2 years community college transfer such a good option?

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mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
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Part of college is figuring out what you want to major in. Community college doesn't really let you do that.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: FleshLight
It's cheaper and easier but you'll be missing out on supposedly the best year of your life (where you get laid).

I got laid in CC.

I chose CC for two reasons. One was I wasn't ready to go away yet, and I just didn't want to wait a year only working/doing nothing (I was accepted out of high school to Pharmacy School, with a requirement of passing about two terms of some bio/chem stuff.).

I found out once their the Biology section was actually better than what I'd get at other colleges (U of Miami and U of Florida)...I ended up doing three years taking mostly my chemistry through organic II and biology/zoology through Comparitive Vert. Anatomy.

I had more access in my labs and my instructors had more time for people with problems. It was harder and not easier....a lot of my friends that headed straight to UF thought what I had to do for projects and labs was ridiculousm, but later on in Junior+ years I had a much easier time.

Now all schools are different and all areas where your CC is are different. Mine happened to be in a pretty decent place to live and party.
 

cy7878

Senior member
Jul 2, 2003
394
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0
Originally posted by: PhaZe
Originally posted by: UncleWai
I started this thread because I see a real inbalance between community college grading and university grading. I know a person who is in economic major transfered from a CC with a 4.0gpa. Since then, the person's GPA is below 3.0.

It just kinda piss me off that I am working my ass in UW and be stucked in this university when the people in community college can get As handed to them and send them to Uc berkeley.



You don't carry the GPA to the university transfer. Yes, a good GPA at CC helps a lot when applying, but when you do transfer you only get credit hours. In my case, I will start at Univ of Houston in the Fall. I have a non-UH gpa and will have a UH gpa once I get UH grades. I also have 44 hours credit at UH.

One downside of CC is that if you take all your basics at CC and you then transfer, you will be stuck with your core classes. My friend transfered all 66 credits that he was allowed, but now is stuck with only engineering courses. If you can handle the load, go for it. But if you like to have a social life, then hold off on some of the basic classes so that you won't have a heavy schedule at the university. take two core classes and two political science classes or something.

Common mistake people make thinking their CC GPA doesn't count in applying to grad schools. I can tell you right now, on that application (for Med, LAW, or Business) they want you to list EVERY college level course EVER taken and ALL grades are computed. Yes, you CC 4.0 won't show up on your undergrad transcript, but it will average into your application GPA.
 

sonz70

Banned
Apr 19, 2005
3,693
1
0
I was thinking of doing this, being a high school drop out, got my A+ cert and went back to adult school and 1 credit away from my HS Diploma, was considering going to CC for 2 years before even trying for Universities
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
Originally posted by: FleshLight
It's cheaper and easier but you'll be missing out on supposedly the best year of your life (where you get laid).

well i haven't gotten laid yet, this year sucks and so does college


How so?
 

PoPPeR

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2002
6,993
0
0
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
Originally posted by: FleshLight
It's cheaper and easier but you'll be missing out on supposedly the best year of your life (where you get laid).

well i haven't gotten laid yet, this year sucks and so does college


How so?

 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Originally posted by: Gibson486
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
Originally posted by: FleshLight
It's cheaper and easier but you'll be missing out on supposedly the best year of your life (where you get laid).

well i haven't gotten laid yet, this year sucks and so does college


How so?


oops, i quoted teh wrong thing....


Part of college is figuring out what you want to major in. Community college doesn't really let you do that.
 

PoPPeR

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2002
6,993
0
0
Part of college is figuring out what you want to major in. Community college doesn't really let you do that.
one could make the argument that a 4 year university doesn't either. EVERYONE is pretty much taking GE classes their first two years. Sure you take a couple classes skewed towards what you want to major in, but there's no decisive advantage to one over another. A whole sh!tload of people change majors while attending a four year university. The difference? They paid 20x as much as the community college kid
 

nj

Senior member
Mar 15, 2001
802
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Originally posted by: Orsorum
Originally posted by: nj
I graduated from my Seattle Central CC with a 3.85 but my GPA doesn't transfer to my new school (it just got me a 'yes' on most of my apps). I'm in NYC now and I've got a 3.65 at my 4 year. So yeah, there's a difference in GPA, but there's also more competition, better profs and stricter grading.

