Hello College Confidential,
I’ve contemplated a lot and I’m still on the fence about doing a 2 year community college and then transferring to college. I’m in high school now, and I don’t have many friends which has taken a toll on my gpa. I currently have about a 3.7 uw GPA which in regular terms is decent but not to my standards. My UC gpa is about a 3.9 uw and 4.25 w and capped. I also have a 1570 SAT which is substantially higher. I talked to a local community college and I have guaranteed admission to their scholars program which has a 90% acceptance rate to UCLA.
The one notable reluctance I have is missing out on senior awards and senior leadership opportunities. I’ll still be able to continue with my national and international roles for another year, such as being chair of a statewide organization, state coordinator for March for Our Lives, and executive editor of an international literary magazine. But a lot of school-wide leadership roles, such as EIC of newspaper, EIC of litmag, captain of debate, captain of cross country, and captain of debate that I am on track to hold will no longer be available to me.
What should I do? Is transferring the right choice?
Why would you not want to go straight to a four year? Do you feel you wouldn’t get into the school of your dreams? UCLA, maybe?
I mean your stats seem very good to me. Better than my sons who has gotten nice offers on the East coast.
In the end why not apply to where you really want to go? Obviously apply to a few other acceptable schools also.
At this point I would work to put forth the best package you can, it already seems like you are doing well, and apply to schools you like.
In the end you will always have community college as a safety.
Transfers don’t get much aid. It may be cheaper to go graduate from high school then go directly to a 4 year college.
I don’t understand your question. Are you asking about leaving HS now and starting at the CC instead of completing your senior year at the HS?
Or are you asking about starting at a CC then transferring to a US or CSU?
In my opinion, CC is a great stepping stone between high school and college. If I were you, I would apply to the schools you would like to go to but if you don’t get in (which from your stats is unlikely) or don’t get enough aid, then go to CC. I’m not sure about the financial aid as a transfer, but if you transfer after 2 years you would cut your student debt in half. If you didn’t mind not going away to college at first while your friends do, then yes you should go to CC.