Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Evil Milkman · 04-13-2003, 10:37 AM

So, pretend you're me for a second. I don't know what career field I want to pursue, and although money for college isn't the biggest deciding factor, it's still a consideration. My biggest concern for college is the fact that I don't know what I want to study yet.

The four-year university I'm looking has the follow schools:
Arts and Sciences
Business
Dental Medicine
Education
Engineering
Graduate Studies and Research
Nursing
Pharmacy

My biggest question is this: If I go to this four-year university and figure out what I want to study, and they don't have what I'm interested in, I'll have to transfer. How big of a pain in the ass would that be?

Would it better for me to get my general education courses out of the way at a community college, or go to a four-year school this fall?

SIUE vs. Rend Lake Community College

Rend Lake:
Less expensive than four-year school
Free housing/food
Work with dad (lawn mowing/interior painting business)
Same general education courses...?

Soutern Illinois University Edwardsville
More exposure to different career fields, interests, etc...
Learn independence
Get away from family
Meet new people, become more social
Girls... in dorm room... possibly

What would you do if you were me?

And no, I don't want to go into the military.

Evil Milkman · 04-13-2003, 11:15 AM

Bumpity bump bump.

Spew your opinions!

Bree · 04-13-2003, 11:22 AM

If you do decide to go the community college route (which is my suggestion - save your money while you can!) make sure the general education credits you earn there will transfer to the other schools you may be interested in. Different universities have different policies regarding this issue: for example, the UW school will not accept any credits from the community college in my city (we still don't know why that is), and many high school students who have spent their senior year gathering what they thought was transferrable college credit are now SOL.

pz · 04-13-2003, 11:52 AM

Transferring between 4 year colleges is not much of a problem, usually. There may be an occasional mismatch in courses that may cost you a few credits, but it shouldn't be so much that you are a year behind, for instance.

A community college is a fine place to pick up general education requirements. However, it can hurt you if you're interested in science & engineering. Science students often don't have a lot of slack in the curriculum -- they show up in their freshman year and immediately have to start picking up credits in math, chemistry, and if you are serious about premed/predent, biology. Those credits may not transfer smoothly from a community college, and what you may discover when you transfer in your junior year is that you lack many of the prerequisites for the upper-level science classes, and that sets you back a year, or more.

If you really want to go to a cc, it would be a good idea to talk to people at the 4-year college you've got your eye on and ask them if they have guidelines for transfer credits. At my U, we have tables of classes offered at local colleges, with their equivalents at our place -- I've had prospective students come by and ask ahead of time about what transfers and what doesn't, which is the smart thing to do. You could call the registrar's office at SIUE and ask if they'd help you out with this kind of thing.

The 'schools' of the four-year college that you are looking at are mostly irrelevant. You are almost certainly going to be working entirely within the school of arts & sciences, at least at first. Arts & sciences is a big umbrella category that covers everything from basketweaving to physics. I would be very surprised if SIUE doesn't cover anything in which you might want to earn a bachelor's degree.

The other schools just mean you can count on the presence of a lot of professionals in those categories, and some might be teaching the courses you take. They may also provide a pool of grad students who will be assisting in your classes. Another advantage is that you may be able to get into specialized curricula. Here at Minnesota, for instance, we have schools of dentistry and nursing that provide early admissions programs to our undergrads. I was just advising a student who had been here two years, realized she wanted to go into dentistry, and I was able to steer her into taking some specific courses that will qualify her for admission to the dental school after her third year, so she'll be able to get an early start on going deeply into debt...I mean, getting professional training.

Bottom line: I'd recommend the 4 year school. If you find the advantages or bargain price of the cc to be too good to pass up, check into the viability of any transfer credits to SIUE before you commit.

Sakpo · 04-13-2003, 12:20 PM

Good advice so far. I started out at a decent community college and am transferring to a four year school (starting September, I'll be a third year student). The following cannot be stressed enough: make sure your courses will transfer. Also try to see if you can find out about how the four year schools you may be interested in look at applicants coming out of community colleges (shouldn't be a problem unless they're real snots, but who knows?). Also, look into the quality of the community college. I was lucky, a pretty good one was near me (much better than your typical commuity college). I'm definitely glad I went the community college route, I really got a good two years and saved a lot of money.

