<p>Hi everybody!
I'm an international student and I'm studying in South Seattle Community College. I'll transfer to University of Washington in fall quarter next year. But I'm wondering what's the benefit of getting AA degree when I transfer to university? (I won't have AA degree when I apply to university)</p>
<p>There is none.</p>
<p>really??? 
so I just take the courses that will be transferred and counted toward the university’s academic program, right?</p>
<p>In the grand scheme of things the AA doesn’t really matter, except to the universities. It shows them that you completed a required curriculum. Your entering university is the one that decides which courses will count towards their academic program.</p>
<p>If you’re asking if there’s an advantage in having an AA for admission purposes into a university, the answer is no. The AA degree is awarded by the community college and has nothing to do with the transfer process. Unless you write about it in your personal statement an admission officer reviewing your UC application won’t be able to determine if you have an AA or not.</p>
<p>there is none.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! So I better take the courses that the university requires, right? But also, I’m wondering that the DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement) requires students to get an AA or not?</p>
<p>OP is in CC in WA trying to transfer to UW, not CCC to UC.</p>
<p>OP, most transfer students transfer without an AA or AS since transfer requirements usually differ a bit from the requirements for the AA or AS because the AA/AS is awarded by the CC and has nothing to do with 4 year institutions. The college or university you are transferring into will care more about an applicant completing GE and articulation agreements than obtaining the AA/AS.</p>
<p>You may get a better answer to your last question in the Transfer Students sub forum or the UW sub forum.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice! But I’m sorry I don’t understand what OP and CCC mean?</p>
<p>OP original poster I think and CCC california community college</p>
<p>Oh I see. Thank you! I’m so sorry I posted the thread in wrong place!</p>
<p>@bangtran: Here’s my standard, cut-and-paste answer to whether it is a good idea to receive an AA before transferring out to a 4-year program. PLEASE NOTE: As you are a foreign student, you are in a slightly different situation as you pay quite a bit more for your education than residents and citizens. It might not make fiscal sense to take the additional classwork for the degree in your case.</p>
<p>STANDARD RESPONSE: Even though it won’t aid in your transfer prospects, it’s not a bad idea to get the AA. According to the latest (2009) report from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov), the median income for those with AA degrees was $6K more than for those with only a high school education.</p>
<p>[Fast</a> Facts](<a href=“http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=77]Fast”>Fast Facts: Income of young adults (77))</p>
<p>Sometimes life throws curve balls. You might not be able to complete the 4-year degree due to unforeseen circumstances (prolonged illness, infirmity, etc.) If this happens (and I know a few transfers who have fallen into this category) you will only be able to claim ‘some college’ on job applications, etc. This would put you in the same boat as someone who took 1 course at CC and then dropped.</p>
<p>If you’ve already completed/will complete the requirements for an AA degree before you transfer, I would suggest officially petitioning for it. However, if it would mean unduly prolonging your time at cc, I would simply take the transfer.</p>
<p>I teach at a CC, and I always recommend to my students, especially international students, to graduate AND transfer because 1. the requirements are almost the same, and 2. you never know what might happen. You may have to go back to your country for any number of reasons.I see it happen all the time. There is no disadvantage to getting the A.A.</p>