Incidentally, UW didn't honor my DTA from SCCC and sent me packing (they changed the DTA between the time I started SCCC and the time I applied), so you can imagine how happy I am with that school. I also worked there for 3 years so I knew the inside scoop (too many kids, budget problems everywhere, low wages, union grumblings etc).

The UW is a great school IMO, but it has some serious problems w.r.t. funding and overall strategic planning. The WA state legislature really screwed over a lot of cc students with the DTA business. IMO they should honor any requests made by graduating cc students in the next year or so, as the DTA was an integral part of many peoples' planning.


They started screwing DTA students long before they "officially" screwed us over by doing away with it. They told me in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't qualify for UW even though I officially did under the DTA, the next summer they did away with the DTA for good. As an employee of UW I knew that they were 5k or more over the allotted students that the state funded for and were losing money for every student after that, that they accepted. I also knew of the financial woes they had, job cuts and the union's scheduled strike on the school (which I assume never came to be).

Anyway. The school is a fine one indeed, I do not doubt it's "top tier" status, I simply have issue with the students it screwed over because of bad budgeting and overcrowding
 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
6,615
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I'll be going to CC because I didn't get accepted to the UW. It seems to me to be a much easier path, although it will be more stressful considering I'm putting all this work in without really knowing what will come of it. I'd hate to get my two years done and still be denied admission.

Luckily for me I'll be living at a UW fraternity anyways so the community college thing isn't too much of a setback for the college life.

Two of my brothers also took this path because they were forced to. I think most people would prefer should to attend the college. It'll be more difficult acedemically but at least you won't have to deal with the headaches of transfer planning.
 

udonoogen

Diamond Member
Dec 28, 2001
3,243
0
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Originally posted by: UncleWai
Originally posted by: Otaking
What's wrong with Univeristy of Washington? I think it's a perfectly good school. I'll be applying there for business school later this year. (although it's not my first choice...)

hopefully I will see you there in business school, I am re-applying for fall :D
The business school is good in UW, but I can't get in because I blew my first two years.
There's nothing wrong with UW, but if i have the option to go to ucb, i would go to ucb in a heartbeat.


it doesnt matter where you go ... its how well you do/perform and the people you know. seriously, i think hookups get you farther than anything else. i went to Cal and loved it ... but there are plenty of people that went to CSU's that are doing just as well if not better. also, i suggest getting internship/work experience in college.

ALSO ... i have a friend that went to CC, went to Cal for 2 years and then went to UC Davis for law school. theres no shame in going to CC ... you get your degrees and they dont say TRANSFER STUDENT on it. you get your first job and ppl wont even care what college you went to. choose your own path but if you want to get far, just keep working hard.

edit: grammar, additions
 

UncleWai

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2001
5,701
68
91
Originally posted by: chrisms
I'll be going to CC because I didn't get accepted to the UW. It seems to me to be a much easier path, although it will be more stressful considering I'm putting all this work in without really knowing what will come of it. I'd hate to get my two years done and still be denied admission.

Luckily for me I'll be living at a UW fraternity anyways so the community college thing isn't too much of a setback for the college life.

Two of my brothers also took this path because they were forced to. I think most people would prefer should to attend the college. It'll be more difficult acedemically but at least you won't have to deal with the headaches of transfer planning.

What do you plan to major in?
It's hard to get into the competitive majors if you transfer to UW. It's actually easier if you apply quality schools outside of washington.
 

Landroval

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2005
2,275
0
0
Originally posted by: UncleWai
I started this thread because I see a real inbalance between community college grading and university grading. I know a person who is in economic major transfered from a CC with a 4.0gpa. Since then, the person's GPA is below 3.0.

It just kinda piss me off that I am working my ass in UW and be stucked in this university when the people in community college can get As handed to them and send them to Uc berkeley.


A lot of undergrad courses are ridiculously easy. And lower-level courses usually are easier to get high grades in. What makes you so sure this person's current grades are because he/she got away with easier work before? Even if it's true, it won't hurt you i you actualy learned what you went there to learn. If he really is substandard and manages to graduate, his employers will surely notice.
 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
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Originally posted by: UncleWai
Originally posted by: chrisms
I'll be going to CC because I didn't get accepted to the UW. It seems to me to be a much easier path, although it will be more stressful considering I'm putting all this work in without really knowing what will come of it. I'd hate to get my two years done and still be denied admission.

