Career questions tagged community-college
How do I decide where to go to college?
I’m a current HS junior and have always been a really good student (all A’s). I know that I want to get a college education, and am really considering going into pediatric OT. I just don’t think I’m ready to go away from home. I’ve looked at some good schools within an hour or so from home, but don’t think I want to live away from home (and go broke since I’ll be paying for college). My parents have been really supportive and don’t care at all where I go, but just want me to get an education. Is it worth all the stress to get a perfect SAT score and make my anxiety way worse to continue looking at colleges, or should I just stick to the local community college where I could live at home, work part time and save up for two years, then go off to college?
Advice on J-1 to F-1 Change of Status, Community College Choices, and My Education Plan?
Hi everyone! My name is Laura, and I’m currently in the United States on a J-1 visa through a cultural exchange program. My goal is to start studying in a community college and eventually pursue a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. I am planning to apply for a Change of Status from J-1 to F-1 without leaving the U.S., but I want to make sure I understand the process, timeline, and best practices. I’m considering several community colleges in California, including De Anza College, Foothill College, College of San Mateo, Ohlone College, San Francisco City College, Diablo Valley College. I want to choose a school where I can afford tuition, complete my prerequisites, and later transfer to a strong engineering program. I would love advice on my overall plan and any insights from people who have gone through similar experiences. Here are my main questions: 1. About the J-1 to F-1 Change of Status What are the most important steps I should follow to avoid delays or a denial? What would you recommend regarding timing for submitting the I-539 application? Are there common mistakes J-1 students make when applying for F-1 status? How can I best prove financial solvency as an international student? 2. About Choosing a Community College for Engineering Which factors should I prioritize when comparing community colleges for an Industrial Engineering pathway (transfer rates, support services, articulation agreements, cost, etc.)? Does anyone have experience in the engineering programs at De Anza, Foothill, San Mateo, Ohlone, or Diablo Valley College? What should I look for to make sure my courses will transfer to universities later on? 3. About My Long-Term Education Plan What skills or experiences should I start building now to be a strong engineering student and future transfer applicant? What are good strategies to balance working, saving, and preparing for full-time study? Is there anything you wish you had known before starting community college as an international student? Thank you so much for any guidance! I really appreciate any advice on navigating this process and making informed decisions for my career in Industrial Engineering.
How do I procced with majoring in Environmental Science?
I am going into my second year of community college, then plan on transferring over to a 4 year to finish up.
How do medical schools view students who start at community college before transferring to a university #Fall25?
I’m considering starting at a community college for the first two years to save money before transferring to a university. Since I hope to pursue medicine, I want to understand how medical schools view this path and whether it affects competitiveness.
What should I do to be sure that a Physician Assistant is what I actually want to do before I continue to take classes and work towards a degree ?
I really want to be a part of the medical field and I have recently learned that physicians assistants are in a growing need. I just want to make sure that before I take out loans and spend money on a degree that this is actually what I want to do for life.
Should I pursue a career in Forensics if it is largely considered to be unscientific?
Hello, I am a freshman in community college, and I've been recently more intrigued in pursuing Forensics in school and as a career choice. I was feeling pretty good about it, but then after doing some more research online, it seems to be that most of what makes up Forensics is quite unreliable when it comes to actually applying science to criminal justice. Such as DNA analysis being unreliable, ballistics and things like threads from clothing being unreliable. I haven't looked much deeper into the reasoning for these claims yet, but I will say that they make me feel quite discouraged from pursuing a career that took a lot of thought to decide on. I still have time to change direction, but I would love to hear any possible advice about the validity of claims like this, and what I should maybe do going forward. Thank you in advance!
What can I do to start having a strong art portfolio for art school before I transfer?
Hi! I am a student at community college who’s in a studio art major but has planned to go to art school, specifically art schools that are near me and are well-known for their animation programs like SVA, CalArts, and Moore College of Art and Design. However, I am stuck on how to make a portfolio that could help impress the admissions team of these schools and could showcase my work better. I was thinking of doing stuff that is not shown in sketchbooks much like pop-ups and flip-able pages like the ones in children’s books but I’m not so sure. Any advice or recommendations for a beginner?
