Is it better to transfer from a community college?

Toussaintnouv · 12-04-2011, 11:52 PM

I was thinking, if my goal was to transfer to a top four-year university, then would it be better to go to a community college instead of another university?

I'm currently a high school senior and I am applying to several private universities. My stats are good enough to get me into schools in the 20-40 ranked range, but what if I wanted to save money and then transfer out to a top-tier school?

So basically, two options:

1) Do well in Community College (save) and transfer
or
2) Do well in a university (spend money) and transfer

In transfer admissions, does it matter if I come from a University vs. a community college (honors program)?

Toussaintnouv · 12-04-2011, 11:55 PM

Oh, and to add some specificity. Would it be better for me to attend a school like UC Davis, BU, or Brandeis (on my list) and then transfer to a school like Northwestern vs. going to community college and still transferring out to a top 20 school (like Northwestern

.

Thanks guys, much appreciated

godsgift1 · 12-05-2011, 12:06 AM

seriously? who plans to transfer while they are only in highschool?

enjoy the school that you end up going to, christ

Toussaintnouv · 12-05-2011, 12:09 AM

Well since I'm highly considering community college, might was well think about the long term right? I'm just thinking maybe I could save some money for my parents and still go to my dream school one day.

*xraymancs* · 12-05-2011, 12:17 AM

You don't say anything about your GPA, test scores, or major you are interested in pursuing but if going to a Community College is the best choice for financial reasons, then there is really no question to answer. Go to a community college.

If, however, you have the chance to go to a 4-year school then look carefully at the ones you would love to go to and also some you would be happy to go to but which might offer you better financial aid. When you have all the data on the table, you can make your decision and there is always the possibility of just enrolling in the community college anyway. Don't start at a 4-years school you don't like just in hopes that you can transfer. You might find that the transfer does not work out and then what do you do?

Waverly · 12-05-2011, 12:34 AM

No, unless you want to do a CC to a UC, or a similar in state program, you have much better transfer potential from the bestt college you can get into. A few top colleges have a commitment to take a few CC transfers every year, but on the whole, there are very few transfer from CCs to top private colleges.

bottlecap1990 · 12-05-2011, 08:49 AM

If money is NOT an issue and if you do have the stats to make it into a top college, then go directly.

People attend community college for one of these two reasons:
1. Money issue
2. Grade issue

Also it is very possible to get accepted into a top university (including ivy) by starting at a community college. FYI:

I graduated high school with a 3.2 GPA with NO AP or Honors classes. 1010/1600 SAT scores and a class rank of 219/294.

I will be finished with my community college career this December with 60+ credits, a 4.0 GPA, and an associate degree in chemistry.

I have received numerous offers from top schools like UNC chapel hill, Case Western Reserve, University of Maryland College Park, Cornell University, Columbia GS, Tulane, Lehigh, Syracuse, and many others. Some with decent amount of scholarships.

MODERATOR NOTE: WHILE THIS MEMBER RECEIVED EMAILS CONCERNING PBK SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE SCHOOLS LISTED ABOVE, THEY NEITHER APPLIED NOR WERE THEY ACCEPTED BY THESE SCHOOLS. THE MEMBER APOLOGIZES FOR THE POSTING FALSE INFORMATION ON THIS BOARD.

When you are trying to transfer to IVY, you must have a GPA very close to a 4.0 as well as good SAT scores.

happymomof1 · 12-05-2011, 02:26 PM

Toussaintnouv -

If you have a particular community college in mind, make an appointment with the transfer counselor there so you can sit down with an expert and discuss your options. That person should be able to tell you where students go, and whether or not they received the kinds of scholarships that would make the transfer-to institutions affordable.

Toussaintnouv · 12-05-2011, 05:06 PM

Congrats bottlecap! awesome schools

I have a 4.3, 3.7 uw top 5%, alot of honors/ap, 34 ACT, good extra-curriculars

I want to major in econ/finance and go into i-banking. So the school I go to matters alot because I need to be in a target school. So if I don't get into a target school, then transferring to one is a must.

I don't know if I can get into berkeley outright, so I'm thinking of going to cc then transfer to Haas

btw, while doing research I saw the Pomona College has something called PATH? What is that exactly, is it a transfer agreement? Because Pomona is on my sights as well.

francisvdahlmann · 12-05-2011, 07:01 PM

Don't go to a CC first unless you really can't afford a four-year college. With your stats you should get decent merit aid at good schools, or need-based depending on your financial situation. It's way too soon to be thinking about community college as a student of your caliber. If you really have dismal prospects in the spring, which I doubt will occur, then re-evaluate. But at present I think you're selling yourself short quite a bit.

kathyyyy · 12-06-2011, 03:10 AM

I disagree with these posters. You actually have a better chance of doing good in a CC, thus transferring to a good university while saving money. For example, my cousin went to a top 50 school trying to transfer into a top 10 school. My friend at a third tier uni got a higher gpa because it was easier, and got into the same top 10 school while my cousin who went to a much harder school and got a worse gpa didn't get in.

Toussaintnouv · 12-06-2011, 03:31 AM

Interesting... Anyone else care to comment on this?

kathyyyy · 12-06-2011, 03:43 AM

Also, with california schools I know there is a program where if you go to a cc then you are guaranteed admission to a UC school, although it doesn't say which one

bottlecap1990 · 12-06-2011, 10:30 AM

I agree with Kathyyy. Also most students that transfer to UC's are California community college kids. You definitely have the stats to get into some good state/private schools but I doubt it will beat the price of going to a CC and then transferring into a UC.

I wanted to transfer to one of the schools I listed above but the money they offer me still won't even cover half of the tuition. I decided to go with my state school(Rutgers) where I will most likely be getting their transfer scholarship that will cover roughly 2/3 of my tuition/year.

FYI: My Uncle was a slacker during high school. He went to a CC(I think it was called JVC or something like that) and later transferred to UC Berkeley. His major was IT I believe. He is now making close to 10k a month. He lives in Danville, CA in a 1 million dollar house with his family.

If you can get very close to a 4.0 at CC. You will stand a chance of getting into ANY top schools(including ivy). This is because your HS stats are good to begin with.

In today's economy, you want to save up as much money as you can. However, if money truly is NOT an issue, then go straight to a 4-year school.

buzymom3 · 12-06-2011, 02:07 PM

Toussaintnouv you really need to talk to someone at the CC you are considering. I work at a CC and we are one of the top CC's nationally. We have a guaranteed program where if you get your AA, with at least a B average in all classes, you are guaranteed acceptance into anyone of over 140 4 year institutions.

Yes these do include some top ranked schools like U of I, UIC, etc.

Many of the top CC's have the same sort of agreements with schools in their state. You need to ask the right questions to get the answers you are looking for.