Posters on DCUM say that CC doesn't matter, that all prospective employers ask is where their degree is from. Well, I worked at a company who rescinded employment offers once they discovered an applicant did not spend all four years at their graduating schools. They did not see two years at a CC plus two at the graduating school as equivalent to four years at the graduating school. So, it does matter to some people.

Anonymous wrote:I went to community college. I did that while working full time at a CPA firm and part time at a tennis club nights and weekends. So I worked about 65 hours a week. It took me five years to graduate.

It was fine. I'm 40 and nobody cares where you went to college.

Not so. In the DC area, where you went to college defines you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you not send her to a regular college? 3.0 is a good GPA. How sad you cannot give her a chance, if you can afford it?

I think it says a lot about you that you think community college is “not a chance.” None if it good.

NP - Of course CC is better than no college, but the peer group, academic expectations and teacher quality are just not the same, and no one should pretend that they are. I teach AP classes to homeschoolers and they regularly tell me that the CC classes are much easier.

I dropped out of high school because it was boring and the people were terrible. My parents said I had to go to CC instead if I wanted to use their car. I went to Howard CC for a semester, then three state schools. After working and doing a master's in Europe, did a PhD at an Ivy. I now work at a major research university on the west coast.

After attending seven universities in three countries, and teaching at four, I am totally shocked at how much time and energy people here put into the college application and deciding process. The quality of teaching is not that different. Probably better at HCC than at the Ivy because the teachers cared about teaching, not cranking out pubs. You can learn stuff in any of these contexts, and you get out what you put in. Plenty of students at these high-end places are burning their parents money and not getting any smarter. FWIW, my spouse never went to college and earns twice as much as I do. College is overrated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 y.o. and 3-4 specific urban CCs (E & W Coast) in mind for him as first choices. They're open admission and amazing institutions.

Not that there's anything wrong with CC, but you're already planning for your 3 YEAR OLD to make that a first choice? Seems a little (read: a lot) premature.

You do you! If you want a kid to think about CCs as a first choice around here, you have to start early. Witness this thread.

But my point is that what, in a mere 3 years of life, leads this person to believe CC should be a first choice? You have no clue how the trajectory of your child's life is going to end up. Imagine knowing from an early age that your parents think you should attend CC no matter what. Right or wrong, there are societal stereotypes at play that could really impact a child's self-confidence and desire to work hard.

If it's a financial thing, this person is clearly already planning 15 years in advance, so start saving! The fact that this person has any colleges "in mind for him as first choices" ignores the fact that the student has a say at all in such an important life decision. Planning for the future is one thing - creating a self-fulfilling prophecy is another.

Thanks for your input!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 y.o. and 3-4 specific urban CCs (E & W Coast) in mind for him as first choices. They're open admission and amazing institutions.

Not that there's anything wrong with CC, but you're already planning for your 3 YEAR OLD to make that a first choice? Seems a little (read: a lot) premature.

You do you! If you want a kid to think about CCs as a first choice around here, you have to start early. Witness this thread.

But my point is that what, in a mere 3 years of life, leads this person to believe CC should be a first choice? You have no clue how the trajectory of your child's life is going to end up. Imagine knowing from an early age that your parents think you should attend CC no matter what. Right or wrong, there are societal stereotypes at play that could really impact a child's self-confidence and desire to work hard.

If it's a financial thing, this person is clearly already planning 15 years in advance, so start saving! The fact that this person has any colleges "in mind for him as first choices" ignores the fact that the student has a say at all in such an important life decision. Planning for the future is one thing - creating a self-fulfilling prophecy is another.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a fine path, OP!

I teach at a CC. My advice to you and your daughter is to make SURE her advisor and her professors are aware that she intends to transfer to a 4-year school in time. There are students with all kinds of goals and ambitions and life circumstances at CC, and some will make it and some are disillusioned, so the ones who are are 4-year-school-bound can get lost in the fray if they aren't vocal about it and/or stand out in class via participation and grades. Many of the professors will also adjunct at nearby colleges/universities: they can be a good resource for connections and recommendations, and possibly internships.

Make sure she has a study-situation in place that is different from high school. Encourage her to use the library at her CC. Is she getting an apartment? Is she hoping to intern or work? If so, have her connect with school resources to see if they can help her find something remotely applicable to her goals.

She will do fine, and she/you will have much less debt for it.

Another CC lecturer. Would agree with this.
Would also add that if your CC offers a study skills class I highly recommend your child take it in her first semester.

This. I would be great if all CCs had a mandatory study skills class for their degree seeking students especially. College is different than HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you not send her to a regular college? 3.0 is a good GPA. How sad you cannot give her a chance, if you can afford it?

