<p>Which best describes Community college</p>
<p>A) a ditch we have to try and push our way out of
B)a safe haven for those that didnt apply themselves in h.s
c)a prison- where anyone can get stuck and most homeless/single mother return
d) a highschool with ashtrays
e) your own response</p>
<p>i'd have to vote for c</p>
<p>e) a heaven for those who want a second chance</p>
<p>There is never any one answer thus:</p>
<p>a, b, c, d, and Indie_boy's e.</p>
<p>It is all things to all people. I myself had very difficult circumstances when I lived at home and thus college wasn't an option. Now, as a returning older student it has provided me the opportunity to go to a good 4 year UC and eventually medical school.</p>
<p>That being said, I hate my two CCC's for the very reasons option a-d mention. I cannot wait to transfer out after this spring.</p>
<p>remember lots of students go to CC because of financial concerns as well...I know two 4.0+ GPA students who go to CC because their family didn't qualify for financial aid...you save a hell of a lot of money (2K for 2 years compared to 40K at state unis) this is for CA.</p>
<p>40K MY ASS. MAYBE dorming at a UC. I go to a CSU and its 20k for two years if you choose to dorm with food and everything. But for the basis of comparing to a CCC where people commute, you pay about 6k for two years books and everything- unlimited credits.</p>
<p>40k? Where the hell did that figure come from?</p>
<p>And CCC cost are out of control. In just 1.5 years I have seen cost skyrocket by 300% And I still get ripped off at the book store.</p>
<p>The cost of going to a UC v CSU v CCC is closer than you make it out to be. A CSU is about 2/3rds more expensive than a CCC. And a UC is about 1/3-1/2 more expensive than a CSU.</p>
<p>Going to a 4 year, UC, not including books and rent is about $20k. For FOUR years. $40 is a gross exaggeration.</p>
<p>Anyone who goes to a CC for reasons of cost should only be talking about living expenses if they have to move. Nothing else.</p>
<p>Blah people are too negative. Yeah, a lot of people at community colleges are unfocused and dumb and obnoxious. Yeah, theyre crowded and way more expensive than before. But guys...its two years. And still way cheaper than four years at a UC or private. </p>
<p>I dont know. Ive chosen not to deal with the people who arent serious and are just there because their parents forced them. Ive made friends and close connections with a lot of my professors (many of whom have taught at various universities and have afforded me an excellent education at a fraction of the cost). </p>
<p>I think calling CCs hellholes and ditches and the like may be slightly hyperbolic. Yeah, Im anxious and I want to move on and Im certain Ill have an ever better time wherever I wind up. But its not like ive been miserable for the past two years of my life. Seems I may have been lucky.</p>
<p>I was talking about expenses at UC with dorming two years definitely comes close to 40K.</p>
<p>exilio: I am including books and dorm...for people who have to live in dorms...unfortunately some students who want to go to UC don't live close to one.</p>
<p>the UC I got accepted to (UCSD) I would have had to pay full tuition, dorm, books everything...unfortunately I don't have that type of money and I don't want to be in debt for gen. ed classes...that's why I chose CC. Lot's of other people in the same situation as well.</p>
<p>fei, i am in total agreement w/ u. I went for the same exact reasons. I live close to UCLA, i didn't get accepted, but i did get accepted to 3 other UC. I would have to pay around 20K for each year, i got zero financial aid. That would add up to 80K. Then i would try to get into grad school and accumulate around 80K loan. Hmm, 160K loan to start off ur life. </p>
<p>I pay $26 per unit, i already took 30 thus far ( i am just starting). I am saving a ton living at home.</p>
<p>You can't add dorm for one school and not another.</p>
<p>If you have dorm+books+meals+transportation+tuition for one, you must do the same for the other for it to be a fair comparison.</p>
<p>As far as tuition is concerned...the UCs are downright cheap and if you can afford a CC you can afford a UC.</p>
