<p>Has anyone done this? Considering it? I know Rutgers has a Dual Degree Program but you have to be put in it, not something you apply for. If i don’t get in I might do CC then transfer. Reason is, its much cheaper, and i do not want a tremendous debt. I feel this is the best course for me as I want to be a police officer, therefore going to a prestigious 4 year U isn’t necessary. Thoughts?</p>
<p>NJ has a NJ Stars program that permits NJ students in the top 15% of their class to attend CC free, then transfer to Rutgers for last 2 years. These last 2 years are possibly free.</p>
<p>Supposedly all 4 year universities in NJ, except Princeton, will accept credits from NJ CCs.</p>
<p>actually, unless graduating this year, there is no more NJ Stars. It was cut out of the budget by Christie.</p>
<p>Any other advice/suggestions??</p>
<p>nj2011mom:
actullay union county college does have a articulation agreement with Princeton university</p>
<p>I just graduated from an NJ CC. I think this was best from an economic and academic standpoint. I got to get my general ed. courses out of the way and learned valuable, effective study skills that will be instrumental when I begin classes at Rutgers this fall. At first, I was a little ashamed of going to CC, but I now realize the huge amount of money I saved. Now I can attend RU as a Junior. Should you not get in (even though u will!), CC is the better alternative because as you said “going to a prestigious 4 year U isn’t necessary” to become a police officer. And many NJ CC’s do have dual degree programs with colleges/universities. If you begin at CC with a 3.0 I belive and sign up for Rutgers DDP you will be guaranteed acceptance as a Junior upon the completion of you degree program and provided that you attained at least a 3.0 GPA. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. BTW, dont you just need 60 credits(Associate’s degree) to become an officer?</p>
<p>UCCBoii- Thanks for the advice! you do only need 60 credits but recieving a bachelors has two benefits: 1) it puts you higher on the pay scale, and 2) i want to progress into investigations/forensics so I will need extra education. Question: I’m a very smart kid and in many honors/ap classes. Many classmates have wondered why I would want to steep lower and be a police officer and easily become an engineer etc. Answer is, It’s what i want to do and have been around family in law enforcement forever. so actual question: Were you/are you a “good student” in high school? If so, did you feel like you were downgrading to go to CC when really you were still going to RU?</p>
<p>I had heard the NJ Stars program was at risk, but didn’t know it had been officially killed. Even so, I don’t think the schools are reneging on the agreement to accept NJ CC credits. If money was a significant issue for our family, I would be encouraging my kids to do this. </p>
<p>Having a degree can always help you down the road if you want to go further. A family friend has a bachelors’ degree in Criminal Justice from U of Utah and is moving up nicely in the SLC police dept.</p>
<p>“Many classmates have wondered why I would want to steep lower and be a police officer”</p>
<p>Pioneerpack, you are not stooping low by becoming a police officer. That is an admirable ambition. You should feel proud of your goal, I’m sure your family is. Good luck.</p>
<p>Pioneerpack58: Associate degrees generally require 60-64 credits. You’re absolutely right, that applies to pretty much any profession, the more education you have, the higher you climb on the payscale, which is why you should pursue ur BA/BS. I am sure you’re a bright person, but please do not let the thoughts/opinions of others cloud your decisions. They are probably saying this because to be honest, police officers duties dont seem require you to be a scholar, it’s moreso physical than academic .Perhaps they feel that you are “wasting” your academic potential and that you would be better suited to be an engineer or something of that nature. If you want to be an officer, then that’s what you should do! Just make sure its because it’s what <em>you</em> want. Now, to answer your question…no, I was a horrible student in HS. I learned and had great teachers…I just didnt do the work. I wasn’t stupid and I didnt feel that way at CC. In fact I was an engineering student when i first started at CC but it wasnt for me so I changed majors. Some people, especially students with credentials similar to yours, feel that they are above CC’s and I can understand that to an extent. I think that even if I had a 4.0 and had taken AP everything…even Gym! lol…I would have still gone to CC, because looking back on it, it just makes soooo much sense. When I started CC I had no idea I was going to RU and didnt sign up for the DDP, so Iwas admitted based on my GPA. Sorry that this is such a long-winded response but…if you go to CC you will be saving a lot of $ and headache because you know that you will be guaranteed admission with junior status granted that you complete the degree with a 3.0 minimum(which you will!..mr. AP). I wish I would have done that…it was the biggest headache applying to this competitive school and being worried day in-day out if you’re gonna be admitted or not.</p>
<p>Thank you all glad to hear positive feedback. I talked with my older sister today who has well completed college. She said not to worry about “wasting potential” because she said she saw many classmates who had really high GPA’s and all, who later ended up wither failing out of college due to a lack of “push” by parents or consequentially, no job. I am now viably considering CC unless a happen to get a full-ride to somewhere. </p>
<p>Side Note- look what an alumnus of my school did at CC
[RVCC’s</a> Powser receives award and $2,000 for highest score in N.J. | - NJ.com](<a href=“http://www.nj.com/messenger-gazette/index.ssf/2010/03/rvccs_powser_receives_award_and_2000_for_highest_score_in_nj.html]RVCC’s”>RVCC’s Powser receives award and $2,000 for highest score in N.J. - nj.com)</p>
<p>Guess it puts more meaning to, “it’s not where you go but what you do with it”!</p>