Benefits to Community College
Below is an interview with a first year college student who currently attends a community college in Northern California but just got admitted into Chapman as a transfer student for the next school year.
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What was the most outstanding factor in choosing community college?
The cost difference was definitely a big factor as I did not have any money put aside for college. Most community colleges in California offer a Community College Grant for first-year students right out of high school, this typically means that for your first year is free as long as you are a full-time student and do not fail any classes. So I did not have to pay for my first year of school thanks to the California Community College Grant. You also have more opportunities given to you at a Community College than you did in high school. Universities look at transfer students before they look at incoming freshman because as a transfer student you have already completed some amount of college which shows that you have what it takes to do well at the university level.
Do you think choosing a community college was the best choice for you?
Community college was definitely the best choice for me for many reasons. I had no knowledge of what to expect from college or what it would be like since I never toured schools or applied in high school so it was a good transition place for me to get used to the new setting. I went from failing classes and going into a continuation program in high school to getting all A’s and B’s in community college, this being said community college really helped me grow and see a potential in me that I did not see before. I believe if I had gone straight to a four-year I would have struggled much more with figuring out how I needed to work in order to do well especially with so many distractions when you are away at school. But now I know how I work best and how I like to study which will make it easier for me when I go to Chapman where I may find myself with distractions.
Since you just got into a four-year university after one year in community college, do you have any tips/suggestions for those thinking about attending a community college first?
Talk to as many college counselors as you can and utilize all things given to you, most community college campuses have free tutoring and many other things that can help you succeed. Try to make friends in your classes to study with so you can keep each other on track. Do not stress out if you do not know exactly what you want to do either, most people don’t yet. If you talk to a counselor they can also set you up with an education plan to figure out what classes you need to take to transfer to wherever you want. Another really important thing to keep in mind is that you know yourself best and you know what you are capable of so do not let people tell you what you can or can’t do. If you have any sort of disability you can get help!! I have anxiety and I went to my college’s disability office and they gave me extra test time in a separate room, recording pen, and I can sign up for classes earlier than most students. The teachers are more than likely willing to work with you especially with most classes being on the smaller side. Check out rate my professor because that can help you pick teachers who work well with your needs. If you do not like to wake up early do not sign up for an early class sleep in, you will probably perform better in the class. Since you set up your own schedule you can pick whether or not you have gaps, I personally like having an hour or two in between classes so I can eat, study and do homework before my next class. Surround yourself with people who work hard to do well because it will influence you to do the same.
How was the process of applying as a transfer?
It was relatively easy, when transferring from a community college you have so many more options. If you decide to apply after only one year things can be a little more complicated just because they will still look at your High School records since you will only have one semester of college under your belt. However, if you wait for your second year to apply to schools you have the option to tag one of six UC’s. Tag means you get guaranteed admissions to one of those UC’s if you followed their guidelines. I applied to Chapman University in January of 2019. The process included essay questions, which by the way are more like small paragraphs, not whole essays (I had no idea it was that easy.) They asked questions like why I wanted to go there, what my favorite things to do are. They also asked for SAT scores along with my High School transcript, however, if you wait 2 years instead of one like I did you do not necessarily need to give that information.
What stereotypes did you face that were completely false about attending community college?
Community college has this huge misconception that the kids who go to community college are unmotivated and lazy, which is the complete opposite of what I have seen. The kids you will see around campus are some of the most motivated students you will ever see because we are all working towards achieving their goals whether they know exactly what their goal is or not. There is also a negative stigma around going because people think it will take more than 2 years to transfer or everyone who goes drops out. This is also completely false. Community college is what you make of it and so many people transfer on track for Junior year or earlier, I am going into Chapman as a sophomore in college.