Community College could be a smart move!
Summary: Starting at a community college can really work for you, if you know the right way to approach it.
Video: 2 minutes, 45 seconds
Who this is for: Seniors and Parents
When you see the words “community college,” you might think that’s only for students who couldn’t get into a ‘real’ school.
But in fact, because their tuition is usually so much less than four-year schools, community colleges can be a really smart and affordable choice for the first two years of your college education.
You just need to be sure the courses you take are college-level courses that will be accepted by the schools you want to transfer to.
How can you do that? Watch this video to find out.
Community college can be a great way to lower the cost of your college degree.
A lot of people think Community College is for people who can't afford four year colleges, or for students who can't get into anywhere else. While that may be true in some cases, often community colleges can be a great way to lower the cost of your college degree. But only if you do it right. You’ve probably heard about people that go to Community College forever and never get that four year degree. And you've also probably heard stories about people that leave Community College and go on to a four year college where they have to start over. It doesn't have to be this way.Community College can save you money on your way to a four year degree – if you remember these three things.
1. If you're taking pre-college courses, it’s not college. Some Community College courses are designed for students who aren't academically ready for college. You may need to take some college preparatory courses, but they won't count towards your college degree. And you could take these courses online rather than at a Community College.2. You can't just take any course that sounds interesting and assume it will count towards college. You need to take the courses that other colleges will accept as fulfilling their requirements.
3. This is the trickiest part: Find out which courses you can transfer to four year schools. Many state universities will accept some courses from community colleges in their state. Some nearby private colleges also have agreements with community colleges to accept some course credits. You can find this out from a counselor at your local Community College and sometimes, from a state or Community College website.
To sum it all up, living at home and going to a Community College for a full year or two can be a very cost-effective way to get an education. But remember, you have to take college level courses: ones that will be accepted by a school you are planning to transfer to. If you can do that, you can get a good education, graduate from a great school, and keep your borrowing way down so you can save that money for something you really want to spend it on.
Community college can really work for you, if you know the right way to approach it.