Should I start at a community college & transfer or apply to a 4yr college?

Question

I was home-schooled and will be starting older than most students (26). Should I go to a community college first and then transfer/apply to a regular 4yr college to finish that last 2 or 3 yrs or should I apply straight for a 4yr private college? What are my chances either way? I always hear of ppl starting at a community college first then transferring. Note, I will be taking my SAT & CLEP before applying community or private.

I would really appreciate the best advice possible. Thank you very much!

I should have mentioned: Cost aside. My goal is to finish quickly while with excellent grades and also have a relatively nice social experience. My BIGGEST concern is if going straight for the 4yr college hurts my chances of being accepted vs. going to CC first. Thanks! :)

Answer 1

If you go to a community college, make sure you get a degree before going on to a four year college, because then the school you are transferring to has to accept all your class credits in total. This will help you graduate on time and within budget.
Otherwise, the new school can pick and choose which courses that you've already passed, they will give you credit for towards their graduation. You will end up having to retake courses or go an extra year, unless you have a two year degree coming in.
They're in it for the money too, don't give them the chance to run the bill up on you.

Answer 2

If your test scores and application package are strong, I would suggest that you begin at a four-year college.

Community colleges are a very good way to get the basic courses out of the way at a lower tuition cost, so if budget is a big concern, that may be a wise way to go.

However, you will have difficulty, I think, finding other students who are your age at a CC. A four-year school may have older students as well as a pool of graduate students who will be your age.

Also, there are 4 year colleges that are not private, so don't limit your search. If I were you, I would search for a school that has a high percentage of students in my age group, whether private or not. College is partly about the classes -- but it is also partly about the broadening experience. You will want to meet diverse people, but you will also want to be able to socialize with some people your own age. Also, many classes require a lot of classroom participation, and having input from only 18-20 year olds (in those basic, freshman classes) may be less than ideal for you.

That said, I wish you all the best in your pursuit of higher learning. I got my BA at 33 and am about to finish my MA, so I know first-hand the struggles and joys.

Answer 3

I returned to school at 35 y.o. I did my first two years at community college and transferred to a state 4-year college. I feel that this was a wonderful experience for me. The community college had smaller classes where I was able to get to know my professors. The professors were truly excellent - many of them were, in my opinion, far superior to the professors at the state university.

I also found the smaller campus less confusing and less intimidating than the state school campus.

You will also notice that there are a lot more older students at the community college, so you will have a lot of people with much in common with yourself.

Good luck, enjoy your experience. Getting my degree truly changed my life!

BeBe

Answer 4

It's cheaper to go to a community college first, yet you get the same exact degree from the 4-year school whether you were there 2 or 4 years. So it makes sense to go the community college route.

Answer 5

If you don't really know what you want to do - go to a community college - make sure that the classes you are taking are transferrable, and you can get a lot of the basic stuff out of the way - cheaper, easier, and then go to a 4 year school to work on your degree.

Good luck!

Answer 6

My advice for students starting at a two-year school who do intend on moving on afterward. Have an idea of what school you will be transferring to and take classes that you know will transfer. I have worked at three different private four-years, and I can tell you it is rare everything transfers nice and neat. It is not uncommon for a person with an associate's degree to still have to take five more semesters, and not simply two years, to graduate.

Answer 7

it's more about the money issue.

community colleges are cheap! maybe a couple thousand dollars a semester

private colleges are dead expensive probably a couple TEN thousand dollars a semester

Try and get scholerships and financial aid or else you will end up like me in debt till your 40

Although, living on campus is a valuable life expierience in itself. Maybe you should live on campu at a comunity college to see what it's like.

No one hardly cares either whether you got your degree from a community college or a private school unless the private school in question is like Harvard law or something...

Answer 8

Start at CC/the transfer credits over.This allows a easy transition to college. Be selective of CC,depends on your major. Your chances depends on SAT score.

Answer 9

You'd be better off starting small, at least for the social aspect of it. That's what I did before going to a private college.

Answer 10

Yes, I would!! It will be a heck of a lot cheaper! Smaller class rooms = less stress. The teachers are a lot more willing to meet with you one-on-one if you have questions. I say go for it!!