How bad is dropping a class?
I am currently taking 17 units at crc (Biology major, wanting to be a dentist), ( I had previously written 18, but that ended up being very wrong) but I think I have undiagnosed ADHD, and it's been taking such a big mental toll on me. I also suffer from intense migraines daily, and I am going to see a neurologist soon for that. My point being, I am constantly stressed and unable to focus. I studied so hard for my math exam, only to fail my second exam. At this rate, I will most likely fail my math class. The class is a preparation for calculus class by the way. I want to transfer to UC Davis as soon as possible, so I feel as though Im putting alot of pressure on myself. If I drop the class, I will be at 11 (previously wrote 14) units. My insurance also can not find me a psychiatrist and hasn't reached out to me yet when I asked to find someone to check if I have ADHD. At this point, I know I do and need to be medicated because I literally can't function. This is kind of a cry for help, idk what to do and im stressed and scared.
How does an undergraduate degree pertain to career choices?
Hello! I am in my freshman year of community college, and I've been wondering how an undergraduate degree pertains to an overall career. Should I focus it on a secondary career, my main career interest? Thank you!
What can I do while still in community college to build up my portfolio for Dodge Film College in the Film and Media Studies program?
I already post ratings on Letterboxd and on my Instagram. What else can I do to get a good chance of being accepted into Dodge?
How can I become a dental hygienist in Texas?
How can I become a dental hygienist in Texas? I recently moved to the U.S. and I’m living in Houston, Texas. I’m interested in becoming a dental hygienist, but I’m not sure where to start. I’d like to know what steps I should take, such as which programs to apply to, what prerequisites are required, and if there are any licensing exams. I’d also appreciate advice about affordable schools or community colleges in Texas.
Foothill college or Dallas college?
I have doubts about which college could be more beneficial if I want to transfer to a university and study industrial engineering.
How to figure out community college and everything needed to know?
I just graduated high school last week and was going to take some time off before heading to community college. I have decided to go for Community College in Spring 2026 but am really confused on how to do this. When it comes to community college, I am going to go through them for General Studies so its more affordable before I transfer to an accredited college. I don't really know how and when to apply, what my school year would be considered (is it 2025-2026 or is it 2026-2027?), what scholarships are best to apply to now or later, how to complete Fafsfa and when I should apply for that? Another thing I'm worrying about is my projected field I wish to go into is Vet tech/animal care field but the community college does not have specific program for that at all. Can I just choose classes such as biology and chemistry and would that count to work for that? Like my degree is associates in Biology? I have no idea.
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 .
How Does the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) Work? #2025
I’m an in-state student planning to enroll in the Architectural Drafting Certificate program at Front Range Community College (FRCC). I’m trying to understand how the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) applies to my tuition. FRCC’s website lists tuition as $285 per credit hour for in-state students and $169 per credit hour after the COF stipend is applied. However, when I check my COF account, it shows that I’m awarded $145 and that $145 remains. I’ve already been approved for COF and selected to apply the stipend toward eligible courses. I’m planning to enroll in 6 credit hours for my first semester and want to understand how this amount will impact my tuition. Could someone please explain how the $145 COF amount is calculated and applied to tuition? Also, why does the actual reduction on FRCC’s website show only $116 per credit hour instead of $145? I’d appreciate any clarification or advice to help me make an informed decision. #2025
How do you stay motivated while pursuing a demanding degree?
