Should I go to Community College?

We often get questions from panicked high school students who didn’t get into their dream schools.

In my case, I was rejected from schools that my guidance counselors told me were “backup schools.” That led me to go to community college.

Let’s say you have an option to go to a four-year university. Should you go to community college? We typically recommend based on a few factors:

Money is a huge factor, but is it?

We read and hear about students attending community college for the first two years to save money. While the cost differences may seem massive, the gap narrows once you factor in financial aid and which four-year schools you could attend. For example, a local commuter 4-year university is much cheaper to attend than private colleges. If you’re lower income, even private schools could be cheaper thanks to scholarships and financial aid.

Extracurricular activities

Like high school, many selective schools want to see extracurricular activities and leadership experience. In a community college, though, that might be harder to do. You may need to drive to another campus to join one or start a new club. If you want to have a great transfer application, you may need to put more time than you expect.

Your classmates and college experience will be different

Some community colleges have a lot of traditional students. At many community colleges, most students don’t graduate. They simply want to take classes for enrichment or get a certificate for their job. What that means is that your classmates will not be aiming for the same goals as you are, requiring you to be self-motivated, and it could mean that you have to work harder in your group projects to get an A than you may have in high school.

Getting a diverse set of classmates will be a great experience, though; you will get to meet and see the real world, beyond what many call an “academic bubble.”

At TransferPlus Advisors, we advise students in community colleges and four-year universities. If you’re interested in our services, please reach out to us.