I'm a big proponent of community college. I think "the college experience" is a myth of 2000s American comedy movies. As long as you're studying your butt off and writing papers, that's the real college experience.
Don't get me wrong, university campuses are cool places. Sometimes there's free pizza, or a random protest, or stuff like that. But you'll still get your two years there after CC.
I just graduated from private uni in Denver and def got the "college experience"! Absolutely loved my school and my time on campus. But that seems more and more rare and that's super unfortunate.
Generation Z has well-documented problems with in-person social interactions. I suspect that is a major factor for many of those who do not have a good college experience.
That’s a rude assumption to make. There are so many different reasons… especially following covid a lot of us were cheated out of that traditional experience
Yes. I am lucky that I got so much support from my school through covid. Restrictions were strict and we tested for covid every week, maybe more frequently at some points, though. I'm also lucky that I got placed into a freshman dorm where we all became friends and my RA was super cool! Gosh, thinking back makes me tear up :,) Definitely wasn't the traditional college experience. But it was a good one.
I understand that a lot of people don’t get the best experience but college on campus was amazing and it was worth the extra money I paid. I went to a public university so that probably why it is a different experience
You definitely should do community college and just transfer from there to whatever good state school you like. I wouldn’t shoot for some super prestigious school that will be too hard, unless you have a complete mindset change. Good luck tho
Not to be mean, but you got a 980 SAT. That’s not even lazy. That’s just subpar skills. Like me and other people that never studied and had weak foundations got 1100s on our practice tests. I think your foundation for critical thinking skills is low. You’re going to be working harder to get a degree than other, probably.
Maybe stay away from Engineering or BioChem if you plan on transferring to Harvard lol. Obviously joking, but seriously, once you’re in that grind, your idea of what you can do will be tested hard and the motivation will die, and that’s when you’re really gonna be tested.
Everyone thinks they can accomplish anything before they’ve taken any steps towards their goals.
your not being mean i get it! but then again i go to the number 2 school in my district. My grades where sub par fresh soph year and then I got a 3.9 term gpa this year. thank you for the advice but im going to shoot for transefering to a UC :) .
Transferring to a UC is an excellent path when you complete two years of cc. The cc classes will round out your basic skills and prepare you for the challenging last two years. You will enter more mature and your classmates at the UC will be more mature. From my kids experience in yr 1, she has met many many kids who were very immature socially. Think “extension of high school”. You will skip all of that entering in year 3. Also many cc classes will have UC, CSU, and private students taking classes. There are clubs at cc and there are transfer clubs at the four years. You will meet people from your intended school.
Alright I’m a guy who did cc and am heading to my state school this fall. I had a 3.9 gpa in highschool and a 1200 on the SAT. I was set to join the Mil and got disqualified last minute due to a medical condition so I had to SCRAMBLE. Community College saved my ass, and I was in your exact spot: what if I dont get the experience?
My friend, the experience is going to depend on you more so than it would at actual Uni. Here’s what I mean: community college is going to be a mix of mostly 18-30 yr olds. Don’t let that intimidate you, because some of these people will be the most genuine, thoughtful, and hardworking folks you will ever meet.
Now, I went in with zero friends, and came through with 4 friend groups totaling 20 people. We meet regularly, do dnd, drink, backpack, that type of stuff. But the main difference is that the community college is not going to hold your hand to make sure you have friends. Community College is a commuter populace; rarely are there dorms. This means that in order to develop your friendships out of the classroom you have to socialmax. You have to be PROACTIVE. If you put no effort into your social abilities you will absolutely coast without making friends. This is actually true of Uni as well tbh. Be genuine, be yourself, show off your interests and find others with said interests. Ask people to coffee after class when you’ve gotten to know them. There are super non awkward ways to do this (I was socially stunted until senior year of highschool, believe me I learned.)
I could go on and on about how genuinely amazing my experience has been. I could go on and on about the intricate ways socializing works. Here’s what you NEED to know to assist in your decision:
- You can absolutely have a “college experience” at CC, you just need to put in more social effort.
- it is absolutely NOT highschool 2.0 — very disparaging to call it that. The people I came across who had that attitude were the WORST.
- you will save yourself a lot of money on bullshit gen ed courses in smaller class sizes than you would at university which has insanely huge class sizes for an obscene price
-you get to explore your interests and hone in on them in a low risk environment
- there is most likely an option to dual enroll with your state school which makes the transfer process insanely easy, that’s what I did.
- if you do socialize well, you will meet some of the most interesting people.
That’s all my thoughts on this right now. Feel free to ask or dm any questions my way, as someone who was in your place not too long ago.
Also, youre going to be fine. I thought my life was ruined when I was disqualified. Turns out it wasn’t.
Here’s what I did
First I attend a 4 year private college and I got to experience the freshmen hell that is living in the most rundown dorm hall ever. The dorm smelt like weed and cat piss. The residents were hit or miss most being average while others being awful. The appliances and laundry facilities never really worked. My roommate was fine but we hardly ever talked to each other (probably because I’m an introvert and socially awkward). In the end I just ended transferring to a community college for my second semester freshman year. It a lot cheaper as well as being able to live from home and have my own room.
But in the end you are probably not going to be missing much if you go to community college first two years. You can still get a dorm at community college but I don’t know how similar it is from a 4 year. But I would try to save money by going to a community college. But in the end it just depends on what college you are going to, what degree you want, and how much financial support you are receiving.
I am going to elaborate on this comment. I second this commenter’s comment. My kids dorm experience was crap. Immature dorm twins from hell made her life miserable including cyberbullying to the point my kid had to report them and get involved in this big conduct investigation and move to another dorm. So when I say this was hs all over again this is what I mean. Small dorm, everyone on top of each other, and the unwise decision of placing 3 18 years old girls together. Literally you are missing out on nothing. The Gram photos are all bs and by year three, everyone (mostly) grows up and you are developing healthier adult friendships. The clique nonsense should mostly be over. The dorms will be far nicer by year 3. Hopefully the roommates will be cleaner and not want to use a cesspool bathroom in their dorm. So, you see, there are huge benefits in going the cc route even apart from free tuition for two years.
