<p>I am in my second semester of freshman year and summer will be here very soon. I was thinking about taking a couple summer classes at the local community college. A lot of my cousins who are older than me do this at their local community college. And I know a few friends who have done it. One of my cousins did it because he needed to make up a class, but all the other people have just taken extra classes that they didn't really need to.</p>
<p>My question is, is there any downside at all or effects of doing this? I would just be looking to take one or two general ed classes (like art or literature, etc.) at the local community college, and then have those credits transferred over to my 4 year university. The benefit is that it cost 4 times less per credit at the community college than at my 4 year. </p>
<p>So do lots of people do this? I could get some easy classes out of the way for much less money. And are there any things I should reconsider or think about before I do this?</p>
<p>My son took his gen eds online the summer after completing his freshman year. Although he went into college with 45 credits form AP’s and one college course taken through his HS, he is an engineering major with many required classes and wanted to get these out of the way. He took 4 classed online. Two a session. Took them from a community college in our state but nowhere near where we live and the other a 4 year state college close to home.</p>
<p>He was able to move through the coursework at his own pace, which was pretty fast.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people that do this-- I don’t know what state you are in but in California most schools/majors are impacted so taking general ed classes will help you graduate college on time or at least quicker. No downside either-- unless you want a carefree summer!</p>
<p>Thanks. I also have AP credits coming in so I’m ahead and on time graduate. I certainly don’t have to do this but I want to. Will the grades I get for the classes at community college transfer to my 4 year transcript when I transfer the credits over? If I take 2 classes in summer ill save $2500 or so, wow.</p>
<p>I’m going to make sure that I take classes that will give me credit. I will talk to my advisor and ask him to help me pick classes from the community college summer catalog around May. </p>
<p>But do I simply get the actual grades and GPA transferred to my official transcript at my current 4 year university? Or is the community college transcript and summer class grades separate? And if its separate is this looked down upon or looked at differently at all by employers or what not?</p>
<p>I think it MIGHT be a bit easier for me since my local community college system won’t be as rigorous on a whole as my 4 year, however I know professors from the local 4 year universities in the area (I am in a big city) teach at the community colleges, so it won’t be a piece of cake either. However I am planinng on just knocking out 1 or 2 general eds this summer. But I know sometimes the general thought is that community college is easier and that taking classes to get ahead is looked at as a cop out. Saving the money will be great though. SOOO much cheaper than if I do the gen eds at my 4 year.</p>
<p>The classes will transfer, but the grades probably won’t. You will need to check with your advisor on this for the specific policy at your school.</p>
<p>The transferred in grades usually do not affect your GPA at the four year school. However, if you apply to medical or law school, all college grades count for that purpose.</p>