<p>Prologue (optional)
[I’ve been a complete idiot and had no clue about the college process when I immigrated to the US. Now I’ve been accepted to UIUC (UIllinois) and just started my online registration, I’m hard pressed to find any classes that aren’t already full. So due to my stupidity I got useless housing and crappy courses.]</p>
<p>Since my admission to UIUC there has been discussion whether I really should attend due to costs etc. My question to all parents is would it be viable to enroll in a CC and finish the general education requirements and apply after a year or two. My father’s reasoning for this is that I still get the U of I degree even if I attend CC. So is it feasible to withdraw acceptance and enroll in CC. </p>
<p>Tamarind,
Usually at a college space opens up in classes during the first couple of weeks as students make changes in their courses; there tends to be some sort of waitlist system as well. So the way it works is that you go to the first class sessions of the courses you wanted (but couldn’t get, because “full”) – to scope things out. Also, online registration is generally seen as a sort of non-binding pre-enrollment – people don’t get to keep the courses they signed up for unless they show up for the first day of class and confirm the course later on through an official registration process. </p>
<p>So yes, the process is confusing, but no you shouldn’t give up because you can’t find the classes you want online. When you get to campus you will find that there are going to be classes opening up and courses added that weren’t even listed on the summer registration – but you won’t know that unless you are there. </p>
<p>What do you mean by “useless housing”? Do you have a dorm assignment? Do you think the housing is “useless” just because you don’t like the classes?</p>
<p>One more tip: if you go in with the attitude that courses you don’t like are “crappy”… then maybe you aren’t really ready to take advantage of the opportunities available at a large university. Even if you can’t get all the courses you want, you probably can take courses that will fill some basic requirements, and college is a time to explore new areas. It’s like getting to a buffet table and finding that they are out of your favorite food, and then refusing to sample any of the other offerings.</p>
<p>I know the community colleges here must accept any student who lives in the county. They have a “Transfer” program all set up for students who plan to do 2 years at the comm college, then transfer to the state universities. Just make sure all the courses will transfer. The state university websites have lists of what classes they will accept. Our community colleges also have honors and scholars programs for students who wish to transfer to JHU and other private elite schools.</p>
<p>lol by crappy housing I meant that I applied to a particular hall with all my friends and ended up getting a room in a bad location + it’s one of the oldest buildings :(. As for the classes I meant that I wanted a few particular honours courses but it seems they’re already full. My main question is whether enrolling in a CC would cause me any harm since I aim to apply yo med school after college? If I do finish my gen ed. requirements at CC and get my undergraduate degree from UIUC will it be ok? Will there be colleges willing to accept transfers from local CC’s? Btw my stats: ACT: 33, 7 AP’s with 4-5’s NHS etc i.e. I have an excellent record, will it be considered when I transfer?</p>
<p>You may be able to beg yourself into some classes, my daughter did it for next semester. She had the last registration time and had to beg into 4 classes. Took her 2 weeks to do it but she got every class she wanted (but not the professors or times necessarily).</p>
<p>Yes, you will be “ok” to go to a cc and transfer later on to a 4-year university. </p>
<p>It’s not a matter of what is “ok”, it is one of overall attitude. If you are prepared to make the most of the opportunities that are before you, then UIUC probably offers many more opportunities, right from the start. But given what you have said, I can see why your Dad is having 2nd thoughts. </p>
<p>I don’t mean to be harsh – I’m just a parent who has watched one kid fritter away 2 years of an expensive college and another kid who has taken the maximum advantage of whatever came her way - so its hard to give advice when I don’t know you.</p>
<p>my family wants me to go to UIUC, its just that many of my father’s friend opted to send their kids to cc before transferring to places like Georgia Tech to save money. So in conclusion my bachelor’s will be from u of i if i attend either for 2 years or 4?</p>
<p>The level of the pre-med courses at a Research I institute, i.e like UIUC, are much more demanding than those at a CC. If you want the strongest background, you have to be able to handle that level of work. The trick about getting into classes which seem full are to actually go to the classes from the beginning, then see if you can wiggle your way into them. It takes lots of scurrying the first week or two, but that way you will not be behind, and some professors will help you out. And yes, your transcripts will show where you took which classes. Good luck. Lorelei</p>