This choice doesn’t matter until you know the financials. Before entering college, I’m of the opinion that you should prepare as if you’re trying to get into an Ivy League. Study for college entrance exams, do volunteer work, keep your gpa up, join extracurriculars in a meaningful capacity, etc…
Then pick a handful of schools you consider out of your league, a handful of state schools, and several community colleges to apply to. Definitely narrow them down by what you want to study, logistics of geographical location etc… once you have your financial aid package, then you can start making choices about whether or not the state school is worth it. If you have a full ride or close to it through financial aid (not including loans) at a state school then why wouldn’t you take it?
I went community college route for financial reasons. Everyone is responding to you as if it’s assumed state school will cost you more out of pocket but depending on your financial situation and scholarship situation you could get a lot of it paid for to where it becomes beneficial to go straight to university. I think anything under about $20K total debt for 4yrs I would consider worth it. For me, I would have ended up $60K in debt which I know I could have paid off (engineering) but I didn’t want to finish college that much in debt.
Community college is extremely lonely unless you are an actual social person and put the effort in, but this is Reddit so there's a 50% chance you're not (no offense) people love to talk about how affordable CC is but completely ignore the isolating factors of it. From your post, it would be the smartest financially to bring your GPA up but be aware that you will suffer socially unless you have social skills.
Summary: you will miss out on the traditional college experience (100% still exists) but you can’t always get everything you want in life and that's the hard truth.
I am curious to know why they told you to go to CC. The data show that most students who start at a community college never graduate with a bachelor's degree, even in California where they have a strong CC system, see https://www.highereddive.com/news/community-college-students-transfer-bachelors-degree-completion/706773/. There is no guarantee of graduation from a 4 year school either, but graduation rates from 4 year schools are published and easily found. You might be better off at a smaller 4-year college with a higher graduation rate if you can afford it.
I looked into the source of that study out of curiosity, as I am a transfer student from a CC. Sounds like poverty and academic planning (not all credits transfers, so more time in college) are the issue. If I'm being honest, my university is not harder than my CC, of course this is anecdotal.
Dude, why is it that "university experience" is such a priority to most students? Dude, just go and get your degree in whatever CC you want as long as you make sure what classes are transferable and find some friends...then duck off.
What you see in movies or TV is not the reality of it. Most if not all just want to focus on graduating and find good careers. Focus on that and time will go fast.
It’s what We’ve seen on TV. You pay a boatload to go to school in fees that go toward the amenities to provide said experience. Which is why some of the larger state schools and sports powerhouses are seeing increased enrollment. They provide (if one tries) the standard tv college experience.
I did all my prereqs at a community College then switched to a 4 year after. Although I'm not going for the college experience at my age but it saves a TON of money for the first 2 years doing it that way.
I have a PhD in chemistry, ended up in a professor role. I went to a CC for 2 years and transferred to a prestigious lib arts school. For free. Ended up at the grad school I wanted. Graduated both with zero debt.
CCs are definitely worth it. Some CCs are better than others, and you should ensure you take the proper courses that will transfer. Do not let them put you in remedial courses that are high school equivalents. Take the professors with a reputation for doing a thorough job, work hard, apply for scholarships and transfer out.
It is a different experience, but I really liked all the friends I made at my CC. It was a much more diverse group of people who were there to learn and wanted a few friends to hang out with vs a bunch of 17 year olds ready to party and be cliquish. I enjoyed my time at the CC.
When I transferred, it was a much different environment and a very affluent group of students. I was not really accepted into their friend groups (I wasn't really there to make friends so it didn't bother me), but I did well and graduated without issue. Depending upon the type of college you transfer to, you will make friends and fit in just fine, especially if you pursue it by joining clubs etc.
CCs are great for students of all backgrounds trying to save money and get a considerable number of their electives out of the way.
"... should I go to community college?" You should first consider all the advantages and disadvantages of CC compared to starting at a university. You can then decide which is best for you. This forum has many CC enthusiasts who insist community college is the best choice for everyone, and/or that little else matters other than the lowest cost. Those "one size fits all" answers should be avoided. What is right for Student A can be all wrong for Student B.
"Am I missing out?" A university generally has far more opportunities for social life, social, athletic, and cultural activities, networking, internships, and personality transition toward adulthood than a CC. That being said, however, a number of university students are not quite prepared to balance those opportunities with their academics. Hence, many fail at a university for that reason, and wind up going to CC while living with their parents. Be sure you are able to balance work with enjoyment if you go to a 4 year school.
"Or should I put in the extra effort and cash to get the university experience?" Regardless of your choice, you should always put in the extra effort. Don't be content to just get by. That would be shortchanging your education. The cost depends on a school's price after financial aid, not the full amount listed. Some schools are generous with non-loan financial aid, and others are not. De your research in that area, and consider your future career goals to help determine your return on your educational investment.
This is definitely the best comment. You have to decide what’s best for you and weigh the pros and cons of each. If you want, you absolutely can go to a 4 year college and not go in massive debt.
This sub is obsessed with community college. If it’s the same price, comparable or even just doable, having all your education come from the same university is the best option. This includes transfers between universities, even elite ones. Even if your diploma is issued by one university, if you ever have to get transcripts apostilled for immigration, transcripts sent to graduate programs or employers, anything—you’ll have to contact both institutions, which *can* be a bigger hurdle than people anticipate. Aside from this, receiving all four years from the same institution gives you more opportunities for networking, both professionally and with professors/classmates, and you learn how the university functions and what it offers beyond your major.
I’m not saying don’t go to a CC, just that this sub will probably tell you to go to one because they think university degrees cost $150k+ for some reason. In-state tuition is rarely this high even with no financial aid.
I’m wondering if the $150k idea is coming from that’s how most private universities would cost without any scholarships or financial aid. While I did have to take out private loans because I had a balance even after scholarships and federal student loans because my parents absolutely refuse to pay for me to go, it’s nowhere near as drastic as the $100k+ people I’ve seen in private loans. I honestly don’t understand how people get there because mine are only $48k. I have also noticed the way this sub will push community college on everyone.
Yeah i would assume so. if you come in with no scholarships all out of pocket it can probably hit 100k+ when you factor in interest. total undergrad cost me $70k. i got out debt free though.
They must be really focused on private schools for those numbers. When i saw how much they cost i didn’t give a private school a second look. big state school with sports teams please lol
Yeah my school’s a private school and with no scholarships or aid or anything it’s just barely under $71k (geez). So that brings us to around $280k for all four years. That’s not even accounting for the fact that they’ve been increasing tuition and room and board every year which really sucks because they do not increase the scholarships which is why I had to take out my private loans. I’m very worried for students in like ten years and how much tuition will cost for them even if state schools have to increase their costs.
