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Community college as good as UC college?
I'm a senior in high school and I will be attending a community college than I will be transferring to a 4 year, will this process be difficult because I don't know if I should've just accepted a UC college .
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9 answers
Updated
Lauren’s Answer
Hey Kimberly -
Attending a community college can be an excellent, cost-effective way to complete your general education requirements. I recommend speaking with your counselor and consulting with the college you plan to transfer to, to ensure your credits will transfer smoothly. Best of luck on your academic journey!
Attending a community college can be an excellent, cost-effective way to complete your general education requirements. I recommend speaking with your counselor and consulting with the college you plan to transfer to, to ensure your credits will transfer smoothly. Best of luck on your academic journey!
Updated
Johnson’s Answer
Starting at a community college and transferring to a four-year university can be a smart, cost-effective path toward earning a degree. While the process may seem daunting, it is very manageable with proper planning. Many community colleges have established transfer agreements with universities, ensuring a smoother transition. To make it easier, work closely with academic advisors to select courses that align with your intended university’s transfer requirements. Research credit transfer policies and maintain a strong GPA to improve your chances of acceptance. While attending a UC college directly may seem more straightforward, community college can offer flexibility, smaller class sizes, and significant cost savings. With diligence and strategic planning, this path can be just as rewarding as starting at a UC from the beginning.
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Alexander’s Answer
Community colleges can be a great starting point for many students. They're more affordable, smaller, and offer a welcoming community feel. Some even have guaranteed admission agreements with local universities, saving you money and helping you earn a recognized associate degree in your chosen field. This means you can dive right into classes related to your major instead of general requirements. However, be cautious! Some schools have strict course pathways. For example, if you plan to transfer to a place like UMD College Park, taking courses not on their list means you might have to retake them, which costs more money. Always talk to advisors before choosing your courses!
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TRAVIS’s Answer
Yes, it should be just as good. Just make sure it is a legit community college and also that the university you want to attend will accept the credit from that particular community college. Consider CLEP testing out of any of your basic courses as well. Good luck, you will do well.
Updated
Dan’s Answer
Hey Kimberly
I think you are doing a great job with selecting your path. In California I have found that the Community college route is a great way to get your start in college. With the different programs to keep the cost extremely low yet the results of an associated degree for transfer after the 2 years is a big reward.
I agree with what the previous answers mentioned Be sure to talk to your councilor and let them know from the start that you want to transfer to a UC school (Maybe even a particular UC School) ad they will help you map out the required class selections.
Best of luck
Dan
I think you are doing a great job with selecting your path. In California I have found that the Community college route is a great way to get your start in college. With the different programs to keep the cost extremely low yet the results of an associated degree for transfer after the 2 years is a big reward.
I agree with what the previous answers mentioned Be sure to talk to your councilor and let them know from the start that you want to transfer to a UC school (Maybe even a particular UC School) ad they will help you map out the required class selections.
Best of luck
Dan
Updated
Hayden’s Answer
The only difficulty/complication you could face is whether or not all of your credits transfer. I started my college career with a community college I grew up near then moved on to a university once I finished my associate's degree. I was lucky and all my credits from the community college were able to transfer to the university, so I essentially started at the university as a junior, but that isn't always the case. It's different everywhere you go but some universities will make you retake classes you already took in community college if the credits don't transfer. I think the best thing to do would be to look into the university you're hoping to go to after community college to find out ahead of time which credits would transfer and which ones wouldn't.
Updated
Keeton’s Answer
Hi Kimberly,
I hope you are doing well!
Starting at a CC can be a great way to minimize student loans and get your Associate Degree / Associate Degree for Transfer. Generally, the first two years are general education courses and lower-division courses for your chosen major, then you would transfer for the last ~2 years of upper divisions.
Additionally, in terms of the courses and education - I have seen professors from the local four year colleges also teach at the local community college. As mentioned in other comments, mention to your advisor at the community college if you are looking to transfer to a UC or any specific university. Sometimes they have programs and routes to give the best odds to transfer to certain universities.
The process itself for transferring is fairly similar as applying out of high school. You may get more favorable odds as well since 2 years of a bachelors degree will already be (relatively) completed. I would recommend keeping your grades as high as possible, being active in on-campus organizations, and looking into any internships/relative jobs to your major, or even free work relative to your major for your transfer application and your resume.
I hope you are doing well!
Starting at a CC can be a great way to minimize student loans and get your Associate Degree / Associate Degree for Transfer. Generally, the first two years are general education courses and lower-division courses for your chosen major, then you would transfer for the last ~2 years of upper divisions.
Additionally, in terms of the courses and education - I have seen professors from the local four year colleges also teach at the local community college. As mentioned in other comments, mention to your advisor at the community college if you are looking to transfer to a UC or any specific university. Sometimes they have programs and routes to give the best odds to transfer to certain universities.
The process itself for transferring is fairly similar as applying out of high school. You may get more favorable odds as well since 2 years of a bachelors degree will already be (relatively) completed. I would recommend keeping your grades as high as possible, being active in on-campus organizations, and looking into any internships/relative jobs to your major, or even free work relative to your major for your transfer application and your resume.