Luckily for me I'll be living at a UW fraternity anyways so the community college thing isn't too much of a setback for the college life.

Two of my brothers also took this path because they were forced to. I think most people would prefer should to attend the college. It'll be more difficult acedemically but at least you won't have to deal with the headaches of transfer planning.

What do you plan to major in?
It's hard to get into the competitive majors if you transfer to UW. It's actually easier if you apply quality schools outside of washington.

I was happy to read all the UW-oriented replies.. I noticed that after I made my post.

I am still somewhat on the fence, but in the end I would not be upset with a major in Journalism. The other ones I've been thinking about are Environmental Science, and my brother is pushing me to go for Business but I don't think I'm really up for that.

I don't believe the communications program is too difficult to get into but the journalism concentration only admits about 20 students.. so I suppose I should write for the Seattle Central paper or something.

EDIT: Also by the time I move up to Seattle I'll be at 35 credits with a crappy 2.6 GPA (from running start here in Tacoma). So I have some catching up to do at Central.
 

UncleWai

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2001
5,701
68
91
Originally posted by: Landroval
Originally posted by: UncleWai
I started this thread because I see a real inbalance between community college grading and university grading. I know a person who is in economic major transfered from a CC with a 4.0gpa. Since then, the person's GPA is below 3.0.

It just kinda piss me off that I am working my ass in UW and be stucked in this university when the people in community college can get As handed to them and send them to Uc berkeley.


A lot of undergrad courses are ridiculously easy. And lower-level courses usually are easier to get high grades in. What makes you so sure this person's current grades are because he/she got away with easier work before? Even if it's true, it won't hurt you i you actualy learned what you went there to learn. If he really is substandard and manages to graduate, his employers will surely notice.

The person's spot could have been filled with a high schooler with a higher potential to suceed. I am angry at the over-inflated grades in CC which makes the person seem more qualify than he/she is supposed to be.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
35,375
2,497
126
I'm a fan of community college.

Here's a run down on why:

1. Teachers
- The teachers at my CC care way more than my teachers at University (Ole Miss) did. It's not even close, really. Especially in English, the teachers seemed insulted that they had to teach a bunch of non-English majors. They seemed to view it as a waste of their time. Calculus was about the same. The math teachers at my CC? They'll stay *hours* late helping you if you want. They persist until you say you understand.

2. Office hours
- Mandantory office hours at my CC make it so that if you need to talk to a teacher, he or she is available at a convinent time. Usually it's 730-4 with classes during the day.

3. Cost
- This wasn't much of an issue when I went to Ole Miss because I had scholarships. I dropped out of university when I was 16 because my mom died. Now that I'm 22, the $15K / year cost for a state school and the fact that the universites aren't anywhere near job markets makes the $2K / year community college a God-send.

4. Grading
- Yes, they're easier on grades. This is a good thing, because usually you use the first two years to get the core requirements out of the way. I don't want to be graded hard in World Literature I. Once I get to university and start taking the hardcore major-related classes (I'm a math major so that would be Topology, Advanced Calc, Abstract Algebra, etc), then I'll get the full treatment. I should be graded hard on those.

5. Scholarships
- This may or may not be an issue, but my CC has lots of scholarship programs for when students get to University.

6. Location
- At my CC, I'm near my home. Things aren't wildly different. The people all speak correctly. We get fried catfish on Fridays. I'm homey-feeling. While advernture is fine, there's something to be said for sweet-tea and Saints fans.

And yes, there are plenty of opportunities to get laid at CC. Maybe even more than university, because the girls that go there probably aren't used to having lots of money spent on them. ;)

 

Landroval

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2005
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Originally posted by: UncleWai
Originally posted by: Landroval
Originally posted by: UncleWai
I started this thread because I see a real inbalance between community college grading and university grading. I know a person who is in economic major transfered from a CC with a 4.0gpa. Since then, the person's GPA is below 3.0.

It just kinda piss me off that I am working my ass in UW and be stucked in this university when the people in community college can get As handed to them and send them to Uc berkeley.


