Community College

[Buckeye]

Might be a stupid question but oh well.

What are the differences of going to a community college rather than a university?

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Community College

It's cheaper to go to a community college first then transfer out to a four-year university.

[ryan36]

Re: Community College

Definitely more at a community college

[BurghFan]

Re: Community College

Everything's a joke with you isn't it Ryan

Anyways, from what I understand Community Colleges are basically at most 2 year programs that offer Associates degrees and some other certificate programs. They can also provide a stepping stone to 4 year colleges/universities for people needed additional coursework or a better academic standings to get into the 4 year institutions.

[ryan36]

Re: Community College

BurghFan doesn't like me!

Cody, the real answer to your questions is CC's are a cheaper way to get a 2 year degree which in many states allows you to transfer to a 4 year school without needing to take specific prerequistes....in Washington it's the difference between 1200 a quarter tuition and 4000 or so. Most CC's in this area don't have dorms or anything so you miss out on a lot of the camaraderie of college life, in my view. But CC's take anyone with a diploma. And then you can get good grades your first 2 years and xfer to whatever 4 year (usually within a state) and get into most programs.

[luv_mist]

Re: Community College

A lot of times, you can also build up the gpa to get some scholarships and grants. You learn the same thing in cc classes as you would at a university minus a few things here and there.

[Sublime12089]

Re: Community College

CC is good if you cant afford a university or cant get into a University, however, as a senior now at one of the ten highest enrollment universities in the nation, I must say that 60% of what I have learned has been life skills, something you cant really get at CC.

It also matters what you are trying to do?

[VDusen04]

Re: Community College

I fully endorse community college. Whether it's being used as simply a 2-year Associates deal or as a means of completeing 2 of your 4 college years, I'm all in favor. I understand the feeling that lifeskills are developed by attending a four year school right away. But I feel those life skills are going to developed one way or another, whether it's from living in a dorm or living in an apartment.

Therefore, for the sake of affordability, I'd hit up community college every time. For the aforementioned money reasons, I hit up a community college first, then transferred out and finished my degree at a four-year institution. I still owe a fair amount of student loans, but not anywhere near where it would have been had I gone to my university for every single year.

And the secret truth is, I still had a heckuva time in college. No, I didn't go to community college parties. Rather, I kind of moved around the state as a type of college free agent. I spent a lot of free time on a lot of different campuses. It's going to be all about what you make of it.

[12]

Re: Community College

Might be a stupid question but oh well.

What are the differences of going to a community college rather than a university?

Community colleges are cheaper.

Really, that's it. I've had SO many employers tell me that they don't really differentiate between the two. If you hit a CC for 2 years and then transfer to a four-year down the road, it's the same as if you went to the university for all four years.

I'd always suggest going the CC route first if it makes sense for you. Cheaper, and most times you can live at home and save money that way, too.

[MattUMD224]

Re: Community College

I went to the best community college in the country, Anne Arundel in Maryland. I loved the entire experience, alot of people I knew went to the school, and was within 30 min drive of Maryland and Towson and went all around East Coast visiting friends so I was still able to have college experience, as well as work and pay for school for the first 2 years. I was able to build up enough money so now when I pay back Financial Aid, I wont be struggling my entire life.

Classes are not too demanding as teachers know most people at a CC, are ones that have to work. I actually had more fun at CC than I have at Towson University but that was due to other things involved.

[Buckeye]

Re: Community College

Community colleges are cheaper.

Really, that's it. I've had SO many employers tell me that they don't really differentiate between the two. If you hit a CC for 2 years and then transfer to a four-year down the road, it's the same as if you went to the university for all four years.

I'd always suggest going the CC route first if it makes sense for you. Cheaper, and most times you can live at home and save money that way, too.

Is there a certain GPA required and how about scholarships?

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Community College

Unless you get accepted into a great university you really have always wanted o go to then go the community college route. If you can afford a 4 year U without having to take out a loan then by all means go off to a U.

I was the last of 3 kids so my parents pretty much made me go to CC after two siblings left their school after 1 year.

The cost of a University is so ridiculously outrageous it's not even funny. I paid 1,500 TOTAL for books and tuition a semester at CC. This semester at an average University it was 4,000. Plus you have to consider your room and board. I lived at home paying no rent and got home cooked meals every night.