Also, some kids enjoy the learning process and being challenged. Some kids find what they are learning useful or interesting. Given one has to be in school, wouldn’t it be better to listen, think and do well vs not?
CC is a great way to to go for some kids. But a lot depends on how strong the local CC is, how strong the state university system is, and how well credits transfer. D had her heart set on a 4-year, small, private liberal arts college. She worked hard in high school, earned great grades, earned 1 1/2 semesters worth of AP credits, and received a significant merit scholarship to her #1 choice school. She found a faculty mentor freshman year and he has helped her apply for summer programs and research grants, as well as to present at undergraduate forums. Living away from home near a big city has been a tremendous growth experience for her, and her school offers tons of enrichment opportunities - free plays, free symphony concerts, great guest lecturers, museum trips, and so on that she has taken full advantage of.
Going for 2 years at CC would be cheaper than spending freshman and sophomore year at her school. However, overall in her case it would not have been a bargain. The level of merit scholarship she received is not available to transfer students. And her out-of-state private might not have accepted all her CC credits, or might have only counted many of them as elective credits, meaning she would have had to go for more than 2 additional years to complete a degree. It would also have been more difficult to fit in a semester abroad, which she will be doing this fall as a junior.
In a state like NC, which has great CCs, as well as outstanding and affordable universities and a clear articulation agreement so you know exactly how credits will transfer to state universities, starting at CC is a great way to save money. But it’s not the only path that makes sense for every kid.
Well there are kids who worked hard in HS then go on to party for 4 years in college, then there are the late bloomers who partied in HS but work hard and do well when they get to college. Different people develop differently. Many gifted kids excel in school right from the start, but there are also gifted kids who were bored to tears K-12 and ended up underperforming K-12, when these kids get to college, they often begin to right their course because either a) they realize it’s time to get serious, or b) they start to enjoy what they are learning.
CC is one of the best kept secrets of US higher ed. We are fortunate to have such a benevolent system of education that gives kids lots of second chances. Most other countries in the world (maybe even all) do not have such a system. If you failed high school, you can forget college, or that career in law, medicine, master’s degree in anything, which means forget any high paying career in professional services. In Germany kids are tracked into college vs. non-college after primary school at age 10. In Finland kids are put on college vs. vocational track at age 16. Only in the US can a person go from failed HS -> CC -> Bachelor’s -> Master’s -> PhD in any subject of his/her choosing.
In our state more and more gifted kids are taking advantage of Running Start to attend CC in their last 2 years of HS. It’s definitely a smart way to go since the state pays for Running Start, so you essentially get the first 2 years of college fully paid for, and graduate with an AA the same time you get your HS diploma. By age 20 you already have your bachelor’s and are ready for grad school or start your career, 2 years ahead of other kids. Many of these kids also qualify for merit aid when they start their first year(as a junior) at the local flagship, often admitted directly into the honors program, and essentially get a free ride for college. I think that’s the smart way to do it.
I think you’re going to be in for a rude awakening when you think that you can just “transfer to whatever school you want”
@cmsjmt You’re exactly right, and pretty much described my situation perfectly.
I feel like it was almost beneficial for me get through my partying stage early. I know so many people that go to top schools in my state (UVA specifically) but get horrible grades because they just party all of the time. They obviously had to be extremely focused in high school to get into UVA, but does that really even matter if they aren’t applying themselves in college?
@cmsjmt, it’s really country-dependent. For instance, in Germany and Switzerland, they may track early, but a vocational track doesn’t necessarily mean a non-professional low-paying job. To become a software developer in Germany or banker in Switzerland, you’d traditionally go through the apprenticeship system, not through college.
People reach their goals from different paths. It is great that yours seems to be working out for you. It is definitely a good option especially since you seem happy with your decision. I wish you luck as you move forward in your schooling. Just keep an open mind when you are thinking about how other people choose to pursue their opportunities and run their lives.
Kudos to @cmsjmt, who did an excellent job of capturing today’s realities. There are some very serious misconception that students cannot get the mythical “college experience” at a Community College (CC). CCs today are nothing like it was 10 to 20 years ago. I happen to visit a CC (two separate campuses) that my high school child attends while still in high school (Dual Enrollment) and was blown away with the state-of-the-arts facilities, abundance of parking spaces and the textbooks used (many written specially for CC students) by their student. Having accumulated close to 50 College credits while still in high school, my child will complete a 4-year college degree by the age a 20 and enter the workforce with a professional degree. All those credits were transferable and paid for by the state/local school board (tuition, fees and books). The college students I saw on campus seem to be enjoy their CC experience just like any other 4-year students.
The majority of 4-year university students (> 54%) commute to campus just like CC students. Those that do live on/off campus hold part-time jobs and have very little time for greek life and partying. A significant number cannot afford this “college experience” that many tend to speak about on this forum. In states [California, NC, Florida, TN(?)] with very low CC rates, it makes more sense for students to attend a CC before going off to a 4-year university. With the ever rising cost of College tuition, I do see a pattern of very bright kids going the CC route these days and the CCs are making significant strides in attracting these students. In my state, many CCs are now offering Bachelor’s Degrees in certain majors, which have put them at odds with the State University System.
If I had to do it over again, I would have done my first 2-years at a CC and then transfer to a 4-year College. I found out that doing it that way, a significant number of CC transfers finish at a 4-year University with a much higher GPA, since their CC grades does not transfer to the 4-year institution (at most, if not all, University that I familiar with)!
Well said, @madamecrabster
@Drcne1 The world is a big enough place for people to find there own personal paths. I have a dd who chose an allied health career which meant that a CC was her end path for her formal education. She is making a great income and is incredibly happy.
Equally, I have had a child who could not even think about attending a CC post-high school b/c he was taking 300 level classes during high school. Having just finished his “freshman” yr in college, he only has a handful of in-major classes left to complete for a double major, is making an excellent wage this summer working on a research project, and is attending college on full scholarship. (FWIW, he did not spend his high school yrs stressed and nothing but a workaholic. He loves what he spends his time doing.)
But, I do agree that life is too short to spend all your time only focusing on what comes next to the point that you forget that today is the day you have to live. Balance is normally a good choice. 
There are plenty of scenarios that one may take longer to graduate by transferring from CC particularly if after 2 years. First, certain program/major has a minimal semester requirement. For instance, Ross (business school at UMich) needs 3 years, ChemE major core curriculum alone needs 2.5 years. These are years counted after entering the program not from freshmen year. Those who are admitted to a 4-year university directly may declare their major by the end of freshmen year start the program in sophomore year. Second, there may be certain courses not offered at the CC but required for the major at the 4-year university. This happens very often. So those admitted directly at the University can finish the program on time while students transferred from CC would need to catch up after the transfer. Lastly, even if CC does not cause you to take longer time to finish the degree, the laziness in high school years will as you may not have any AP credits. Many students enter college with a full year of credits or more. So compare to those hard working students, the lay back ones are taking longer time to graduate.
Nevertheless, I do know some very smart students took the CC route to save money. I even know one who finish her BSc from UMich in 3.5 years including 3 semesters at a CC. So the problem is not going through the CC route.
If the guaranteed transfer university is all you want at the end, the you probably don’t need to work very hard in high school with and without going through the CC. Just note that most 4-yr universities would not guarantee transfer from all CC. Even those who accept transferred students from CC regularly, some credits may not be transferred and that may also lead to longer time to graduate at the end.
Uh, maybe so they don’t have to go to college with people that value education as little as you do? And also to get into colleges in between the Ivy League and CC. To get scholarships. To master material, not merely pass it. Etc.
Would you want to see a doctor who had this attitude towards school?