Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Why transfer to a four year school??

According to the American Association of Community Colleges, 46% of all college students now begin their studies at two-year schools. Last year, these schools awarded approximately 550,000 associate (two-year) degrees.
At schools like UACCBatesvile, students from all kinds of backgrounds, including students who could have chosen to go the initial four-year route in the beginning, are choosing to start their college careers at a two-year school.
For many students, the two year college experience is the chance to stand out as an individual, and be a part of a small learning community before moving on to a larger, more impersonal college or university environment.
Classes at community colleges are typically smaller than freshman and sophomore classes taught at most four-year universities. More often than not classes at community colleges are taught by highly qualified Ph.D's, who have chosen to teach in a smaller, community college setting, because community college emphasize undergraduate teaching.
Starting out at a community college and then transferring can also save you lots of money in the long run.  Tuition rates are typically lower, and you can additionally be eligible for transfer scholarships that were not available to the average student who started as a freshman in that four-year school.

Remember that every four-year colleges has different requirements.  So choose your courses carefully!  Once you start taking sophomore level courses, you will need to check with the transfer institution of your choice to make certain your courses will transfer.

Some courses, and degree plans, are designed for those students who do not intend to transfer.  For example, a 2000 level federal tax accounting course may count towards a two-year degree at a community college, but will not count for the 4000 level required federal tax accounting course at a four-year institution.  Students can easily waste their time (and money!) taking the wrong courses. Students intending to transfer need to start making these plans as early as the second semester of their freshman year.

Even though I work specifically with TRiO transfer students, I am always more than willing to talk to any student who is needing accurate transfer information.

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