<p>I want to be a respiratory therapist and that requires an associates degree. So there’s a community college close by (Fresno City College), but I’ve always seen myself as going to a University (Fresno State). They are 7 miles apart. I wanna know if community college will give me that ‘college experience’ everyone talks about. I mean the parties, the new people, the craziness! No ones ever gone into detail about it because my school preaches about Universities and that’s it. Am I really gonna miss out on the fun side if I go to community college?</p>
<p>Going to community college will not give you the college experience. It is where slackers go to find out they they are not meant for college and people who are serious about school transfer. The top students at community college will get into universities such as the UC’s and Cal Poly’s. The college experience is largely weighted during your first two years.</p>
<p>If you want the college experience, you need to dorm and you need to go to a 4 year university directly.</p>
<p>I agree with Caldud -if you want the ‘college experience’ you’ll really want to live on campus at a residential school like Chico, Davis or SLO. This is one of the reasons many CSUs now require most freshmen to live on-campus. It really creates a strong bond.</p>
<p>That said, there’s fun to be had everywhere large groups of young adults live and congregate. Of course there are parties, dates and hang-outs around most CCs. It won’t be the same - but that doesn’t mean your social life will be worse or boring. You might have to work at it a bit harder.</p>
<p>IMHO you should pick your school based on your educational objectives, qualifications and budget. If you think you’d benefit from a 4 year degree, can get in and afford it… then that’s where you belong. The fun is a byproduct.</p>
<p>Do what your career calls for. </p>
<p>The college experience is highly overrated. You have your entire life to share an eroding motel 6 room with 5 teenagers. You’re thinking “What? Why the hell would I want do to that?”. Exactly.</p>
<p>Sorry @CalDud but your comment is literally garbage. I was accepted to three UC schools, (Yes, Three!) UCD,UCLA, and UCBerk. I had out of state tuition and it was too expensive for me in the long run. So, I decided to go to a CC and transfer. Community college is not a place for slackers to realize they will flip burgers all their life, nor is it a jail cell full of people unwilling to take the CC “college experience” by the horns. College, no matter where you go is what you make of it. You can pay 30k out of pocket for a sh***y experience in a University as well if you don’t challenge yourself to do what’s best for YOU.</p>
<p>Yes, I will admit as a commuter to a CC it was harder to make friends within the first week of classes because I wasn’t forced to room with someone, but that’s why clubs are a thing at ANY school! Heck, I’m a girl and I joined the Super Smash Bro’s club, Chemistry team, Honors society, Mantra Meditations… for the hell of it and had a blast. I maintained a 4.0 for my first year of a CCC with honors courses and I have one year left to go before I transfer to a UC, and honestly though it is exciting to transfer for my major, I honestly can say I’ll miss the life experience I created at this CCC. Save the money, you can stick any group of teenagers together in a small area and parties are always abound. (TRUST ME) CCC is not just a bunch of old farts and low income single moms. Save money and push yourself. I can honestly say I doubt I’d be as outgoing as I am now if not for the CCC experience. It forced me to push my limits and I think if I would’ve gone to the University the first two years, I would’ve never tried. </p>