3 answers
Ruby
Student
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I'm thinking of taking the 2+2 route, starting at a CC and transferring to a 4-year for my bachelor's. What should I be prepared for? Tips? Advice? Is this the right choice?
I'm a high school senior, 4.3 GPA and going to a CC and transferring feels like I'm failing at life. Dramatic, I know, but there's a lot of pressure on me to go straight to a 4-year. While CC truly is not my top choice, my parents can hardly provide any support for 4-year tuition and I'm not sure how far scholarships can get me. Please give ANY advice you have to work through this problem!
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Michelle M.
Actress
2450
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Ruby !
Are you still interested in Speech Pathology or did you decide to go with the Social Science major ? Also, I would better be able to advise you if I knew what community college you chose. It is absolutely fine to go to a community college and transfer to a four year college for your Bachelors. I think tens of thousands of people do it. College is what you make it.
Some professors teach at both community colleges as well as four year colleges. All the professors will have the right degree, credentials as well as experience in their field they teach. The one thing is that most community colleges can be less expensive than four year colleges so some people may attach a lesser value on community colleges for that reason, even if they never visited or attended the community college. Two year colleges may offer less major programs than a four year college which isn't important if the community college does offer your major. Some of the community college courses (and I say "some") may be (and I emphasize "may be") less intense with less term papers or projects required. This is good if you have a heavy major, especially for the first two years. You very well may be able to keep up your superb GPA and bring it to the four year college. Depending on the community college, classes may be smaller in size than at a four year college. So there are definitely advantages of going to a CC, it being less costly being the major one.
My advice is to not wait to go to a four year university when it can be afforded, go straight to the CC and get your Associates. Then transfer to the four year college. This is not an unusual path. Parents are the actual most important and constant support while in college, so I know they, like so many other parents, will support you through college any way they can. Getting the college experience is the important thing, not names of colleges or their reputation standing. You will see how beneficial the CC really is and that's all that matters.
Financing college is very important because it's not a good situation to owe money to the college or have to quit because you can't afford it. For the CC, you can apply for Federal Student Financial Aid, Scholarships from the CC and outside donors and grants. It's also good to go for an orientation of the CC and visit the Financial Aid office to get information about all forms of financial assistance.
If you are planning to transfer from a CC to a nearby four year college, you might have Guaranteed Transfer. I don't know where you live, but some colleges work together to accept transfer students from the nearby CC's. If this will not be the case for you, ask more questions about it.
So do not hesitate to consider the CC, a college you can go to right away to start your education for your career. The abilities that create your good grades now will matter once you're in your career. We all have to break through old thinking sometimes and sometimes when we do we see that things turn out good.
I hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Are you still interested in Speech Pathology or did you decide to go with the Social Science major ? Also, I would better be able to advise you if I knew what community college you chose. It is absolutely fine to go to a community college and transfer to a four year college for your Bachelors. I think tens of thousands of people do it. College is what you make it.
Some professors teach at both community colleges as well as four year colleges. All the professors will have the right degree, credentials as well as experience in their field they teach. The one thing is that most community colleges can be less expensive than four year colleges so some people may attach a lesser value on community colleges for that reason, even if they never visited or attended the community college. Two year colleges may offer less major programs than a four year college which isn't important if the community college does offer your major. Some of the community college courses (and I say "some") may be (and I emphasize "may be") less intense with less term papers or projects required. This is good if you have a heavy major, especially for the first two years. You very well may be able to keep up your superb GPA and bring it to the four year college. Depending on the community college, classes may be smaller in size than at a four year college. So there are definitely advantages of going to a CC, it being less costly being the major one.
My advice is to not wait to go to a four year university when it can be afforded, go straight to the CC and get your Associates. Then transfer to the four year college. This is not an unusual path. Parents are the actual most important and constant support while in college, so I know they, like so many other parents, will support you through college any way they can. Getting the college experience is the important thing, not names of colleges or their reputation standing. You will see how beneficial the CC really is and that's all that matters.
Financing college is very important because it's not a good situation to owe money to the college or have to quit because you can't afford it. For the CC, you can apply for Federal Student Financial Aid, Scholarships from the CC and outside donors and grants. It's also good to go for an orientation of the CC and visit the Financial Aid office to get information about all forms of financial assistance.
If you are planning to transfer from a CC to a nearby four year college, you might have Guaranteed Transfer. I don't know where you live, but some colleges work together to accept transfer students from the nearby CC's. If this will not be the case for you, ask more questions about it.
So do not hesitate to consider the CC, a college you can go to right away to start your education for your career. The abilities that create your good grades now will matter once you're in your career. We all have to break through old thinking sometimes and sometimes when we do we see that things turn out good.
I hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best !
