In need of serious and honest transfer advice.

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi! </p>

<p>This is my first time posting on the website, so if I'm not posting in the right area, I'm sorry. Please bear with me. </p>

<p>I am a current senior in high school in need of some honest advice. </p>

<p>Let me explain my situation.
Where to start, where to start....</p>

<p>Okay, well like I said, I am a senior in high school. I am ranked 27 in a class of 459. I have a GPA of 3.55 on a 4.0 scale. I have taken two AP classes in the past, and I am currently taking two AP classes. All the rest of my classes are Honors, and have been honors since I began high school. I am in the National Honors Society, and have been a very active student as far as ECs and volunteer work go. I want to major in Environmental Science, and over this past summer I had a job that dealt with sustainability and agriculture. </p>

<p>Now my issue (like many others) is financial. Either way, I am going to wait to see my financial aid packages, before I make my decision. However, like I said, I need some advice, and I promise it has to do with transferring. </p>

<p>I applied to a few colleges, but due to finances, I was hoping to attend UMass Amherst next fall. </p>

<p>The thing is, another possibility has recently sprung in my mind. There is horrible stigma attached to community colleges unfortunately, but that is the possible route at the moment. I was wondering if it would be a completely horrible idea for me to go to my local community college for two years, and then transfer to UMass. </p>

<p>I am in-state and very eligible for MassTransfer, so that could be a benefit. I also am eligible for their Scholar's Program( the community college's). Essentially, I could be paying next to nothing to go to the community college for two years, and then transfer. </p>

<p>Now the reason I need this advice is because, like previously stated, there is awful stigma attached to community college. I feel like I've worked very hard in my four years at high school, and I feel like this hard work is going to waste by going to the community college for two years. I know it would be a very beneficial thing as well because (due to the more flexible schedule) I could hold down a part-time job. I'm really confused and upset about this whole ordeal, and I just don't know what to do anymore. </p>

<p>Please, ANYONE, give me some feedback. I'm desperate. Am I doing myself a huge disservice?</p>

2

<p>Its on the top of this section, you should have read it.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1032244-community-college-success-stories.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1032244-community-college-success-stories.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I think it would be a great idea to complete your GE in cc and transfer.</p>

<p>OTOH, if you have an efc 0, you could try out Quaterbridge.</p>

3

<p>^Unfortunately it’s too late for current srs to apply for Questbridge.</p>

<p>I think the main problem with CC is if YOU feel the stigma due to the opinions of other people (family, friends). IMO CCs have some of the best teachers compared to most 4 yrs because that is their main focus, not research and publishing papers. Also, when you finish your UG degree it will be from UMass, period.</p>

4

<p>In my observation, a lot of the “stigma” about CCs is in the minds of high school students who are in the middle of college application season. Come graduation in May, many more of them will actually be headed to their local CC because of finances, or because they realize that it is the best route into the degree program that they want at one of their home-state universities.</p>

<p>Attending your local CC for free, is an excellent plan. Our local CC has two honors programs that come with full tuition, fees, study abroad, and money for books. There also are individual merit-based scholarships that cover tuition and fees only. The students who complete their AA or AS this way transfer to colleges and universities all over the country.</p>