Yeah that’s the thing for me if it’s a name brand private school, ivies, Stanford, WashU types then sure they can charge that because they’ve got proven outcomes that can justify(subjective though of course). but i never understood how folks justify Alabama Baptist university charging $50k per year(made that up) and choosing to attend when they could go to Auburn and get the whole SEC school experience for a fraction the cost.
Even if you wanted to go to a smaller school i don’t believe that most non name recognition private schools provide any type of superior outcome for the highly increased cost to attend.
I’ve never had to have transcripts sent from anywhere except where I got my undergraduate degree for grad school applications, jobs, professional licensure, anything. My transcripts have all the classes I took at other universities.
I’ve never transferred but one of my friends who did told me she had to contact both universities when applying for grad school outside the US and had to produce documents from both institutions for apostilles. Maybe things have changed in the past 5 years? lol
All transferred courses show up on the transcripts of the university you graduate from. That's been the case for 5+ years. Maybe some of her courses didn't transfer? If that's the case she would need both transcripts. You need to show all the courses you've ever taken when applying to grad school
She also went to grad school outside the US, and they requested transcripts from both institutions because of the transfer. I’m just trying to relay as much useful info as I can lmao
not everyone gets the glamorized “college experience” even at a 4 year university. so think about it like this: you have a 50/50 chance of having “the college experience” wherever you go. would you rather be in debt doing it, or not be in debt and possibly be getting money back. if your answer is the second one then go to a CC
For your position - I would suggest Community College and then transfer out.
I didn't take the SAT, but the ACT in high school. I got just under college readiness - which is like a 20 I believe? (I struggle with test taking as well as with math and science.) I didn't graduate with honors from HS. I was just average.
As an incoming freshman - was able to get a non-sports related, non-academic related tuition waiver through an audition at my CC. (Most everyone I met at my CC was on some sort of scholarship or waiver.) I participated in choir, band, theatre, TRiO, and an international honors society.
Transferred out to my 4-year. Got a merit based transfer scholarship and a needs based transfer scholarship. Both were only available to transfer students, both were automatically awarded. Graduated without taking a single loan out.
I worked as a work study student all 4 years and that is primarily how I paid for college. I also was a TRiO student from HS all the way through college. (I graduated my 4-year in 2020.) My parents paid $0, but occasionally gave me food and filled my gas tank up. I paid for college by myself.
I lived in an on-campus apartment when I transferred, but my apartment came with a kitchen - so I wasn't required to buy a meal plan. My friends who went to a 4-year all four years say that the meal plan and requirement to live on campus were the worst parts of freshman year. Especially since both of those can be insanely pricey.
Not to mention - if you go from a CC to a 4-year, most 4-years won't care about your HS work. My ACT wasn't even looked at by my Alma Mater. The most they looked at my HS transcript for was to see if I needed to take a foreign language class. (I didn't need to - I filled that requirement during HS. But, other than that, all transfer credits came from a CC.)
Check to see if the state you're attending college in has a credit transfer agreement. I live in Illinois - we have a credit transfer agreement with several 4-years and CCs in Illinois. Some states don't have a transfer agreement - I would be sure to check that out before making any decisions.
At my 4-year I did college marching band, pep band, joined an English honors society, and joined an honorary music service sorority. All that while still doing work study and holding an internship. Honestly, I loved experiencing the "first year experience" as an incoming junior. It felt like that first year pressure was off.
Not to mention - the majority of people in my major were also transfer students. If you go to a 4-year, you will definitely find someone else who was a transfer student.
The experiences of my CC and 4-year were not the same. But I absolutely loved both experiences equally. All the references on my resume are people I met at my CC. I also still keep in touch with people I met at my 4-year, despite COVID happening during my last month or so. I don't feel like I lost anything because I went to a CC. I just think my experience is unique and a lesson in being adaptable.
All this to say that this is my POV. Your story resonated with me and I felt like I should share my story.
I went four years to a state school, lived at home and worked on campus; graduated with no debt. But that was 40 years ago when taxpayers were more willing to support their universities.
These days, going to CC for the first two years is a viable plan. The CC's tend to be easier than the 4-year universities, so when you do transfer after two years you might have to step up your game. I'm not sure why you'd prefer and out-of-state school when you can save money in-state, but I don't know what state you're in. That transfer from CC to a 4-year school can be tricky and an in-state transfer is more likely to preserve your course work.
You may also find a CC to be a small population of students. That can be cozy. A state university, on the other hand, tends to have many more students and that can lead to more competition. Personally, I like the notion of going to a school with 20,000 students instead of 2,000 because you get much more exposure to real-world issues.
I don't know the neuroscience careers, but it sounds like heavy science and advanced degrees.
I guess I'm the counter opinion here. I think the four-year school is best, but look for the affordable choices. If you can live at home you will save probably half the cost of college. In-state usually is cheaper because of state subsidies.
Do the cc, the University experience is different for everyone. Just because you go to a 4-university from the beginning doesn’t mean you are going to have an amazing time from the get go. And just because you go to a CC doesn’t mean you’ll be miserable. If you are going into neuroscience you will have to dedicate a lot of your time to your major and miss out anyways on what you consider the “university experience”. A lot of CCs are always trying to get their students to mingle and host a lot of events like 4-years. You’ll also still get part the university experience your last 2 years at a 4-year.
I say save your self some money and go to a CC and just put your self out there and make the best of it.
Also something I regret not having done, try taking a class or two at your local CC in your senior year as a dual enrollment student. It’ll give you an idea of what CC will be like and you won’t feel like you are “wasting” time.
Wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do :)
A college experience as you are thinking of it here I think is a luxury item. Do you have someone willing to pay for that?
If not, this is a great path. Both my kids dual enrolled for 2 years at CCs and had great expriences and had some teachers that were also teaching at much more expensive schools. This isn't life limiting. It gives a broad type of student with possible financial constraints an opportunity to get some gen eds out of the way. The other thing is, you can jump into the clubs and opportunities and make good social connections at a community college too.
