<p>Gutrade, what you have to understand is the that a college education isn't just about the classes. Certainly many school have wonderful classes as do Harvard and Stanford. However, the edcation just starts there. Being with the best and brightest from every corner of the world is qa large part of what makes these schools so special. You don't have to be in a classroom to grow from this exposure. It's about trading thoughts and getting to know future leaders in every field who will later be your contacts. Stanfordalum obviously didn't make the most of his years there, but don't be fooled, there are good reasons to beat a path to their door. </p>
<p>On a side note, you're right that ccc transfer guarantees make them a draw. But my son spent two years at a cc that was easier and less interesting than his high school and a waste of time other than that it landed him at the UC he wanted from the start. To make them good places to learn would be hard without building dorms so they would not be commuter and restructuring the whole system. Not about to happen in broke CA.</p>
<p>Good luck getting into a college you enjoy.</p>