Two years at community college then transferring
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Anonymous
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Has anyone done this?
How did it work out? Would you recommend it? |
Anonymous
| I live in CA and a lot of people do this here b/c it's fairly easy to transfer into the UC system - not sure if that's the case everywhere though. And I think it would be much more difficult to transfer to private colleges. It's definitely a great way to save money. |
Anonymous
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My brother did it. He had a circuitous route through college. Basically he was at a private liberal arts college and was floundering in part because he wasn't mature enough to be away from home, in part because he was struggling with depression, in part because the social environment was a bad fit for him, and in part because he didn't know what he wanted to study. My parents pulled him out because they felt mediocrity and not taking one's education seriously was not worth 50K or whatever tuition was. He did community college at home for a couple years, figured out that he wanted to study engineering, and transferred.
It worked out well for him, but he did spend about six years in college. The main complaint he had was that not all his credits transferred and/or met distribution requirements and his major (mechanical engineering) had a lot of major requirements, so he had to spend 2.5 or 3 years at the last college he went to. If you go that route, you have to be careful about credits transferring and/or meeting particular distribution requirements at the next college attended. My brother-in-law did it for a variety of personal reasons. However, none of his credits transferred and he also ended up spending six years in college. I think it can work out well, but it can also result in spending a lot of extra time in school. |
Anonymous
| A lot of people are doing this now because it saves money. |
Anonymous
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Right. I have heard of people doing this to save money too. For my brother and brother-in- law it didn't really end up saving money because their credits didn't all transfer, but YMMV. Check to make sure the credits transfer for the college you want to attend if you want to go this route.
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Anonymous
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I know a family that do 2 years at Montgomery college, 2 at UMCP and then offer to pay for 1/2 of graduate school.
Mine are in HS and 8th right now. I am not going to force this plan but it is on the table. I know 3 people tha started at Montgomery college, then to a 4 year college. One owned his own business and very successful. The other two have good jobs and live well. |
Anonymous
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I did at the advice of a friend I met when I was at MC. I had no idea what I wanted to do but he suggested I go talk to the people at the school I wanted to go to.
I set up an appointment with them at Georgetown, told them I was at MC and what I was taking, they suggested what I should take and entered Georgetown as a junior and graduated on time. The people in their area would cringe at the thought that their dear child is not going off to some fancy college instead of taking the bus to MC. I graduated with zero debt and very happy I did it. I hope my kids plan on doing the same thing. |
Anonymous
| Yes, my husband did this. Two years of community college in MD & 2 years at Towson. His student loans are a tiny, tiny fraction of what mine are so I'd say it was definitely a very smart move. He has a great job. Only negative is he feels like he missed out on some of the "college life" experience since he was at a community college and then commuted to Towson & never lived on campus. |
Anonymous
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From what I have heard, it's easier said than done.
Only 20% of community college students actually transfer to a 4-year institution. And only 60% of those students actually earn a degree. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/11/08/high-graduation-rates-community-college-transfers |
Anonymous
Yes, but 20% is not an insignificant number of kids. Given that CC serves a wide range of kids from all backgrounds, ability levels and levels of ambition I'd say there's an opportunity there for kids who are motivated to go farther -- which includes many kids who might be deciding on this path or going straight to a 4 year college. |
Anonymous
But there's also value in being in a cohort of students determined to complete all 4 years too. |
Anonymous
| ^^ Also, in the Va system, you must take a certain no. of classes, maintain a certain GPA, and stick with it to transfer to college of your choice. NOVA has arrangements with 30 different colleges and universities. If you go to their site you can see what the requirements are for each. |
Anonymous
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My partners son did it. He was a c student, not sure what he wanted to do. Went to Montgomery College and really turned things around. He focused on grades and graduated from Brown. BTW, he diploma does not read Brown via MC.
It's a great way to go. I might also add that according to my partner it is much easier getting into most any college as a JC transfer than as a freshman. By then many students have dropped out. Good luck!! |
Anonymous
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After i posted on here i saw a post aobut schools that are well known but easy to get into. Typical mindset here.
people worry what they will say when people ask them where thier kid is going to school.... |
Anonymous
| It's a great idea for lots of reasons and I'd have no problem saying DD was going to NVCC for 2 years (the VA guaranteed admission from NVCC to VA's colleges is fairly well known among parents of teens). But for us, it is absolutely time for DD to get out on her own. No big dramas, just an 18 yr old ready for the world. Now she's learning that won't be happening at the school of her top choice. But she's adjusting her expectations and now working very hard at school. |