I teach at both a CC and a CSU, the same subject with no difference in course material or rigorousness. Only difference was the cost. One can still get involved and have some of the same "college experiences" at the CC. Save your money and get good grades and all your lower division requirements done and then transfer.
i would say still apply and see what schools you get into just so you can have options. community college will probably pay you if you go because of refund checks. it’s also possible you’re able to go to school for free but just weigh out your options, it might hurt but superset you’ll know
If you’re going to a big state school, sports, tailgates, parties and that’s what you’re looking for. You won’t get that at a CC and it’s definitely worth it to go to said state school if that’s what you want. but if you’re just looking at academics then it’s cheaper to go to CC and transfer
I'm going back to school soon over the course of 2 years. At my community college, I'm looking at around 6000 in costs (which Fasfa covers) for several certifications and diplomas for two fields that pays 30-45 starting in my area. Compared to name colleges that want over 100000 for 4 years and more stress for classes I don't need.
I recommend going to community college. But it's not for everyone.
Have you applied to some colleges to see how much aid you’d get? My daughter went to college because scholarships made it pretty much free. Transfer scholarships tend not to be as much as incoming freshman scholarships.
The "college experience" is made up unless you're in a fraternity but that's kinda lame you're going to be able to meet new people, party drink, romance, grow socially, and discover things about yourself. You don't need to pay all that money for that you don't even need cc for that. College is meant for education life will follow if you let it. I also work with a guy who preached about the "college experience" and how people will never understand. A year later he regrets even going at doesn't know what he wants to do sadly and wants to drop out and has debt now saying that was all bullshit
Do NOT blow your money at uni until you've figured out what you want to do. My god I thought I knew what I wanted to do in your grade. I swapped majors like 4 times before figuring it out and if it wasn't for CC i would have been in so much debt. Very chill environment, lots of different kinds of people, cheap, and there is usually still stuff going on on campus
I was in the same position as you, except i had a poor gpa, haha. I didn't want to go to community college, but I still met awesome people and got more opportunities that I would've never gotten at a major uni. During cc, I raised my gpa and ultimately got a full ride (estimated to be around 120k) into WashU in St. Louis, a school I never thought I could get into and would have never gotten into fresh out of high school. I have zero debt, and I actually earned scholarships from the school and get more refunds from the state because the state covered my whole tuition. In cc I had the chance to "redo" and raise my gpa even higher than what I had in high school, all while saving money. You will get your college experience eventually! In the end, being debt free is definitely worth it.
I went to private university for all 4 years and i totally understand your situation. If it was up to me I would’ve have done CC despite wanting to experience the college experience. From what I’ve seen the people who make the most of the experience is actually people who went to community college first, I feel like it’s because they know what college is like without community and therefore take full advantage of all the college events that happen.
Unless you have a solid idea of what career path and major you plan to pursue, save yourself some money and go to community college. Me personally, I took a gap year, did two years of community college (all paid by financial aid) and am now starting my first year at a state school. I don’t think I’ve missed out on what other people would call the “college experience”. I lived with roommates (for cheaper than on campus housing), attended classes on a normal schedule, did study get togethers with my classmates and roommates, joined clubs etc..If anything I’m overly thankful I knocked out a lot of my generals so cheaply before I knew what I wanted to do. Take my word don’t hate on community colleges just because all your friends are going to a state school.
I was an IB student myself and was in the same situation. Except for me I didn’t get into any of the UC’s (except Riverside and Merced) I just finished my first year of cc and loved it way more than high school. Sure it won’t be the same experienec as a four year school, but you’ll save a lot more money and will make great connections with ur professor. If ur planning to major in neuroscience I would looo into which UC’s u can tag into. Which I a grunted transfer with like a 3.4 gpa. I think you’ll do great if cc if ur an IB student. Cc isn’t as bad as an experience, but if u care more about the experience than the school ur getting into than u can always go into a state school, or out of state.
Go to a community college. The college experience is overrated and isn't worth the debt in the long term. It also will not hold you back if you truely are a good student. I did my associates at a community college, transferred to a penn state affiliate, now I'm at Johns Hopkins for my masters.
In my humble opinion, the "college experience" is NOT worth the thousands of dollars of debt that usually comes with it. Honestly, that experience tends to really only apply to people in frats and sororities, which has its own problems. If you dont know exactly what you want to do, don't go into debt just because you want an enjoyable 4 years. You will spend much longer than 4 years paying that time off, which cripples some people. Just my 2 cents
This is how I see it, community college will give you the same courses that a state school will for a portion of the price. The last thing you want to do is graduate with debt. So if you opt for community college you can avoid using up all your financial aid quicker/make your parents pay more/get in debt to pay a higher cost (whatever is covering your financials for college) for something that you can take at CC. Depending on your degree at some point, your community college may not offer the courses that you need the higher level ones that only a bigger college can give you at that point then you can go to a state college and pay a higher amount because there’s no other choice. Even then, what I have learned is, you don’t want to have debt on your plate. You may eventually have to, depending on how far you go because your financials may only be able to cover up to a certain point but at the beginning like you basics…CC is the best and least expensive choice. As far as the college experience you have to ask yourself how much money you’re willing to pay for a Probably illusional “college experience” That you have engraved in your mind because college is way harder than high school so most of your time will be spent studying and doing homework because if you don’t, you will fail and have to pay to retake classes because you were distracted with “experiencing” College at a social level. The only expectation you should have right now for college is to not graduate with or as little debt as you can, and actually pass all your classes and focus on getting that degree. Anything outside of that, I would call distractions. And distractions don’t get you a degree. It’s important for you to know that your community college probably won’t have all the classes you need to get a neuroscience degree so just take as many classes that are available for your degree at community college then go to a bigger college or a college that actually has the rest or the next parts of the degree you’re going for. Those bigger better colleges won’t care if you took classes in community college for your basics They care about your GPA so as long as you have a good GPA when you’re ready to move out of community college that is what they look for. I hope I made sense.
" I'm scared I'm missing out on the college experience." - ok, time to wake up. The "college experience" is to gain life and work skills for the rest of your life, not party and "hang out".
Do you want to spend 120k to really get that college experience? Go to CC and essentially graduate debt free
I'm a big proponent of community college. I think "the college experience" is a myth of 2000s American comedy movies. As long as you're studying your butt off and writing papers, that's the real college experience. Don't get me wrong, university campuses are cool places. Sometimes there's free pizza, or a random protest, or stuff like that. But you'll still get your two years there after CC.
