I turned in my applications for Cal State Schools, and I plan on majoring in Pediatrics Nursing. I have heard from several people that it is better and more cost efficient to complete your pre-requisite classes at a community college first, and then later bridge over into your Cal State School. So how this works is, I would be taking two years of general education at a community college, and then would be transferring in to take my classes for my major through my acceptance letter to the Cal State. Most people who get accepted into a four year college forget about this opportunity, even though it has several benefits like getting first pick at classes, and paying less for college expenses. Four year colleges can cost up to three times more than community colleges, which could ultimately save a lot of money for future tuition at the Cal State. However, I have also heard that if you have already decided on your major, it is better to go straight into the Cal State that you were accepted to. This ultimately provides many social opportunities, and you have the chance to get to know your school and your professors early on as a Freshman; furthermore, starting out at your school of choice gives you more benefits when it comes to extracurricular and on campus involvement. Both of these pathways have huge benefits, but I was wondering which path seems more beneficial for me? Is anyone else considering community college first? -Hannah Kearney
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Attending Community College First VS. Attending a University First
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Good question! Honestly, I view this subject in terms of money. If you go to a community college for general ed it can save you thousands of dollars. However, there is a additional benefit that most people don't know. If you take several courses in community, but do a majority in a CSU your degree will say you took all of your years in a CSU which is really impressive in the eyes of employers. With that in mind both options seem incredibly viable for success. So it all depends if you can afford to go straight into a CSU or not. I actually can kinda relate to this, because my former Calculus tutor took the community college route. According to him, he could afford UC Berkeley so he took a year in community and transferred as soon as possible. Now he has a 4 year degree from Berkeley! In terms of extracurricular and campus involvement I am sure if you play a sport in community college you can transfer that into a CSU. Of course, the university you are transferring to may make you do some stuff to make sure you qualify to join their team like tryouts. Honestly, when it comes to social opportunities such as campus involvement it all depends on you. If you are dedicated and willing to be involved you're bound to make friends easy and make a huge impact on campus. Well that's my opinion on the matter; hope this information helps! -Bryan Thach
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, I have heard from a lot of people that the main reason people are scared to go to community colleges first is because they end up staying for a long time. Community colleges are good option, they are a lot cheaper and we have a lot around our area. If you plan on going to a community college before a four year, I think you should just stay on track and have a plan of when you are going to transfer. That is the main thing. You don't want seven years to go by and then realize you are still at a community college. As long as you have a plan, a community college is a good idea!- Jaelyn Jurado
ReplyDeleteI feel that going to a community college first is totally fine. A student has time to prepare for their future and transfer to a 4 year university that will lead them to the well desired degree. Some people tend to choose going straight to a four year university only to get the experience and opportunity that college brings. I feel that people are so eager to leave and branch outside of their community and start to meet new people that exceed their comfort zone. Many people tend to stop right after community college which is not bad; however, the community college students should still be focused on their overall goal which is to graduate with some sort of degree.
ReplyDeleteNice question! I was honestly wondering the same thing but history related. I was thinking of going the community college route because this could help save a lot of money but this would give me the chance to see if this is really what I want to do for the rest of my life. There's nothing wrong with thinking about community if it means saving a lot of money and not having too much debt after college. Plus if you think that community would help you get experience and more then you should think about it as an option.
ReplyDeleteI was also thinking about attending a community college first. To me, it's a way of getting started in a cost efficient way. If you have a solid plan on what you want to do, then I think that you should consider a community college.
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, debating whether to go straight into a four year university or to a community college first is a valid question. In deciding, I suggest you evaluate the pros and cons of each path. The advantages of going to a community college are that you save money and get a chance to complete pre-requisites. However, if you want to transfer into a Cal State or a UC, it is important to stay on top of grades since it is easier to slack off in a community college. In four years universities, you build a bond with the campus and get a better education, in my opinion. However, it is expensive and more of a challenge. At the end of the day, no matter where you go, college will be difficult; but it is important to stay persistent on your goal to finish and become a nurse.
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