A lot of undergrad courses are ridiculously easy. And lower-level courses usually are easier to get high grades in. What makes you so sure this person's current grades are because he/she got away with easier work before? Even if it's true, it won't hurt you i you actualy learned what you went there to learn. If he really is substandard and manages to graduate, his employers will surely notice.

The person's spot could have been filled with a high schooler with a higher potential to suceed. I am angry at the over-inflated grades in CC which makes the person seem more qualify than he/she is supposed to be.

Inflated how? Because of an assumption or do you have some evidence? Some of my best students have been CC transfers, yet I hear complaints about it all the time (from other students). I don't have stats on hand to compare, but I would crtainly say the average CC transfer is harder-working and more mature than the average non-transfer. Just a thought :)

 

UncleWai

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2001
5,701
68
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Of course there's exception to every rule
I have a bunch of friends in the community college here, it's the Chinese cluster in the college.

evidences:
They always use old essays from people who took the course previously and turned them in as their own. The instructors don't give a flying fork and give them As. I am talking about English, Geography, and Economic class.

In the syllabus of the math class the instructor stated 90% will get an A.
My friend did a self calculation, he realizes even if he gets a 100% in the final exam, he still won't get an A. But guess what, he got an A.

The CS intro course in community college, as long as your program works and have comments, you get full points. In UW, that's only 50% of the grade, 50% is on internal struture.

Plus a lot of the intro courses in here are curved with a median of 2.8~2.9. The grades just don't stack up right with the community colleges.

To be able to use the grades in the CC to get into engineering programs in UCB, UIUC, it just seems very misleading.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
35,375
2,497
126
Originally posted by: UncleWai
Of course there's exception to every rule
I have a bunch of friends in the community college here, it's the Chinese cluster in the college.

evidences:
They always use old essays from people who took the course previously and turned them in as their own. The instructors don't give a flying fork and give them As. I am talking about English, Geography, and Economic class.

In the syllabus of the math class the instructor stated 90% will get an A.
My friend did a self calculation, he realizes even if he gets a 100% in the final exam, he still won't get an A. But guess what, he got an A.

The CS intro course in community college, as long as your program works and have comments, you get full points. In UW, that's only 50% of the grade, 50% is on internal struture.

Plus a lot of the intro courses in here are curved with a median of 2.8~2.9. The grades just don't stack up right with the community colleges.

To be able to use the grades in the CC to get into engineering programs in UCB, UIUC, it just seems very misleading.

Then your community college sucks.

My school focuses on critical thinking.

Our physics teacher has a PhD from Duke. Every problem on his test has the question part then the "Explain why this is the answer" part. Sure, you can use the equations, but do you understand why?

So far there are *nine* people signed up for Calc 3. Our tests are comprehensive and long. You do get partial credit, but it's not handed to you.

Chemistry is the hardest. One person in Chemistry 2 has an A. The questions are tricky and often require layers of different ideas from different chapters to answer.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Don't get mad at CC students because you have had bad experiences with 0.00001% of them.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: UncleWai
Of course there's exception to every rule
I have a bunch of friends in the community college here, it's the Chinese cluster in the college.

evidences:
They always use old essays from people who took the course previously and turned them in as their own. The instructors don't give a flying fork and give them As. I am talking about English, Geography, and Economic class.

In the syllabus of the math class the instructor stated 90% will get an A.
My friend did a self calculation, he realizes even if he gets a 100% in the final exam, he still won't get an A. But guess what, he got an A.

The CS intro course in community college, as long as your program works and have comments, you get full points. In UW, that's only 50% of the grade, 50% is on internal struture.

Plus a lot of the intro courses in here are curved with a median of 2.8~2.9. The grades just don't stack up right with the community colleges.

To be able to use the grades in the CC to get into engineering programs in UCB, UIUC, it just seems very misleading.

Then your community college sucks.

My school focuses on critical thinking.

Our physics teacher has a PhD from Duke. Every problem on his test has the question part then the "Explain why this is the answer" part. Sure, you can use the equations, but do you understand why?

So far there are *nine* people signed up for Calc 3. Our tests are comprehensive and long. You do get partial credit, but it's not handed to you.

Chemistry is the hardest. One person in Chemistry 2 has an A. The questions are tricky and often require layers of different ideas from different chapters to answer.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Don't get mad at CC students because you have had bad experiences with 0.00001% of them.