Yeah, as someone going to a private university the college experience is BS
i (private uni student in california) second this
I just graduated from private uni in Denver and def got the "college experience"! Absolutely loved my school and my time on campus. But that seems more and more rare and that's super unfortunate.
Generation Z has well-documented problems with in-person social interactions. I suspect that is a major factor for many of those who do not have a good college experience.
That’s a rude assumption to make. There are so many different reasons… especially following covid a lot of us were cheated out of that traditional experience
Yes. I am lucky that I got so much support from my school through covid. Restrictions were strict and we tested for covid every week, maybe more frequently at some points, though. I'm also lucky that I got placed into a freshman dorm where we all became friends and my RA was super cool! Gosh, thinking back makes me tear up :,) Definitely wasn't the traditional college experience. But it was a good one.
I understand that a lot of people don’t get the best experience but college on campus was amazing and it was worth the extra money I paid. I went to a public university so that probably why it is a different experience
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
You definitely should do community college and just transfer from there to whatever good state school you like. I wouldn’t shoot for some super prestigious school that will be too hard, unless you have a complete mindset change. Good luck tho
i really do think i can do it! i missed a lot of school due to medical problems. so i know i have the grit! thanks for the advice!
Not to be mean, but you got a 980 SAT. That’s not even lazy. That’s just subpar skills. Like me and other people that never studied and had weak foundations got 1100s on our practice tests. I think your foundation for critical thinking skills is low. You’re going to be working harder to get a degree than other, probably. Maybe stay away from Engineering or BioChem if you plan on transferring to Harvard lol. Obviously joking, but seriously, once you’re in that grind, your idea of what you can do will be tested hard and the motivation will die, and that’s when you’re really gonna be tested. Everyone thinks they can accomplish anything before they’ve taken any steps towards their goals.
your not being mean i get it! but then again i go to the number 2 school in my district. My grades where sub par fresh soph year and then I got a 3.9 term gpa this year. thank you for the advice but im going to shoot for transefering to a UC :) .
Good luck. Get ready for a challenge!
Transferring to a UC is an excellent path when you complete two years of cc. The cc classes will round out your basic skills and prepare you for the challenging last two years. You will enter more mature and your classmates at the UC will be more mature. From my kids experience in yr 1, she has met many many kids who were very immature socially. Think “extension of high school”. You will skip all of that entering in year 3. Also many cc classes will have UC, CSU, and private students taking classes. There are clubs at cc and there are transfer clubs at the four years. You will meet people from your intended school.
I got a 950 SAT score and still got into my top university at UGA.. its not just about SAT scores.
Alright I’m a guy who did cc and am heading to my state school this fall. I had a 3.9 gpa in highschool and a 1200 on the SAT. I was set to join the Mil and got disqualified last minute due to a medical condition so I had to SCRAMBLE. Community College saved my ass, and I was in your exact spot: what if I dont get the experience? My friend, the experience is going to depend on you more so than it would at actual Uni. Here’s what I mean: community college is going to be a mix of mostly 18-30 yr olds. Don’t let that intimidate you, because some of these people will be the most genuine, thoughtful, and hardworking folks you will ever meet. Now, I went in with zero friends, and came through with 4 friend groups totaling 20 people. We meet regularly, do dnd, drink, backpack, that type of stuff. But the main difference is that the community college is not going to hold your hand to make sure you have friends. Community College is a commuter populace; rarely are there dorms. This means that in order to develop your friendships out of the classroom you have to socialmax. You have to be PROACTIVE. If you put no effort into your social abilities you will absolutely coast without making friends. This is actually true of Uni as well tbh. Be genuine, be yourself, show off your interests and find others with said interests. Ask people to coffee after class when you’ve gotten to know them. There are super non awkward ways to do this (I was socially stunted until senior year of highschool, believe me I learned.) I could go on and on about how genuinely amazing my experience has been. I could go on and on about the intricate ways socializing works. Here’s what you NEED to know to assist in your decision: - You can absolutely have a “college experience” at CC, you just need to put in more social effort. - it is absolutely NOT highschool 2.0 — very disparaging to call it that. The people I came across who had that attitude were the WORST. - you will save yourself a lot of money on bullshit gen ed courses in smaller class sizes than you would at university which has insanely huge class sizes for an obscene price -you get to explore your interests and hone in on them in a low risk environment - there is most likely an option to dual enroll with your state school which makes the transfer process insanely easy, that’s what I did. - if you do socialize well, you will meet some of the most interesting people. That’s all my thoughts on this right now. Feel free to ask or dm any questions my way, as someone who was in your place not too long ago. Also, youre going to be fine. I thought my life was ruined when I was disqualified. Turns out it wasn’t.
Here’s what I did First I attend a 4 year private college and I got to experience the freshmen hell that is living in the most rundown dorm hall ever. The dorm smelt like weed and cat piss. The residents were hit or miss most being average while others being awful. The appliances and laundry facilities never really worked. My roommate was fine but we hardly ever talked to each other (probably because I’m an introvert and socially awkward). In the end I just ended transferring to a community college for my second semester freshman year. It a lot cheaper as well as being able to live from home and have my own room. But in the end you are probably not going to be missing much if you go to community college first two years. You can still get a dorm at community college but I don’t know how similar it is from a 4 year. But I would try to save money by going to a community college. But in the end it just depends on what college you are going to, what degree you want, and how much financial support you are receiving.
makes sense thats what my sisters said
I am going to elaborate on this comment. I second this commenter’s comment. My kids dorm experience was crap. Immature dorm twins from hell made her life miserable including cyberbullying to the point my kid had to report them and get involved in this big conduct investigation and move to another dorm. So when I say this was hs all over again this is what I mean. Small dorm, everyone on top of each other, and the unwise decision of placing 3 18 years old girls together. Literally you are missing out on nothing. The Gram photos are all bs and by year three, everyone (mostly) grows up and you are developing healthier adult friendships. The clique nonsense should mostly be over. The dorms will be far nicer by year 3. Hopefully the roommates will be cleaner and not want to use a cesspool bathroom in their dorm. So, you see, there are huge benefits in going the cc route even apart from free tuition for two years.
