<p>We were discussing what the options are after high school graduation...just realizing that, though the expectation is that my D will go to a 4 yr school (hopefully of her choice) once she graduates, there are other options. She was curious about the gap year and we also wonder about the possibility of her starting at a more local/smaller 4 yr but then transferring to another college for her jr/sr year. Of course much depends on her situation at the time, but it starting at one school and planning to transfer really a viable option?</p>
<p>Of course it is an option and out here in CA the CC to CSU/UC path is one thousands take every year, but consider carefully the implications. It is easier to build up a circle of friends when you are a freshman and your peers are in the same boat, knowing few if any people. 2 years later it can be hard to break into established circles of friends, especially for those that are not that outgoing. Time is also compressed. If you think of college as just a list of classes, take them and move on, then perhaps it might matter less where you happen to be taking them. But if you value getting to know some profs, taking part in the life of the campus, perhaps participating in research, all of this takes time. As a junior you have a much shorter timeframe at your new school to do these things, and just as you may have been really settled in and comfortable at your old school you leave it. </p>
<p>There are plenty of good reasons to xfer, even to enroll with the plan of transferring, but I would suggest trying to find a school where your D will be happy to stay all 4 years and take up transfer only if necessary. But this is an advice forum, that’s my advice, others may differ completely.</p>
<p>BTW you may not find many schools that welcome senior transfers. Their name is on your diploma, they don’t think you can really claim to be educated there if you only spent a year enrolled.</p>
<p>As Mikemac states, starting at a CC to xfer makes a lot of sense in terms of friends all moving on to a four year college anyway. Articulation agreements are usually in place with state Us and that will also save $. However, if your D has a chance at a merit scholarship right off that needs to be considered. There are very few scholarships for xfer students.</p>
<p>A gap year is totally different and certainly an option.</p>
<p>It really depends on what colleges you are talking about. Examine the transfer rates of target colleges. That doesn’t tell the whole story because sometimes transfers are self selecting. </p>
<p>For those heading to grad school, mikemac makes a very important point about interactions and research with the professors who are going to be your recommendation letter writers.</p>
<p>Gap year is usually no problem. For some schools they will want to see that you used it wisely and did something for enrichment, community contribution or just work if you had to do that to afford colelge.</p>