<p>Hi everyone, I would really appreciate any advice on this. I'm an honors student at Miami-Dade Community College (MDC) in Miami, FL. I will be graduating next year with an Associate in Arts degree.</p>
<p>It's no longer technically a community college because they offer one Bachelor's degree - in Education - so they removed the "Community" from their name and now it just says College. My dream is to transfer to an elite school outside of Florida after I graduate with my A.A. degree - maybe even an ivy - but if not, then atleast a very prestigious school. I'm wondering if top schools preffer their transfer students to come from small community colleges over large ones? Will they think smaller equals superior and more personalized education? </p>
<p>MDC's main campus is huge and on top of that there are eight different outreach campuses throughout South Florida. The total number of students is over 164,000, making it the "largest institution of higher learning in the United States" according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami<em>Dade</em>College.</p>
<p>I'm sure most people working in academia land are aware that MDC is bigger than big. Do you guys think that prestigious schools will look down on this and possibly snob me for a student from a much smaller community college? I can't help but wonder if being a grad of the largest school in the nation is going to help me or hurt me.</p>
<p>The people who are best prepared to advise you on your transfer options, are those on the staff at the transfer office at Miami Dade. A school that big has to be sending graduates to colleges and universities of all calibers all over the country. Make an appointment with the transfer office, and keep asking until you find the individuals who have the experience there to get you into the kind of college/university you want to be in.</p>
<p>Both of these are just guesses, so worth exactly what you paid for them :D.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I doubt that most people have any idea that MDC is the largest school in the nation. Including admissions officers.</p></li>
<li><p>I've never seen nor heard any evidence that the size of the prior school - whether cc or 4 year - is a factor in admissions. I don't think it will come into play.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I agree with happymom that the transfer counselors at your school will know what type of student from your cc has been successful at different caliber transfer institutions.</p>
<p>what matters most will be your gpa, if you have a 4.0 its a complete crapshoot to get into one of the ivies or other "prestigious" schools from a cc...just have to make yourself stand out in other ways, demonstrate leadership qualities in your ec's and potential for excellence</p>