4-year College or Community College and Transfer

A tough choice but select the 4-year college option.  That is, don't go to a community college if you have the option to go directly into a 4-year college.  I know, I know, I hear you asking, "But why, aren't they the same for the first 2 years?"  No, they are not the same, not even close.

Community colleges are primarily filled with students who are under-prepared for college level work, unmotivated, and directionless. (Of course this isn't everyone at a community college.)  These students do have an impact on the rigor in the classrooms and on the entire learning environment.  Parents all know this to be true- why else would you have worked so hard to get your child into a "good" K-12 school?  It is the same principle at the college level.  One should try to attend the best college possible to get the best education possible.

What about cost?  Isn't it cheaper to complete the first 2 years at a community college?  You need to know that it is not as much of a savings as you think.  Community colleges are underfunded and overcrowded.  Recent studies have found that a gigantic majority (more than 75%) of community college students take five years to attain their goal.  In other words, what should take 2 years to complete is taking most students 5 years.  Compare the cost in dollars and time between spending 5 years at a community college and 2 years at a 4-year colleges (7 years) or going directly into a 4-year college and finishing in 4-5 years.

One more caution:  California State Universities are starting to discuss the possible need to only accept community college transfer students from their local community colleges due to the financial crisis hitting the whole CSU system.  This would mean that a student who attends a community college would not be able to transfer to a 4-year college in another part of the state, but would be limited to whichever 4-year college is closest to his/her community college.