Logan Johnson
Cybersecurity Incident Response
4
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Logan’s Answer
There should never be a stigma for you to go to a specific school or get a specific degree. That is the exact type of social pressure that has gotten many people into inescapable debt, with degrees they aren't passionate about/can't get a job with.
Community College IS NOT a bad option. You will be completing the first two years of college cheaper, and with more mental space to discover yourself and your passions. Recognize that a 4 year college will have you going through the same "General Education" requirements that the Community college will have you do, just with an overinflated cost.
If you choose to go to Community college, my advice is to plot out what you want to do after. Because that's what truly matters when it comes to getting a career, is the bachelors (and masters) degrees you choose to get and from where.
Talk with the advisors of prospective schools you will want to transfer to out of community college, so you can understand "What general education credits, will and will not transfer to your school". Each 4 year university is different where some will take all of your credits from community college, and others will pick out some credits they won't take. https://www.transferology.com/index.htm, this is a website that can help you start that process, but isn't always 100% accurate.
Failing at life would be not going to college at all or not making an attempt to learn a skill. Failing at life would be assuming spending more money gets you a better product. You will need to take control of your education no matter where you go, and find your own path to a career. Recognize your college education (and your ability to get a career) needs to be more than just getting a piece of paper with some university stamped on it.
Community College IS NOT a bad option. You will be completing the first two years of college cheaper, and with more mental space to discover yourself and your passions. Recognize that a 4 year college will have you going through the same "General Education" requirements that the Community college will have you do, just with an overinflated cost.
If you choose to go to Community college, my advice is to plot out what you want to do after. Because that's what truly matters when it comes to getting a career, is the bachelors (and masters) degrees you choose to get and from where.
Talk with the advisors of prospective schools you will want to transfer to out of community college, so you can understand "What general education credits, will and will not transfer to your school". Each 4 year university is different where some will take all of your credits from community college, and others will pick out some credits they won't take. https://www.transferology.com/index.htm, this is a website that can help you start that process, but isn't always 100% accurate.
Failing at life would be not going to college at all or not making an attempt to learn a skill. Failing at life would be assuming spending more money gets you a better product. You will need to take control of your education no matter where you go, and find your own path to a career. Recognize your college education (and your ability to get a career) needs to be more than just getting a piece of paper with some university stamped on it.
Disraeli Partridge
Accounting
26
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Disraeli’s Answer
Hello Ruby,
Choosing the route your post-secondary education is an important decision! Don't feel like you are being overly dramatic by giving it the consideration it needs!
If your main concern is the cost of either option, I recommend applying to both schools and seeing what kind of discounts (scholarships, academic awards, etc.) they are willing to offer you. I went the route of community college and then transferring to university and did not receive as much of a discount (from the school) at the community college level as I did at university. I did receive more at the university, but the remaining tuition was higher than at community college. My sister went straight to university and received a high discount but she still had to pay tuition out of pocket because those awards required for her to take more credits than she would have wanted to.
Another force that you should consider is the requirements of any other financial aid or scholarships you expect to receive. They may list that the award will be sent to the university in the pursuit of a 4-year degree.
You shouldn't discount your own feelings about the decision either. You seem to really dislike the community college then university route. If finances are the only thing holding you back from university, you should consider getting a job either on- or off-campus and paying the majority of the bill yourself. Get a job this summer and work hard then pay your bill in the fall. If there isn't enough time before the first payment date, ask about a payment plan. At my university there was a cost to this plan, but it was around $20 and was well worth it for three extra months of time.
Good luck with college in whichever form you choose!
Choosing the route your post-secondary education is an important decision! Don't feel like you are being overly dramatic by giving it the consideration it needs!
If your main concern is the cost of either option, I recommend applying to both schools and seeing what kind of discounts (scholarships, academic awards, etc.) they are willing to offer you. I went the route of community college and then transferring to university and did not receive as much of a discount (from the school) at the community college level as I did at university. I did receive more at the university, but the remaining tuition was higher than at community college. My sister went straight to university and received a high discount but she still had to pay tuition out of pocket because those awards required for her to take more credits than she would have wanted to.
Another force that you should consider is the requirements of any other financial aid or scholarships you expect to receive. They may list that the award will be sent to the university in the pursuit of a 4-year degree.
You shouldn't discount your own feelings about the decision either. You seem to really dislike the community college then university route. If finances are the only thing holding you back from university, you should consider getting a job either on- or off-campus and paying the majority of the bill yourself. Get a job this summer and work hard then pay your bill in the fall. If there isn't enough time before the first payment date, ask about a payment plan. At my university there was a cost to this plan, but it was around $20 and was well worth it for three extra months of time.
Good luck with college in whichever form you choose!