<p>Your bachelor’s will be from whatever 4 year college you graduate from. I don’t know anything about the process of transferring in Illinois, so I can’t tell you whether you will be guaranteed a transfer in 2 years. The medical schools will be able to tell from your transcript that the first 2 years are transfer credits, but assuming you do well after that I don’t see how that could hurt you if the grades are strong overall. I also agree with lorelei that the classes at UIUC are likely to be more demanding, however – so you might find that you are struggling in advanced courses in your junior year at UIUC when your classmates have better preparation than you, or that they do better on their MCATs. </p>
<p>My problem is with the questions you are asking. Right now it seems that you trying to figure out where you can get an O.K. education as opposed to asking where you can get the best education and opportunities.</p>
<p>Check with U of I (call their admissions office for transfer students) or your local cc (who have counselors primed to help kids transfer to state U), but there is usually no trouble to transfer from a cc to the state university if you keep your grades up in cc. Med schools will get transcripts from both your cc and U of I, so they will certainly know your college path, but they will in no way ding your app because of it–so long as your grades are excellent.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like your dad is pressing you to save the money and stay home for two years, and you’re disappointment at not getting the schedule and dorm you wanted (welcome to big state U-ville) are making this option sound acceptable. But as others have said already, any student who wants to put out some effort can re-arrange their schedule at the start of the semester so it works out–just takes extra time, follow-through, and determination. Btw, those qualities are the key to being successful in anything you pursue; few things of value are easy to obtain. </p>
<p>If you have the energy and determination to make the most of college, go to U of I which will offer a new world of friends, professors, and living on your own. If you are preoccupied with what is “wrong” with housing and registration to the point you can’t see the hundreds of fabulous other opportunities a great university has to offer, stay home and save some $$. </p>
<p>But I’d advise you to try to mature-up a little more quickly. I have the feeling with your excellent grades you may find cc less than challenging (which sometimes makes it harder to take seriously and grades can drop) and you may find living at home, after many friends have gone off to college, is even less fun for a teenager than living in the least attractive dorm situated among thousands of cool college kids in wonderful Urbana.</p>
<p>I can’t thank you guys enough for your answers. I have decided I will probably attend UIUC and try to get into the classes I wanted (as advised by most of you). If all else fails I’ll just finish my gen ed reqs. Hopefully there is some room left in honours classes since taking two is a prerequisite for the James Scholar thing. If you have any other advice for me, please let me know.
Thank you all :)</p>
<p>You can meet the “honors” requirement by entering an “honors credit learning agreement” with the instructor - in other words, agreeing on some sort of project or series of assignments for extra credit. See: [Honors</a> Credit Learning Agreement « James Scholar « Types of Programs « Honors Programs « Students « College of Liberal Arts & Sciences « University of Illinois](<a href=“http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/honors/types/james/hcla/]Honors”>http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/honors/types/james/hcla/)</p>
<p>Also, please do NOT make the mistake of thinking that any class not labeled “honors” isn’t worth taking (or is “crappy”). It isn’t high school any more.</p>
<p>When you get to college you will be able to work with your advisor to make sure that your schedule meets your needs. </p>
<p>You may find that the HCLA is even a better option than the honors courses, because it might give you the opportunity to work closely with one of your profs on a project that you find particularly interesting.</p>
<p>Absolutely true!! If you are interested in med school in the future, you need to start taking math and chemistry (especially) right away (these classes are prerequisites for later classes). You don’t need honors classes in these areas.</p>
<p>At some schools the pre-med curriculum wants you to take biology first and at others it considers chemistry more foundational…do check about that part for UIUC. Grades are everything in pre-med…good luck.</p>