<p>So, I have to tough it out at a community college before transferring to Michigan State University in January. I was wondering, is anyone else in the same situation? I'm sure there are lots of people doing this, but I still feel down sometimes seeing my friends enjoying their first steps at college and I have to tough it out for ~3 months. Any tips?</p>
<p>Sorry if this is in the wrong category, but it seemed to sorta fit!</p>
<p>You need to throw away this “upset” feeling for going to a community college and view this as an opportunity to be able to transfer to a 4-year university instead. </p>
<p>I just finished my 4th semester at a CC and have been getting lots of offers from prestigious universities.</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE: WHILE THIS MEMBER RECEIVED EMAILS CONCERNING PBK SCHOLARSHIPS FROM SEVERAL SCHOOLS, THEY ONLY APPLIED TO AND WERE ACCEPTED BY ONE SCHOOL, RUTGERS NB. THE MEMBER APOLOGIZES FOR THE POSTING FALSE INFORMATION ON THIS BOARD.</p>
<p>Your friends might be having the time of their lives at the moment but it will soon turn out to be a nightmare when they graduate and engulfed with student loans.</p>
<p>I loved my time at community college. Honestly, I went in to it with a similar attitude; jealous of all my friends going away and experiencing new things and bitter because I hadn’t pulled my weight in my first two years of high school so I couldn’t afford anything else.</p>
<p>At CC, I kinda “found myself” (I know, it sounds corny, but it’s true!). I figured out what I wanted to do with my life and was exposed to probably more than my friends at the big 4-year school. I got offers from prestigious universities, made some really great connections, was heavily involved in activities that’ll look great on my resume to graduate school, met some of the best people ever that I still talk to on a regular basis and developed really close relationships with my professors. My history professor sent me a message on Facebook a few days ago asking about how I like my new school, yada, yada, yada.</p>
<p>Don’t look at it as such a bad experience. It truly is what you make of it. I *****ed and moaned through a lot of administration issues (that you’re likely to find almost everywhere) and dick professors (again, that you’re likely to find anywhere) but I wouldn’t change it for anything. It was such a great experience. Be open to it. If you make the most out of it, you’ll enjoy it.</p>
<p>You were nOT corny at all Shannon. Just being honest:)</p>
<p>While I don’t “love” my time at my CC, like meShannon, there are many upsides to it versus a state school. One is that gen ed classes have much smaller sizes (I found that large class sizes bothered me - I didn’t even know this before). Professors typically take the time to learn your name, and in some cases, take the extra step to encourage you to keep track of studying. Plus, you’ll probably focus on school much more than your friends, since there are less distractions at a CC. Finally, you can’t beat the money you’ll save! </p>
<p>Suggestions to make your life more bearable: focus on the positives of your experience, VISIT your friends (I did this often because my CC had no social scene at all), take advantage of the different kinds of students (it’s interesting to learn about people’s lives and experiences), and take up a new hobby or get a part-time job to pass the hours. That’s what I did this past year. I will you well in your studies!</p>
<p>If you keep this pejorative attitude, you defeat the purpose of scholarship and learning.</p>
<p>I mean, just the fact that you can attend college in some form, and continue your learning in a stable environment, is monumentally more than so many people get. To see any vice in that is to be selfish. I felt the same at first too, and I know that myself and others who so badly wanted to get into X school over Y school felt that. But ultimately, why should we feel bad? </p>
<p>You’ll have more free time, smaller classes, easier class-selection, save a ton of money, and more…all at the “cost” of not living on campus. You have to focus on that positives, you are still learning, aren’t you? There is NO SHAME. And if anyone gives you crap for going to CC? Arrogance and pretentiousness are not envied traits. </p>
<p>My CC has very comparable classes to the first two years at most colleges, and then a greater selection for “easing” kids into higher level classes. It’s very wide open, and it’s not the common view of just having classes like “art history”, “basket weaving”, and “music appreciation”. </p>
<p>I’ll admit, meeting people in a similar situation as me has been kind of hard, but when isn’t it? I’ll be trying harder now…I swear haha.</p>
<p>Please read Moderator Note on post #2.</p>