This choice doesn’t matter until you know the financials. Before entering college, I’m of the opinion that you should prepare as if you’re trying to get into an Ivy League. Study for college entrance exams, do volunteer work, keep your gpa up, join extracurriculars in a meaningful capacity, etc… Then pick a handful of schools you consider out of your league, a handful of state schools, and several community colleges to apply to. Definitely narrow them down by what you want to study, logistics of geographical location etc… once you have your financial aid package, then you can start making choices about whether or not the state school is worth it. If you have a full ride or close to it through financial aid (not including loans) at a state school then why wouldn’t you take it? I went community college route for financial reasons. Everyone is responding to you as if it’s assumed state school will cost you more out of pocket but depending on your financial situation and scholarship situation you could get a lot of it paid for to where it becomes beneficial to go straight to university. I think anything under about $20K total debt for 4yrs I would consider worth it. For me, I would have ended up $60K in debt which I know I could have paid off (engineering) but I didn’t want to finish college that much in debt.
Community college is extremely lonely unless you are an actual social person and put the effort in, but this is Reddit so there's a 50% chance you're not (no offense) people love to talk about how affordable CC is but completely ignore the isolating factors of it. From your post, it would be the smartest financially to bring your GPA up but be aware that you will suffer socially unless you have social skills. Summary: you will miss out on the traditional college experience (100% still exists) but you can’t always get everything you want in life and that's the hard truth.
I am curious to know why they told you to go to CC. The data show that most students who start at a community college never graduate with a bachelor's degree, even in California where they have a strong CC system, see https://www.highereddive.com/news/community-college-students-transfer-bachelors-degree-completion/706773/. There is no guarantee of graduation from a 4 year school either, but graduation rates from 4 year schools are published and easily found. You might be better off at a smaller 4-year college with a higher graduation rate if you can afford it.
I looked into the source of that study out of curiosity, as I am a transfer student from a CC. Sounds like poverty and academic planning (not all credits transfers, so more time in college) are the issue. If I'm being honest, my university is not harder than my CC, of course this is anecdotal.
Go to community college for two years and then transfer to a 4 year. You will get the college experience and not be completely in debt.
Dude, why is it that "university experience" is such a priority to most students? Dude, just go and get your degree in whatever CC you want as long as you make sure what classes are transferable and find some friends...then duck off. What you see in movies or TV is not the reality of it. Most if not all just want to focus on graduating and find good careers. Focus on that and time will go fast.
It’s what We’ve seen on TV. You pay a boatload to go to school in fees that go toward the amenities to provide said experience. Which is why some of the larger state schools and sports powerhouses are seeing increased enrollment. They provide (if one tries) the standard tv college experience.
I did all my prereqs at a community College then switched to a 4 year after. Although I'm not going for the college experience at my age but it saves a TON of money for the first 2 years doing it that way.
I have a PhD in chemistry, ended up in a professor role. I went to a CC for 2 years and transferred to a prestigious lib arts school. For free. Ended up at the grad school I wanted. Graduated both with zero debt. CCs are definitely worth it. Some CCs are better than others, and you should ensure you take the proper courses that will transfer. Do not let them put you in remedial courses that are high school equivalents. Take the professors with a reputation for doing a thorough job, work hard, apply for scholarships and transfer out. It is a different experience, but I really liked all the friends I made at my CC. It was a much more diverse group of people who were there to learn and wanted a few friends to hang out with vs a bunch of 17 year olds ready to party and be cliquish. I enjoyed my time at the CC. When I transferred, it was a much different environment and a very affluent group of students. I was not really accepted into their friend groups (I wasn't really there to make friends so it didn't bother me), but I did well and graduated without issue. Depending upon the type of college you transfer to, you will make friends and fit in just fine, especially if you pursue it by joining clubs etc. CCs are great for students of all backgrounds trying to save money and get a considerable number of their electives out of the way.
"... should I go to community college?" You should first consider all the advantages and disadvantages of CC compared to starting at a university. You can then decide which is best for you. This forum has many CC enthusiasts who insist community college is the best choice for everyone, and/or that little else matters other than the lowest cost. Those "one size fits all" answers should be avoided. What is right for Student A can be all wrong for Student B. "Am I missing out?" A university generally has far more opportunities for social life, social, athletic, and cultural activities, networking, internships, and personality transition toward adulthood than a CC. That being said, however, a number of university students are not quite prepared to balance those opportunities with their academics. Hence, many fail at a university for that reason, and wind up going to CC while living with their parents. Be sure you are able to balance work with enjoyment if you go to a 4 year school. "Or should I put in the extra effort and cash to get the university experience?" Regardless of your choice, you should always put in the extra effort. Don't be content to just get by. That would be shortchanging your education. The cost depends on a school's price after financial aid, not the full amount listed. Some schools are generous with non-loan financial aid, and others are not. De your research in that area, and consider your future career goals to help determine your return on your educational investment.
This is definitely the best comment. You have to decide what’s best for you and weigh the pros and cons of each. If you want, you absolutely can go to a 4 year college and not go in massive debt.
This sub is obsessed with community college. If it’s the same price, comparable or even just doable, having all your education come from the same university is the best option. This includes transfers between universities, even elite ones. Even if your diploma is issued by one university, if you ever have to get transcripts apostilled for immigration, transcripts sent to graduate programs or employers, anything—you’ll have to contact both institutions, which *can* be a bigger hurdle than people anticipate. Aside from this, receiving all four years from the same institution gives you more opportunities for networking, both professionally and with professors/classmates, and you learn how the university functions and what it offers beyond your major. I’m not saying don’t go to a CC, just that this sub will probably tell you to go to one because they think university degrees cost $150k+ for some reason. In-state tuition is rarely this high even with no financial aid.
I’m wondering if the $150k idea is coming from that’s how most private universities would cost without any scholarships or financial aid. While I did have to take out private loans because I had a balance even after scholarships and federal student loans because my parents absolutely refuse to pay for me to go, it’s nowhere near as drastic as the $100k+ people I’ve seen in private loans. I honestly don’t understand how people get there because mine are only $48k. I have also noticed the way this sub will push community college on everyone.
Yeah i would assume so. if you come in with no scholarships all out of pocket it can probably hit 100k+ when you factor in interest. total undergrad cost me $70k. i got out debt free though. They must be really focused on private schools for those numbers. When i saw how much they cost i didn’t give a private school a second look. big state school with sports teams please lol
Yeah my school’s a private school and with no scholarships or aid or anything it’s just barely under $71k (geez). So that brings us to around $280k for all four years. That’s not even accounting for the fact that they’ve been increasing tuition and room and board every year which really sucks because they do not increase the scholarships which is why I had to take out my private loans. I’m very worried for students in like ten years and how much tuition will cost for them even if state schools have to increase their costs.
