<p>People around me say that transferring is harder than you think. They say its better to enter a 4yr college as a freshman.
I'm planning to transfer to a community college with guaranteed admissions to in-state 4yr colleges. What do you guys think?
:-S </p>
<p>It depends on what four-year college “people” are referring to.</p>
<p>If you wanted to go to Harvard or Williams or MIT, for example, that advice would be very sound. People seldom transfer into the very top colleges; it is much easier to get in as a freshman than as a transfer applicant (although “easier” is relative, of course).</p>
<p>But if your plan is to go to a CC and then use the guaranteed articulation agreements to transfer to your flagship public university…there’s nothing wrong with that plan! There are three main things you have to be mindful of:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Make sure that you maintain the required GPA to transfer in. Some universities will require a minimum you have to meet for guaranteed admission.</p></li>
<li><p>Make sure that you complete all the GE requirements. Most four-year universities will have a list of GE requirements you must complete before you can transfer, in order for you to transfer seamlessly to the four-year and complete your BA in just 2 more years. A transfer advisor can help you with that - most community colleges have at least one transfer advisor who is there to help students who wish to transfer to four-year colleges.</p></li>
<li><p>Stay on task! Studies show that most students who attend community colleges do not transfer. NOW, this is probably because the vast majority of them don’t intend to transfer - they’re there to take a class or two in high school, or get a certificate in a skill, or earn an AA to go into a trade. But given that, most of your peers and classmates won’t be looking to transfer; they’ll have different goals from you, and sometimes it’s difficult to stay on task when mostly surrounded by people with different goals. Seek out people with similar goals as you, who are also trying to transfer to a four-year. Join Phi Theta Kappa if you become eligible for it (<a href=“About PTK - Phi Theta Kappa”>http://www.ptk.org/about</a> - it’s basically the 2-year version of Phi Beta Kappa).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The other reason to consider a 4 year over a CC is Merit Aid is usually reserved for freshman admits. If you have a competitive application you might pay less if you attend a 4 year on a scholarship than going to a CC for 2 years and being full pay for the last 2. Use the Net Price Calculators on school web sites and run the numbers.</p>