I’ve been accepted to UCR for Pre-Business, which I intend to focus in Accounting.
However, I’d be able to save money by going to a community college (my parents only make $36k and we have a household of eight), and I don’t know if I’d entirely want to go into Accounting (I can always switch majors, like health-related profession, in which another school would be better)
So… Please help me decide. I’m so stuck.
UCR
Pros: - I’ve been granted $27k, I’d only need to pay around 4-5k
- Business program is good apparently
- Big 4 recruits from there (although rarely…)
- Only one hour at the most away from home
Cons: - I don’t particularly love the school. I haven’t visited (and no, I can’t since no ride) and there are definitely some things I love about the place, but I just never saw myself going there; I feel like if I want to go to a school, I should love it even if I haven’t visited.
- I’m going to come home a lot on the weekends since family and boyfriend, so it may become tedious
- UCR is a good school, but it isn’t the greatest. If I go to CC, I’d hopefully be able to attend USC for accounting or another school for another major.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Pros: - I’d save money, especially since first year is the most expensive. And saving money is needed since my mom is the only one working, I don’t need her to work more when my siblings rarely see her
- I can see which majors I’m interested in more (other than accounting). If I go to UCR, I feel like other schools would be more fit if I change my major
- I’m okay with/considering CC because I know I can time manage well and handle the classes since they’re not difficult.
- (sort of a con) I’d commute, save money!
Cons: - I’d have to commute (lol above), I have a bad relationship with my father; I’d just be minding my own business though.
- I’d be “left behind” in a way; everyone goes off to college, I’d stay here.
- If I go as an incoming junior into a college, I would have less connections(?)
- my highschool SAT scores were for nothing, I’d start all over again
A couple of things for you to chew on:
- That 4-5K is Your share of costs. If you don’t want your mom to work more (and I agree on that) then get a job and earn that money. You will have a similar cost if you went to USC. There is Always a student earned component.
- JMO but when you go to school, go there. Don’t go home more often than once per month. It’s time to spread your wings.
- You might be saving $ at CC but also might not. You’ll be eating at home and driving. Sounds like a break even with your 4-5K cost at UCR.
- You would not be left behind. Plenty of students go to CCC in order to have a good shot at the UCs. You’d be in good company.
- Very few schools accept SAT retakes from college students (the tests are designed for HSers). I doubt the UCs or USC are among them.
- What do you want to major in? Accounting? If so why would you look at other majors at different schools? If not accounting why did you pick it?
I chose accounting because I feel like it’d fit me, I like working with numbers and I don’t mind sitting on a laptop. However, the majority changes their major and I know I want to explore other things. That’s why CC has the huge advantage: I have time to see which majors I’m interested in/good at, so that in the future I can pick the school right for that.
IMHO this is a mistake. You’re going away to school, so go away. You’ll waste time commuting back and forth, for starters. It’s tiring to do this. And you’ll lose out on one of the big advantages of going away to college. People make new friends their years in college, and a big way to grow these friendships is to spend time with them (duh, right?) which for college students comes down to nites and weekends. If you’re not around on the weekends you’re going to feel largely like a commuter that sleeps near campus weekdays.
CC’s have a role for kids that need a fresh start, or those that are good students and face financial constraints. But there is another, and probably larger, population. With 11 million students, community colleges are home to 45 percent of the collegiate population in the United States. One report found 81.4 percent of students who enter community colleges for the first time planned to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the future, but just 11.6 percent achieved that goal.
See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/community-college-bachelors-degree_n_3373125.html So if you go to your local CC you will be around lots of kids that do little work and ostracize those eggheads that seem to care. it is not the ideal situation if you have other options.
I know that I’d be around kids who won’t do much work - which is why I know I can do the classes.
My goal for CC is to discover other majors I’m interested in, and it gives me the better advantage to save money and go to a better school. Idk why people are ignoring this fact jaha
how would you get to and from a CC? you’d have irregular hours. Do you have your own car?
What were your scores? If you are a top student, going to community college, taking all honors classes, and then applying to transfer widely, for example to USC as well as other UCs, may be advantageous.
Transfer students have a different (some may say easier) threshold at the top UCs, so even if you were not a top student it would be advantageous IF YOU IMPROVE YOUR HABITS. You would not likely save money- you would break even. With good planning, you may end up with a better outcome. I would definitely recommend going to a CC and sitting down with the transfer office on day 1 and making a matriculation plan- and stick to it! High marks will be a requirement, and then transfer to a great situation.
When you go away to a 4-year residential school do not return home more than once every 4-6 weeks. Bond to your school!
Thank you for your input 
Yeah I’m all AP for the most part since my sophomore year, thank you!