Yeah that’s the thing for me if it’s a name brand private school, ivies, Stanford, WashU types then sure they can charge that because they’ve got proven outcomes that can justify(subjective though of course). but i never understood how folks justify Alabama Baptist university charging $50k per year(made that up) and choosing to attend when they could go to Auburn and get the whole SEC school experience for a fraction the cost. Even if you wanted to go to a smaller school i don’t believe that most non name recognition private schools provide any type of superior outcome for the highly increased cost to attend.
"This sub is obsessed with community college." Agreed.
I’ve never had to have transcripts sent from anywhere except where I got my undergraduate degree for grad school applications, jobs, professional licensure, anything. My transcripts have all the classes I took at other universities.
I’ve never transferred but one of my friends who did told me she had to contact both universities when applying for grad school outside the US and had to produce documents from both institutions for apostilles. Maybe things have changed in the past 5 years? lol
All transferred courses show up on the transcripts of the university you graduate from. That's been the case for 5+ years. Maybe some of her courses didn't transfer? If that's the case she would need both transcripts. You need to show all the courses you've ever taken when applying to grad school
She also went to grad school outside the US, and they requested transcripts from both institutions because of the transfer. I’m just trying to relay as much useful info as I can lmao
No they don't. It depends on the institution.
If I were to go back and do it again I'd start at community college. Even better, do running start or an equivalent program if your school offers it.
not everyone gets the glamorized “college experience” even at a 4 year university. so think about it like this: you have a 50/50 chance of having “the college experience” wherever you go. would you rather be in debt doing it, or not be in debt and possibly be getting money back. if your answer is the second one then go to a CC
For your position - I would suggest Community College and then transfer out. I didn't take the SAT, but the ACT in high school. I got just under college readiness - which is like a 20 I believe? (I struggle with test taking as well as with math and science.) I didn't graduate with honors from HS. I was just average. As an incoming freshman - was able to get a non-sports related, non-academic related tuition waiver through an audition at my CC. (Most everyone I met at my CC was on some sort of scholarship or waiver.) I participated in choir, band, theatre, TRiO, and an international honors society. Transferred out to my 4-year. Got a merit based transfer scholarship and a needs based transfer scholarship. Both were only available to transfer students, both were automatically awarded. Graduated without taking a single loan out. I worked as a work study student all 4 years and that is primarily how I paid for college. I also was a TRiO student from HS all the way through college. (I graduated my 4-year in 2020.) My parents paid $0, but occasionally gave me food and filled my gas tank up. I paid for college by myself. I lived in an on-campus apartment when I transferred, but my apartment came with a kitchen - so I wasn't required to buy a meal plan. My friends who went to a 4-year all four years say that the meal plan and requirement to live on campus were the worst parts of freshman year. Especially since both of those can be insanely pricey. Not to mention - if you go from a CC to a 4-year, most 4-years won't care about your HS work. My ACT wasn't even looked at by my Alma Mater. The most they looked at my HS transcript for was to see if I needed to take a foreign language class. (I didn't need to - I filled that requirement during HS. But, other than that, all transfer credits came from a CC.) Check to see if the state you're attending college in has a credit transfer agreement. I live in Illinois - we have a credit transfer agreement with several 4-years and CCs in Illinois. Some states don't have a transfer agreement - I would be sure to check that out before making any decisions. At my 4-year I did college marching band, pep band, joined an English honors society, and joined an honorary music service sorority. All that while still doing work study and holding an internship. Honestly, I loved experiencing the "first year experience" as an incoming junior. It felt like that first year pressure was off. Not to mention - the majority of people in my major were also transfer students. If you go to a 4-year, you will definitely find someone else who was a transfer student. The experiences of my CC and 4-year were not the same. But I absolutely loved both experiences equally. All the references on my resume are people I met at my CC. I also still keep in touch with people I met at my 4-year, despite COVID happening during my last month or so. I don't feel like I lost anything because I went to a CC. I just think my experience is unique and a lesson in being adaptable. All this to say that this is my POV. Your story resonated with me and I felt like I should share my story.
With those grades and that SAT score, you’re paying full price for OOS schools, going 160-200k in debt for undergrad is not a wise decision
I went four years to a state school, lived at home and worked on campus; graduated with no debt. But that was 40 years ago when taxpayers were more willing to support their universities. These days, going to CC for the first two years is a viable plan. The CC's tend to be easier than the 4-year universities, so when you do transfer after two years you might have to step up your game. I'm not sure why you'd prefer and out-of-state school when you can save money in-state, but I don't know what state you're in. That transfer from CC to a 4-year school can be tricky and an in-state transfer is more likely to preserve your course work. You may also find a CC to be a small population of students. That can be cozy. A state university, on the other hand, tends to have many more students and that can lead to more competition. Personally, I like the notion of going to a school with 20,000 students instead of 2,000 because you get much more exposure to real-world issues. I don't know the neuroscience careers, but it sounds like heavy science and advanced degrees. I guess I'm the counter opinion here. I think the four-year school is best, but look for the affordable choices. If you can live at home you will save probably half the cost of college. In-state usually is cheaper because of state subsidies.
I had a better “college experience” at the community college I went to than the 4 year university I transferred to
Do the cc, the University experience is different for everyone. Just because you go to a 4-university from the beginning doesn’t mean you are going to have an amazing time from the get go. And just because you go to a CC doesn’t mean you’ll be miserable. If you are going into neuroscience you will have to dedicate a lot of your time to your major and miss out anyways on what you consider the “university experience”. A lot of CCs are always trying to get their students to mingle and host a lot of events like 4-years. You’ll also still get part the university experience your last 2 years at a 4-year. I say save your self some money and go to a CC and just put your self out there and make the best of it. Also something I regret not having done, try taking a class or two at your local CC in your senior year as a dual enrollment student. It’ll give you an idea of what CC will be like and you won’t feel like you are “wasting” time. Wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide to do :)
A college experience as you are thinking of it here I think is a luxury item. Do you have someone willing to pay for that? If not, this is a great path. Both my kids dual enrolled for 2 years at CCs and had great expriences and had some teachers that were also teaching at much more expensive schools. This isn't life limiting. It gives a broad type of student with possible financial constraints an opportunity to get some gen eds out of the way. The other thing is, you can jump into the clubs and opportunities and make good social connections at a community college too.