I think it says a lot about you that you think community college is “not a chance.” None if it good.

+1 really awful. Sounds like a good choice, op

+2 better to not waste time/money going to a lower level 4 yr than 2 yr at CC and a better 4 yr for the last 2 yrs. As a PP noted, people don't care where you spent your first 2 yrs in college. I think this is great way to save money, too, and it gives students a chance to mature a bit before heading out on their own further away.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you not send her to a regular college? 3.0 is a good GPA. How sad you cannot give her a chance, if you can afford it?

I think it says a lot about you that you think community college is “not a chance.” None if it good.

+1 really awful. Sounds like a good choice, op

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 3 y.o. and 3-4 specific urban CCs (E & W Coast) in mind for him as first choices. They're open admission and amazing institutions.

Not that there's anything wrong with CC, but you're already planning for your 3 YEAR OLD to make that a first choice? Seems a little (read: a lot) premature.

You do you! If you want a kid to think about CCs as a first choice around here, you have to start early. Witness this thread.

Anonymous wrote:This is a fine path, OP!

I teach at a CC. My advice to you and your daughter is to make SURE her advisor and her professors are aware that she intends to transfer to a 4-year school in time. There are students with all kinds of goals and ambitions and life circumstances at CC, and some will make it and some are disillusioned, so the ones who are are 4-year-school-bound can get lost in the fray if they aren't vocal about it and/or stand out in class via participation and grades. Many of the professors will also adjunct at nearby colleges/universities: they can be a good resource for connections and recommendations, and possibly internships.

Make sure she has a study-situation in place that is different from high school. Encourage her to use the library at her CC. Is she getting an apartment? Is she hoping to intern or work? If so, have her connect with school resources to see if they can help her find something remotely applicable to her goals.

She will do fine, and she/you will have much less debt for it.

Another CC lecturer. Would agree with this.
Would also add that if your CC offers a study skills class I highly recommend your child take it in her first semester.

It's ok OP. My sibling didn't have the best GPA, wasn't very mature, and we didn't have money, so sibling went through the military route, then went to CC at 21, then went on to a *very* prestigious public university majoring in STEM. I went to a no name state univ. None of us have any school loans, though my sibling did take out a loan for grad school. All paid off in a few years. We both make six figures.

It will take your DC longer to get to where she may want to be at, and it may be humbling, but it's not the end of the world unless you and your family make it a big deal.

My daughter will be going to CC on full scholarship for 4 years. She's then moving to San Francisco to work with sexual assault victims. She's going into law enforcement. It's her dream, and she will have the education that she needs to pursue that dream. Who cares where she's going to receive that education, as long as she's? happy? SF is her favorite place to be, and what better place to live and work than where your heart is? I believe in supporting my kids, no matter what they want to do with their lives.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would you not send her to a regular college? 3.0 is a good GPA. How sad you cannot give her a chance, if you can afford it?

Depends on SAT score. I'd recommend a gap year before sending a student with a 3.0 off to a university.

You must be joking. A 3.0 is a B average. What planet do some of you live on?

You get a B average just for showing up at most high schools. 50% of all high schoolers have an A average (3.6+ GPA).

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/17/easy-a-nearly-half-hs-seniors-graduate-average/485787001/

For kids who struggle just to pass HS classes, this is one of the most insensitive and ignorant things I've seen in a long time. Fortunately, this is a small percentage of kids. But, no, you don't get a B just for showing up.

+1
I have a child with LD who works his ass off in middle school because he thinks he needs As. Because this type of thinking is so rampant in our area, he is very upset to get Bs. Yet often a B is a true accomplishment for him. It’s certainly not “given” to him. He’s going to HS next year and I worry for him because I know this sort of talk will be devastating.

I want him to go to a 4 year college but I have prepared myself from day one that he might have limited options. It pains me to hear about people judging kids for choosing what they consider less selective options.

I went to a top 25 university for my first year of college. Bailed on that after only getting a 1.7 GPA. Long story short, maturity and a failure to thrive independently were my downfalls.

After dropping out, I enrolled in CC, but I was deliberate with my actions while I was there. EVERY course I took at CC transferred to state schools. 2 years there with a 4.0, then 2 years at the state school (also 4.0), and nobody has ever asked me to provide info on every college I attended, only the place where I graduated from.

Now, 6 years later, I work for a financial services company, I've gotten promoted every year, and I have a wonderful wife, kid, and house. My wife also went to a poorly ranked state school, and even after getting only a mediocre GPA in college, she's pulling in six figures in her own career in management.

It's far from the end of the world, just make sure your child defines the end goal with attending CC. Plenty of folks fizzle of CC not because of the rigor, but because they're not motivated to get it done.