So much stress about SAT/ACT scores, class rank, GPA, awards, honors, etc… Why put up with all this and just not go to community college for just one year before transferring to a bigger university? It saves so much money and so much pressure of being in the top ranks at your high school. On top of that, you have the chance to get serious about your education and have a better GPA in your first semester of college at cc so that it looks good on your resume for transferring. I remember when I was in my early years of high school i wasnt serious and made average grades, and that affected my GPA and class rank up till senior year. which is the reason im going to cc now.
So basically, if youre not super smart, or super rich to afford going straight to university, then whats the disadvantages of going to community for the first 1 or 2 years?
Some people want the four-year experience. Some people can pay for all four years easily. Some people work hard to find scholarships that can make it happen. Some people feel like they wouldn’t be challenged at a CC. Some people want to go to schools that don’t accept transfers.
Nothing wrong with any route to or from college.
Most 4 year colleges give little to no scholarships to transfer students. In addition, unless you have guaranteed transfer (some state schools have these programs for in-state CC students), getting in as a transfer is significantly harder at most universities. Some universities don’t even take transfers, although that seems to be rare.
Our local CC has 24,000 students. I honestly think my son would do much better in a smaller school.
Our local CC doesn’t offer his intended major.
He’s looking to dorm, and I agree that it will be good for him.
I went to CC, and absolutely KNOW that it’s the right choice for some. Maybe my daughters in a few years; we’ll see what they’re like when they hit that age. But right now, it’s not the right choice for my son.
The level of education at many community colleges is not that good. Expectations of students are low. Many CC students are there because they do not know what else to do. These students are a distraction to those who are there to get a low cost education in preparation for transfer.
I got a lot of merit aid at my university, and I had AP and dual-enrollment credit to the point where I needed to take classes that aren’t available at community colleges. That’s not common in general, but it’s probably common on here.
I get the impression that the “go to a community college and transfer” pathway (which is often suggested by people who wouldn’t have done it themselves) is easier in theory than in practice. A lot of people start college and don’t finish, especially at CCs. If you didn’t do well in high school, you probably won’t magically start getting good grades once you’re at the community college. The environment of a four-year college might be more supportive.
I have a few reasons.
I’d prefer the four-year experience. Living on campus & attending on-campus events sounds like fun to me!
Estimated tuition is 16K, as I’d be living off-campus. For a CC? No way. My favorite state school is only 17K, with R&B!
My CC is terrible. It’s often referred to as “13th grade”, as only 15% of students graduate. My mom attended (but didn’t graduate), & she agrees it’s awful. My HS actually discourages us from applying.
I know several low-achieving students who attend, as everyone is admitted. I’d rather be with in a traditional setting than with parents or “slackers”. (No offense to anyone!)
Some community college systems are stronger than others. My local community college is very focused on remedial learning and the trades. It wouldn’t be a great place for a strong student. For instance a student interested in studying math would have only two course options for math beyond calculus-one introductory course in linear algebra and one in differential equations. A student interested in studying English would be able to take a freshman writing course, a creative writing course or Freshman English 1 or 2, but no targeted literature courses.
The CC offers more courses in medical office/coding than physics and more course in the repair of Chrysler cars (yup, it’s that specific) than French, art history, music theory and archeology combined.