Your classes / CC is the exception to the rule. The reason they're community colleges in the first place is because they're cheap and easy.
 

Landroval

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2005
2,275
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0
Originally posted by: UncleWai
Of course there's exception to every rule
I have a bunch of friends in the community college here, it's the Chinese cluster in the college.

evidences:
They always use old essays from people who took the course previously and turned them in as their own. The instructors don't give a flying fork and give them As. I am talking about English, Geography, and Economic class.

In the syllabus of the math class the instructor stated 90% will get an A.
My friend did a self calculation, he realizes even if he gets a 100% in the final exam, he still won't get an A. But guess what, he got an A.

The CS intro course in community college, as long as your program works and have comments, you get full points. In UW, that's only 50% of the grade, 50% is on internal struture.

Plus a lot of the intro courses in here are curved with a median of 2.8~2.9. The grades just don't stack up right with the community colleges.

To be able to use the grades in the CC to get into engineering programs in UCB, UIUC, it just seems very misleading.

I suppose quality of CCs varies. I could see how that would be upsetting, given the situation you just described. Just realize that's not true everywhere (and sometimes the opposite is true, oddly enough). It seems a lot of major state university students have no qualms about doing what you describe the CC students in your area doing :(
 

Generator

Senior member
Mar 4, 2005
793
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0
I've been going to CC for 4 years now. I really had no clue what the hell I wanted to do. Still a little unsure. But luckily for me my CC has some deal with a smaller university where they except 75% or 90 plus credits for a bachelors requirements. And I got a transfer scholarship for my easy CC grades and classes. CC is not difficult. I kind of feel ashamed taking such easy grades.

As for rejects of the highschool system, CC is place where they can succeed again. You're going to have to take a couple tests to see where you are at. But after that its basically a clean slate. Highschool essentially didn't exist. Who would have thought the dropouts could be such strong students?
 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
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Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Originally posted by: StormRider
One of my best students when I was a TA did that. He went to community college first and then transferred to Maryland. Prior to that, I used to think students who go to community college weren't very bright but now I think it's a good choice for those with limited funds or late academic bloomers.

"Late academic bloomers" is putting it politely.

I dropped out of high school and later tried to apply as a mature student to a big name university. They all turned me down.

So I went to a somewhat respected community college (where they have really lax admission requirements) and just recently graduated with a 3.95.

I've already been accepted to one university and waiting to hear from the other. I had several other friends at college do the same thing (and they only had around 3.5-3.6)

If you goofed up in high school, community college is a great place to make up for it and display your potential...

Oh and as UncleWai said, community college grading is a JOKE. I skipped half my lectures and still came out fine heh.

It depends on the community college.
 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
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0
Originally posted by: Mo0o
OP, if you want to transfer to a public school, a large one, then community college is a viable options. But if you have your sights set on better schools such as ivy league or something similar, community college is a terrible idea. The best way is still to go straight from HS.

Many Ivy leagues recruit top junior college students. Cornell, Columbia, Harvard all do. Most of the rest do as well. Cornell admits rougherly ~250 juco transfers per year. Top juco students can get in anywhere they want to. Being a top juco student requires not only grades, and other activities, but you also have to go to a competent juco.
 

digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
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Originally posted by: Otaking
Originally posted by: UncleWai

hopefully I will see you there in business school, I am re-applying for fall :D
The business school is good in UW, but I can't get in because I blew my first two years.
There's nothing wrong with UW, but if i have the option to go to ucb, i would go to ucb in a heartbeat.

Haha I blew my first two years too, but after going back to school after a 3+ yr hiatus, I've been able to raise my GPA from a 1.8 to a 2.8 in 60 hours of coursework, each semester being a full-time student and having a full-time job. Not bad, I think, but I hope it'll show my determination for success, despite the lower-than-average GPA.

Haas is a good program, but if you're in-state Wash, you should weigh out your advantages in paying the lower tuition. Similarly, I'm in Texas, and both UT-Austin and A&M offer great programs, and although I want to venture outside of Texas, I can go to either UT-Austin or A&M for less than half the tuition I'd have to pay for other schools.

McCombs and Mays are extremely difficult to get into.