Updated
Chris’s Answer
Hi Kimberly,
Starting at a community college can be a great start and more cost effective approach to college as you may take more general courses for your first 2 years of college. I would check with advisors on how you can transfer to a university and see if there is anything specific for the university you want to transfer to, some community colleges have some transitions to universities already set up. I myself first went to a community college and then transferred to a larger university, and the process was painless.
Starting at a community college can be a great start and more cost effective approach to college as you may take more general courses for your first 2 years of college. I would check with advisors on how you can transfer to a university and see if there is anything specific for the university you want to transfer to, some community colleges have some transitions to universities already set up. I myself first went to a community college and then transferred to a larger university, and the process was painless.
Updated
Dawn’s Answer
Hi Kimberly,
As a senior in high school planning to attend a community college before transferring to a four-year university, I understand why you might have concerns about whether this process will be difficult. I think there are a lot of benefits including affordability allowing scholarship funds to go further, class size making getting acclimated to college curriculum easier, and flexibility. It is easy to say and hard to do, but don’t compare your journey to others—it should be what works for you, and that is where the magic happens. Allowing yourself to be your authentic self.
In addition, managing debt is important and community college statistics reflect that starting at a CC is more cost effective:
According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for a public two-year college (community college) in the 2022-2023 academic year was approximately $3,770 per year. In contrast, the average cost for a public four-year university was around $10,560 for in-state students and $27,020 for out-of-state students. This substantial difference in tuition fees means that students can save thousands of dollars by completing their first two years at a community college
Here are some other points to consider:
• Utilize Resources: Community colleges offer counseling and support services to help students navigate the transfer process. Make sure to take advantage of these resources to plan your coursework and meet transfer requirements.
• Established Pathways: Many community colleges have established transfer agreements with universities, making the process more streamlined. Research these agreements and follow the guidelines provided to ensure a smooth transition. I have shared specific details for San Francisco/California below.
• Academic Preparation: Community colleges provide quality education that can prepare you well for university-level coursework. Focus on maintaining strong academic performance to enhance your transfer prospects.
Programs in San Francisco, California
San Francisco offers several community college programs that facilitate the transfer to universities and colleges. Here are some notable options:
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco (CCSF) has a robust transfer program that helps students move seamlessly to universities, including those in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. CCSF provides counseling and resources to assist students with the transfer process.
San Francisco State University Transfer Partnership
San Francisco State University (SFSU) collaborates with local community colleges to offer transfer pathways. They provide guidelines and support to ensure that students can transition smoothly and continue their education at SFSU.
University of California Transfer Pathways
The University of California system has several transfer pathways designed for community college students. These pathways outline the specific courses and requirements needed to transfer to various UC campuses, making the process transparent and straightforward.
Keep shining, consider your question a key step in your successful educational journey.
Dawn
As a senior in high school planning to attend a community college before transferring to a four-year university, I understand why you might have concerns about whether this process will be difficult. I think there are a lot of benefits including affordability allowing scholarship funds to go further, class size making getting acclimated to college curriculum easier, and flexibility. It is easy to say and hard to do, but don’t compare your journey to others—it should be what works for you, and that is where the magic happens. Allowing yourself to be your authentic self.
In addition, managing debt is important and community college statistics reflect that starting at a CC is more cost effective:
According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for a public two-year college (community college) in the 2022-2023 academic year was approximately $3,770 per year. In contrast, the average cost for a public four-year university was around $10,560 for in-state students and $27,020 for out-of-state students. This substantial difference in tuition fees means that students can save thousands of dollars by completing their first two years at a community college
Here are some other points to consider:
• Utilize Resources: Community colleges offer counseling and support services to help students navigate the transfer process. Make sure to take advantage of these resources to plan your coursework and meet transfer requirements.
• Established Pathways: Many community colleges have established transfer agreements with universities, making the process more streamlined. Research these agreements and follow the guidelines provided to ensure a smooth transition. I have shared specific details for San Francisco/California below.
• Academic Preparation: Community colleges provide quality education that can prepare you well for university-level coursework. Focus on maintaining strong academic performance to enhance your transfer prospects.
Programs in San Francisco, California
San Francisco offers several community college programs that facilitate the transfer to universities and colleges. Here are some notable options:
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco (CCSF) has a robust transfer program that helps students move seamlessly to universities, including those in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. CCSF provides counseling and resources to assist students with the transfer process.
San Francisco State University Transfer Partnership
San Francisco State University (SFSU) collaborates with local community colleges to offer transfer pathways. They provide guidelines and support to ensure that students can transition smoothly and continue their education at SFSU.
University of California Transfer Pathways
The University of California system has several transfer pathways designed for community college students. These pathways outline the specific courses and requirements needed to transfer to various UC campuses, making the process transparent and straightforward.
Keep shining, consider your question a key step in your successful educational journey.
Dawn