Evil Milkman · 04-13-2003, 02:27 PM

Thanks all!

Yes, all of the credits from the community college will transfer to the university I'm interested in. The only credits that don't transfer are "applied" credits. All of the arts and science credits transfer, though, from what the SIUE rep said.

Anyone else with any input?

Evil Milkman · 04-13-2003, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sakpo
Also try to see if you can find out about how the four year schools you may be interested in look at applicants coming out of community colleges (shouldn't be a problem unless they're real snots, but who knows?). Also, look into the quality of the community college.

SIUE should be fine with a community college transfer if I maintain a good GPA.

Shake · 04-14-2003, 05:50 AM

Only one other point that hasn't been addressed yet: you'll have some similar issues doing the CC thing first when trying to get those credits accepted at a 4-year. They may not necessarily accept everything (probably will, but you never know). OTOH, if you do go to the 4-year to start and find something there you like, then the whole transfer issue becomes a moot point.

beth · 04-14-2003, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bree
If you do decide to go the community college route (which is my suggestion - save your money while you can!) make sure the general education credits you earn there will transfer to the other schools you may be interested in. Different universities have different policies regarding this issue: for example, the UW school will not accept any credits from the community college in my city (we still don't know why that is), and many high school students who have spent their senior year gathering what they thought was transferrable college credit are now SOL.

So true. I went to a Christian CC and my credits are worth diddly. I'll start HCC in the fall, those credit will transfer to USF. YAY! I do recommend CC if they are able to meet the core requirements of your field. Price range is vast. Eighteen hundred versus six thousand a semester.( I think I got it right, if I didn't, you may politely correct me.

)

NialScorva · 04-14-2003, 07:00 AM

Make sure you have something in writing saying that the credits will transfer, preferably a transfer guide, but at least a policy memo. It'll be a useful weapon later on in case something goes wrong.

As pz said, most of the descision is in what you want to major in. If you're going for engineering or science, then you'll be at least a year behind when you get to the 4-year school, even if you take care of all your core requirements. If it's about saving money, consider the extra year in school and the 1 year's salary you'll be losing.

View Poll Results: If I were Evil Milkman, I'd go to a...
...community college for core curriculum. Save your money!	5	18.52%
...four-year university. Screw the community college!	22	81.48%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

04-13-2003, 10:37 AM	#1
Evil Milkman Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 499	Four-Year School or Community College So, pretend you're me for a second. I don't know what career field I want to pursue, and although money for college isn't the biggest deciding factor, it's still a consideration. My biggest concern for college is the fact that I don't know what I want to study yet. The four-year university I'm looking has the follow schools: Arts and Sciences Business Dental Medicine Education Engineering Graduate Studies and Research Nursing Pharmacy My biggest question is this: If I go to this four-year university and figure out what I want to study, and they don't have what I'm interested in, I'll have to transfer. How big of a pain in the ass would that be? Would it better for me to get my general education courses out of the way at a community college, or go to a four-year school this fall? SIUE vs. Rend Lake Community College Rend Lake: Less expensive than four-year school Free housing/food Work with dad (lawn mowing/interior painting business) Same general education courses...? Soutern Illinois University Edwardsville More exposure to different career fields, interests, etc... Learn independence Get away from family Meet new people, become more social Girls... in dorm room... possibly What would you do if you were me? And no, I don't want to go into the military.

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04-13-2003, 11:15 AM	#2
Evil Milkman Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 499	Bumpity bump bump. Spew your opinions!

04-13-2003, 11:22 AM	#3
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	If you do decide to go the community college route (which is my suggestion - save your money while you can!) make sure the general education credits you earn there will transfer to the other schools you may be interested in. Different universities have different policies regarding this issue: for example, the UW school will not accept any credits from the community college in my city (we still don't know why that is), and many high school students who have spent their senior year gathering what they thought was transferrable college credit are now SOL.

