After graduation, students who want to go to college are faced with a couple different options. You could go straight to a 4-year university, or you could spend two years at a community college and then transfer to finish your last two years at a 4-year school.
While most universities are open to transfer students, we believe the best option is to head off to a 4-year school right away to make the most of your college experience. Here are just a few reasons why:
Major Specific Classes
If you’re going into your freshman year with your major already picked out, you can start taking classes in that area right away. No matter where you go, you’ll definitely have to get a couple of general education classes out of the way, but it’s great to get started on your major as soon as you can, especially if you took a lot of dual credit or AP classes in high school.
Transfer Credits
Although it can be done, trying to transfer credits between schools can get a little messy. A class that you take at a community college may not count for anything at the school that you transfer to, or that class may not be needed for the program you choose. Both of those result in wasted money on credits you don’t need. If you’re not quite sure what you want to major in, don’t worry! According to the Education Advisory Board, 80% of college students are undeclared or change their major at least once. Going straight to a 4-year school will allow you to take your gen eds while exploring different major options.
Campus Life
One of the biggest aspects of college is campus life. With a bunch of different clubs and organizations to get involved in, a university can provide lots of opportunities to really find your passion on campus. By being involved in an organization for four years, you’re more likely to be invested and serve some sort of leadership role – two things that help build experience that employers may look for afterwards.
Limited Housing
Most universities offer on-campus housing, which is a huge advantage for students – especially freshmen who are still getting the hang of college. Residence Halls are within walking distance from classes, which means no commute time, traffic, or parking hassles. Community colleges have very limited housing, if they have any at all, so you won’t get that same on-campus experience.
As with every situation, there are pros and cons to each option, and it’s important to weigh those when making a decision. In Missouri, the A+ program is a huge pull for students to attend community college. If you are trying to save money and take advantage of the program, but aren’t sure if community college is for you, there are quite a few 4-year universities that offer scholarships for students that have completed A+. For instance, Truman offers $500 per academic year. To stay on top of everything you need to do to be as ready as possible for college (including getting those scholarships), it may be helpful to make yourself a timeline.