors to get a job during college, as opposed to the ones who are still pursuing their first. So the second timers will have an easy time financing their education, whereas the first timers may not.
@Pennylane2011 I don’t really understand how I confused you , I thought that I was pretty clear with my post , but my apologies to you and others who feel likewise . Btw , I felt that the beginning of your post was slightly patronizing , I know how two-year and four-year schools work , I understand the that the offer unique, competitive programs , certificates , and varying degrees . Hence their titles , but thank you for the step-by-step explanation , even though it was pretty unnecessary . Later on in your post , I’m guessing that your referring to how I referenced the transitions from community colleges and universities , "In anticipation of this happening to me , is it possible to completely finish my associate degree and apply as a freshman at four-year college(2+4 or 2 + 3 1/2 ) ? " . What you see in the parenthesis is pretty common , and is a short way of explaining how you can get a an associates degree and continue your education – the 2+4 is at least . It’s , essentially an abbreviation for that entire process .
@DarkEclipse
When I said , “But if you’re going to grant an opportunity to someone who didn’t even graduate high school” . Well that wasn’t my EXACT quote , but you get my drift , lol . Anyways , when I said that , I wasn’t referring to soon-to-be high schools graduates . I was actually referring to people who dropped out and got their G.E.D , in lieu of a high school diploma .
@Iamthatguy Oh, sorry about that, I wasn’t considering G.E.D.
Well, I know nothing about G.E.D.s (I know what they are, but not much else) and I don’t know how they’re looked upon.
Well you asked for the advice from posters who don’t know you very well, and so it is impossible to know what you already know and what you don’t know. This board also exists for general readership and so, many students will also be reading this thread for advice. The background was posted for general knowlege, as well as the feedback that I was not clear about what you already understood from your post.
One more piece of informative advice that you may or may not feel you need is this. You are allowed to question the rules as well as dispute any advice you get from anyone. In college, you will also meet people who are in a position to advise you. Whether or not you choose to take their advice, how you respond to teachers and administrators, and who are taking the time to give you sound advice also makes a difference to your future in terms of letters of recommendation and other ways of evaluating you.
The path to what you wish to achieve is in place. You can also invent your own path, question and dispute the advice people give you. Or, you can walk on the path in front of you. Your choice.