04-13-2003, 11:52 AM	#4
pz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Morris, MN Posts: 3,341	Transferring between 4 year colleges is not much of a problem, usually. There may be an occasional mismatch in courses that may cost you a few credits, but it shouldn't be so much that you are a year behind, for instance. A community college is a fine place to pick up general education requirements. However, it can hurt you if you're interested in science & engineering. Science students often don't have a lot of slack in the curriculum -- they show up in their freshman year and immediately have to start picking up credits in math, chemistry, and if you are serious about premed/predent, biology. Those credits may not transfer smoothly from a community college, and what you may discover when you transfer in your junior year is that you lack many of the prerequisites for the upper-level science classes, and that sets you back a year, or more. If you really want to go to a cc, it would be a good idea to talk to people at the 4-year college you've got your eye on and ask them if they have guidelines for transfer credits. At my U, we have tables of classes offered at local colleges, with their equivalents at our place -- I've had prospective students come by and ask ahead of time about what transfers and what doesn't, which is the smart thing to do. You could call the registrar's office at SIUE and ask if they'd help you out with this kind of thing. The 'schools' of the four-year college that you are looking at are mostly irrelevant. You are almost certainly going to be working entirely within the school of arts & sciences, at least at first. Arts & sciences is a big umbrella category that covers everything from basketweaving to physics. I would be very surprised if SIUE doesn't cover anything in which you might want to earn a bachelor's degree. The other schools just mean you can count on the presence of a lot of professionals in those categories, and some might be teaching the courses you take. They may also provide a pool of grad students who will be assisting in your classes. Another advantage is that you may be able to get into specialized curricula. Here at Minnesota, for instance, we have schools of dentistry and nursing that provide early admissions programs to our undergrads. I was just advising a student who had been here two years, realized she wanted to go into dentistry, and I was able to steer her into taking some specific courses that will qualify her for admission to the dental school after her third year, so she'll be able to get an early start on going deeply into debt...I mean, getting professional training. Bottom line: I'd recommend the 4 year school. If you find the advantages or bargain price of the cc to be too good to pass up, check into the viability of any transfer credits to SIUE before you commit.

04-13-2003, 12:20 PM	#5
Sakpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Pacific Northwest (illegally occupied indigenous l Posts: 7,716	Good advice so far. I started out at a decent community college and am transferring to a four year school (starting September, I'll be a third year student). The following cannot be stressed enough: make sure your courses will transfer. Also try to see if you can find out about how the four year schools you may be interested in look at applicants coming out of community colleges (shouldn't be a problem unless they're real snots, but who knows?). Also, look into the quality of the community college. I was lucky, a pretty good one was near me (much better than your typical commuity college). I'm definitely glad I went the community college route, I really got a good two years and saved a lot of money.

04-13-2003, 02:27 PM	#6
Evil Milkman Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 499	Thanks all! Yes, all of the credits from the community college will transfer to the university I'm interested in. The only credits that don't transfer are "applied" credits. All of the arts and science credits transfer, though, from what the SIUE rep said. Anyone else with any input?

04-14-2003, 05:50 AM	#8
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	Only one other point that hasn't been addressed yet: you'll have some similar issues doing the CC thing first when trying to get those credits accepted at a 4-year. They may not necessarily accept everything (probably will, but you never know). OTOH, if you do go to the 4-year to start and find something there you like, then the whole transfer issue becomes a moot point.

04-14-2003, 07:00 AM	#10
NialScorva Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Median strip of DC beltway Posts: 1,888	Make sure you have something in writing saying that the credits will transfer, preferably a transfer guide, but at least a policy memo. It'll be a useful weapon later on in case something goes wrong. As pz said, most of the descision is in what you want to major in. If you're going for engineering or science, then you'll be at least a year behind when you get to the 4-year school, even if you take care of all your core requirements. If it's about saving money, consider the extra year in school and the 1 year's salary you'll be losing.

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