<p>exilio, What u're saying makes no sense. I can afford going to a CC because i live at home and spend around 2K a year for tuition/transportation/book. If i were to attend a UC that accepted me, i would have to move, that means unless i live under a tree, i need to pay for a place to live and tuition goes by a lot to. So instead of 2K it becomes 20K.</p>
<p>This is really simple, i don't understand what does not make sense to u.</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>It makes no sense because you are internalizing my point.</p>
<p>This thread isn't about you. It is about CCC as a whole. And Fei made the statement that a CCC is much more affordable than a UC. he also used an outrageous amount to compare. However, his amount is flawed because it only pertains to people who can't afford housing near a UC.</p>
<p>What about the thousands that live near both a CCC AND a UC? Surely you can see my point. If not, I don't know how much clearer I can make it for you bud.</p>
<p>exilio: I am including books and dorm...for people who have to live in dorms...unfortunately some students who want to go to UC don't live close to one.</p>
<p>"some" as in not all...california is a huge state and there isn't a UC everywhere...but there are CCCs almost everywhere...my point is that if you dont' live near the UC and dont' get financial aid your only chance is to get loans or if you are super smart some scholarships (even they won't cover much)...and each year if you live in dorms the price is close to 20K. What you are trying to say is that most people who go to UC live near it, which is not the case. </p>
<p>"What about the thousands that live near both a CCC AND a UC?"</p>
<p>unfortunately there are millions of people in california...sure there are some who do live near one...for them it might be affordable...but what if you don't get accepted to one near your house? CCC is more affordable in that case.</p>
<p>I am in agreement with fei. I live next to 4 CC that are less than an hour to drive to. I don't live next to any UC.</p>
<p>All things being equal, the CC is about $2.2k/yr less than a UC/CSU for students living next door to both a CC and a UC. For those students that live near one of the 109 CCs around the state, but too far from one of the 8 UCs or 14 CSUs, the difference is much higher - more like $8-$10k/yr.</p>
<p>macattak has made my point clear.</p>
<p>Fei, you made a blanket statement and got called on it.</p>
<p>And of course there are millions of people in California, but how many are xfer students and potential UC freshman? Thousands, not millions.</p>
<p>There is a UC near most major cities in California. Fei's example was a generalization that wasn't accurate and that is why I commented on it.</p>
<p>And we aren't talking just UCs, we need to include CSU's. The OP commented on how CCC's suck compared to CSU's or UCs. Some of you trying to argue the point without factoring in all of the facts.</p>
<p>The fact remains, if you live near a UC or CSU, the financial responsibility should not prevent you from attending. Otherwise, sure, it might be a concern. But if you can't get a loan to afford moving close to a CSU or UC now, what makes you think you can do it 2 years later?</p>
<p>because 2 years later the loan you take out will be smaller...it's easy really...</p>
<p>Hmm, all things being equal equal as far as housing is concerned and other expenditures with tuition being the difference leads to:</p>
<p>CCC(2yrs)+UC(3yrs)= ~$19k.</p>
<p>v.</p>
<p>UC(5yrs)= ~$25. </p>
<p>And with the UC you don't have to hassle with all of the transfer crap and you might actually finish in four years which drops the price to $20k -- a $1k diff.</p>
<p>But hey, saving $6k@~4% interest over your lifetime could really help... :P</p>
<p>You say it's easy really, yet you can't see my point? You aren't a math/econ major, we know that much.</p>
<p>look for you maybe dorming is not an issue...but for lots of people including me it is...and there the difference is enormous. As I said before, and maybe it isn't getting in your head, that many people (including me) don't live close to an UC or an UC they want to go to...then you have to take dorming and meals in the cost...and for these people CC is a better alternative.</p>
<p>UCI (4yrs) - $19,895 * 4 = $79850
CC (2yrs) + UCI (2yrs) = $2K + $39790 = $41790</p>
<p>difference of $38060</p>
<p>you are just counting the tuition...that would be the cost for me if I lived on the streets and didn't eat anything...otherwise the difference is huge.</p>