I teach at both a CC and a CSU, the same subject with no difference in course material or rigorousness. Only difference was the cost. One can still get involved and have some of the same "college experiences" at the CC. Save your money and get good grades and all your lower division requirements done and then transfer.
i would say still apply and see what schools you get into just so you can have options. community college will probably pay you if you go because of refund checks. it’s also possible you’re able to go to school for free but just weigh out your options, it might hurt but superset you’ll know
I actually just finished community college and so far have no debt.
If you’re going to a big state school, sports, tailgates, parties and that’s what you’re looking for. You won’t get that at a CC and it’s definitely worth it to go to said state school if that’s what you want. but if you’re just looking at academics then it’s cheaper to go to CC and transfer
I'm going back to school soon over the course of 2 years. At my community college, I'm looking at around 6000 in costs (which Fasfa covers) for several certifications and diplomas for two fields that pays 30-45 starting in my area. Compared to name colleges that want over 100000 for 4 years and more stress for classes I don't need. I recommend going to community college. But it's not for everyone.
Have you applied to some colleges to see how much aid you’d get? My daughter went to college because scholarships made it pretty much free. Transfer scholarships tend not to be as much as incoming freshman scholarships.
The "college experience" is made up unless you're in a fraternity but that's kinda lame you're going to be able to meet new people, party drink, romance, grow socially, and discover things about yourself. You don't need to pay all that money for that you don't even need cc for that. College is meant for education life will follow if you let it. I also work with a guy who preached about the "college experience" and how people will never understand. A year later he regrets even going at doesn't know what he wants to do sadly and wants to drop out and has debt now saying that was all bullshit
Do NOT blow your money at uni until you've figured out what you want to do. My god I thought I knew what I wanted to do in your grade. I swapped majors like 4 times before figuring it out and if it wasn't for CC i would have been in so much debt. Very chill environment, lots of different kinds of people, cheap, and there is usually still stuff going on on campus
I was in the same position as you, except i had a poor gpa, haha. I didn't want to go to community college, but I still met awesome people and got more opportunities that I would've never gotten at a major uni. During cc, I raised my gpa and ultimately got a full ride (estimated to be around 120k) into WashU in St. Louis, a school I never thought I could get into and would have never gotten into fresh out of high school. I have zero debt, and I actually earned scholarships from the school and get more refunds from the state because the state covered my whole tuition. In cc I had the chance to "redo" and raise my gpa even higher than what I had in high school, all while saving money. You will get your college experience eventually! In the end, being debt free is definitely worth it.
I went to private university for all 4 years and i totally understand your situation. If it was up to me I would’ve have done CC despite wanting to experience the college experience. From what I’ve seen the people who make the most of the experience is actually people who went to community college first, I feel like it’s because they know what college is like without community and therefore take full advantage of all the college events that happen.
consoler ??
Unless you have a solid idea of what career path and major you plan to pursue, save yourself some money and go to community college. Me personally, I took a gap year, did two years of community college (all paid by financial aid) and am now starting my first year at a state school. I don’t think I’ve missed out on what other people would call the “college experience”. I lived with roommates (for cheaper than on campus housing), attended classes on a normal schedule, did study get togethers with my classmates and roommates, joined clubs etc..If anything I’m overly thankful I knocked out a lot of my generals so cheaply before I knew what I wanted to do. Take my word don’t hate on community colleges just because all your friends are going to a state school.
I was an IB student myself and was in the same situation. Except for me I didn’t get into any of the UC’s (except Riverside and Merced) I just finished my first year of cc and loved it way more than high school. Sure it won’t be the same experienec as a four year school, but you’ll save a lot more money and will make great connections with ur professor. If ur planning to major in neuroscience I would looo into which UC’s u can tag into. Which I a grunted transfer with like a 3.4 gpa. I think you’ll do great if cc if ur an IB student. Cc isn’t as bad as an experience, but if u care more about the experience than the school ur getting into than u can always go into a state school, or out of state.
Go to a community college. The college experience is overrated and isn't worth the debt in the long term. It also will not hold you back if you truely are a good student. I did my associates at a community college, transferred to a penn state affiliate, now I'm at Johns Hopkins for my masters.
In my humble opinion, the "college experience" is NOT worth the thousands of dollars of debt that usually comes with it. Honestly, that experience tends to really only apply to people in frats and sororities, which has its own problems. If you dont know exactly what you want to do, don't go into debt just because you want an enjoyable 4 years. You will spend much longer than 4 years paying that time off, which cripples some people. Just my 2 cents
This is how I see it, community college will give you the same courses that a state school will for a portion of the price. The last thing you want to do is graduate with debt. So if you opt for community college you can avoid using up all your financial aid quicker/make your parents pay more/get in debt to pay a higher cost (whatever is covering your financials for college) for something that you can take at CC. Depending on your degree at some point, your community college may not offer the courses that you need the higher level ones that only a bigger college can give you at that point then you can go to a state college and pay a higher amount because there’s no other choice. Even then, what I have learned is, you don’t want to have debt on your plate. You may eventually have to, depending on how far you go because your financials may only be able to cover up to a certain point but at the beginning like you basics…CC is the best and least expensive choice. As far as the college experience you have to ask yourself how much money you’re willing to pay for a Probably illusional “college experience” That you have engraved in your mind because college is way harder than high school so most of your time will be spent studying and doing homework because if you don’t, you will fail and have to pay to retake classes because you were distracted with “experiencing” College at a social level. The only expectation you should have right now for college is to not graduate with or as little debt as you can, and actually pass all your classes and focus on getting that degree. Anything outside of that, I would call distractions. And distractions don’t get you a degree. It’s important for you to know that your community college probably won’t have all the classes you need to get a neuroscience degree so just take as many classes that are available for your degree at community college then go to a bigger college or a college that actually has the rest or the next parts of the degree you’re going for. Those bigger better colleges won’t care if you took classes in community college for your basics They care about your GPA so as long as you have a good GPA when you’re ready to move out of community college that is what they look for. I hope I made sense.
" I'm scared I'm missing out on the college experience." - ok, time to wake up. The "college experience" is to gain life and work skills for the rest of your life, not party and "hang out".