Transferring from one college to another?

brinazarski · 05-12-2012, 02:23 PM

I'm a Junior in high school right now, and I really want to go to an Ivy League, so I've been working my butt off with extracurriculars and whatnot. But I was wondering... if I went to a community college and then transferred, would colleges see what I did in high school, or is it a fresh start and they only see what I did in community college? ._.;

brinazarski · 05-23-2012, 09:22 PM

Bumping this thread

brinazarski · 06-10-2012, 03:59 PM

Bumping this thread... again... it's been a month, can someone answer my question?

Kelsen · 06-10-2012, 04:36 PM

I am not sure either, but I think it depends when you transfer. After Sophmore year, I think grades from cc and current ec's have more weight, but I am sure your other ec's are considered -- and even your SAT scores might be.

brinazarski · 06-10-2012, 04:50 PM

I would hope so... I worked REALLY hard in high school and I wouldn't want it to go to waste, you know?

Kelsen · 06-10-2012, 06:38 PM

Yeah, I can figure out what you mean. But you have to consider that transfering from a CC to an Ivy is a hard way. If you want to transfer from an CC to an Ivy your ec's etc. have to super-extra-ordinary, you know what I mean?

Transfering from a 4year college to ivy league might be easier ... but only slightly ...

brinazarski · 06-10-2012, 07:33 PM

I still want to go to a 4-year... once I get my SAT results, I'm going to see what universities would likely accept me and give me a full-ride while I'm there. My current Latin teacher apparently got a full ride to Boston University by taking a Latin test, and my former Latin teacher recommended that I take it, and I think my current Latin teacher would agree based on my credentials.

It's just, I've finally come to the reality that I might not get into a top school, and I need a back up. So, my back up should be any school that not only gives me a full-ride, but all offers my majors, and perhaps extra curriculars I might want (since I want to go to med school, and apparently they look at ECs, too...) I was thinking community college, because it's so much cheaper than going to a four-year and I don't want to be in debt when I graduate. (parents aren't paying, I am)

While I'm at it, if I went to a four year, when would I transfer? Could I transfer after the first year, or do I have to wait until my second year, like community college?

Kelsen · 06-14-2012, 10:37 AM

As I know, it is easier to transfer from a 4year college in the freshman year than from a cc as a first year student. But transfering still is an issue which of the credits are transferable one college to another. So the transfer process could be a bit harsh if havent a clear plan where to transfer and in what to major.
What I recommend learn, learn learn and get good grades and score well on the sat -
do you take AP classes?
And you have still some time - you are in your junior year. Dont worry!

brinazarski · 06-14-2012, 01:44 PM

How come it's harder to transfer from a CC? Aside from price, it shouldn't be much different than a regular college... if you have a high GPA, that shows that you're smart and probably just going there for the price, not because you failed high school or anything.

I took AP Language and AP US (assuming I did okay on Language, probably failed US). In the fall, I'm planning to take AP Latin, AP Micro and Macroeconomics in one class, AP Studio Art, AP Literature, AP Biology, and AP BC Calc, but that's subject to change (I might not get into some of them, or they might be cancelled, or scheduling conflicts, etc... but I still plan on a heavy course load nonetheless)

brinamarie · 06-30-2012, 05:14 AM

If you have more than 60 credit hours, 90 in a quarter system, at a community college then your high school transcript will not matter. At that point you will have taken a rigorous college load of courses, and proven yourself with good grades and an Associate's degree. You will have junior standing once you transfer from a community college to a 4-year university.

If you were passionate about ECs in high school, then you can still participate in them at a community college. The ones that I have attended (changed states, long story) have always had clubs, opportunities to volunteer, and opportunities to take on leadership positions. If you do well in community college, then you may also be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (the national community college honor society), which entitles you to special scholarship opportunities when you attend a university.

Unless your scores on the AP Exams are high enough (assuming that your prospective college accepts AP credit), you will have to take a set of general undergraduate courses no matter what. Taking them at a community college is much cheaper, and your class size will be much smaller (my first Chemistry class at UT Austin had 500+ students, and my chemistry class at my community college had 30). The courses are no less challenging than they would be at a university. It is mostly about the effort that you put into the courses: putting in a couple of hours per course, daily, outside of classes; taking notes well, going to office hours and tutoring when you have questions, taking an interest in the material, and forming study groups.