For context, I come from a low-income background and am pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine. I know that this career path is difficult in terms of coursework and requires many years of schooling. I am transferring from a Community College to a 4-year institution this fall, with veterinary school following afterward. As I am transferring into such a specific major so my academic pathway requires at least 2.5 years, with the addition of taking Summer and Winter classes, with veterinary school being 4 years. My financial background also sets me back in struggling to pay for school and likely needing to work full time, which hinders my studies. Veterinary school is noted to be very competitive, and most people get rejected in their first year of applying. I am trying to stay optimistic throughout the hardships and also want to make the most of my time in college. Overall, how do you stay motivated in such a difficult career path while also balancing personal life, work, and getting involved on campus? #Spring25
How do you remain motivated as a first-generation when obstacles have steered you away from your original path but continue to strive to reach your dreams while carving your own lane?#Spring25
I'm not your traditional college student and faced some hardships early on in my academic journey, which resulted in a couple of gap years. Nevertheless, I've stayed dedicated to forging my own path toward achieving my dreams of ultimately serving in the medical field. I am proud to be a community college graduate and am transferring to complete my undergraduate degree. I understand how long a road and how intentional you have to be with pursuing the medical field. I'm curious about how to stay motivated and build relationships with medical professionals early in my journey. In particular, I'd like to know how newcomers can access internship and research opportunities that are not readily available to students who do not fit the conventional profile.
Tips for transferring after community college?
I am a high school student who plants to attend Orange Coast College in the fall. What are the best ways to ensure getting into top four-year universities as a transfer student, such as clubs and extracurriculars?
What made you believe it wasn’t too late to start over?
For those who have hit 'reset' on life in their late 20s or beyond (whether by tackling mental health, going back to school, or changing careers) what was the moment or mindset shift that made you believe it wasn’t too late to start over? I'm a 27 year old student at a community college and I’d love to hear how others found strength, purpose, or clarity in their own second chapters. #Spring25
How does a transfer student overcome Imposter Syndrome after transferring to a 4-year University?
This question can apply to all students, but as a transfer student, I find myself struggling with this greatly.
How can I as a homeschooled student build up my college application?
I’m a homeschooler who will be attending community college to be able to save up money before being able to go to a four year university and I aim to get my masters degree. So how can I build up my application and resume?
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!
What is the hardest part about going to a four-year university right away instead of doing 2 years of community college first?
A lot of my classmates are going to community college first then to a four-year university, so I was wondering what's the hardest part of going four-year university first.
What is the best source of college scholarships for Forestry?
I am pursuing a Forestry degree at the local community college this Fall. I do not want to take out student loans to complete my degree. I am working part-time and looking for scholarships in my field.
Which state is more convenient for studying engineering?
Which states are best for studying engineering as an international student at a community college??
How do I go about with this I've got two plans for the upcoming college season - 1 year in community college and the rest in university, or 2 years in community college, with the rest in Texas Tech's med-school branch. Which would be the more financially viable one?
For better context, i'm probably going to be subsisting off of FAFSA money and (should I prove to be lucky enough to get one) scholarship money, too.
What community colleges have the most students? How do people enroll in colleges without support?Why do some people not go to college?
The career I'm interested is business or being a lawyer.
Getting a double major in Psych (BA) and Fashion design, any advice?
I'm thinking of getting a double major in Psychology (BA) and Fashion design. I am currently 17 years old, a Junior in high school, and have a GPA of 4.1 weighted/3.76 unweighted. Do you have any advice? Any programs or community college classes you would suggest? Colleges with good programs I should apply to?
How exactly do I be a dentist?
I have been thinking about becoming a dentist, but I have like no idea how college really works. I was thinking of going to sac state or sac city college by majoring in biology or biological sciences, and then transferring to UC Davis after 2 years. What should my schedule be like to be on the right track? Is there extra steps I need to do?
Best Online Community Colleges for Reduced Cost and Affordability?
Hi everyone, I’ve been searching online for community colleges that offer affordable online courses, but I’ve run into a lot of sketchy websites and ads. I’m looking for legitimate options that can help reduce the overall cost of my education without sacrificing quality. Does anyone have any recommendations for reputable online community colleges that offer reduced tuition rates or financial assistance? Any tips on how to find the best deals would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!