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age
30-35,
anonymous
writes: I was wondering if for example I went to a community college for 2 years, and then a university for 2, would I be able to get a bachelor's degree? I'm a junior in high school now, and I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't go to a 4 year school because I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I could also save some money in the 2 years. Please help, and what do you think I should do?
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reader, anonymous, writes (19 October 2010): I did my undergrad that way, and not all my credits transferred, so it wound up being closer to 5 years. If you want to keep it at 4, you really need to make sure youare in a program that is fully transferable to the school of your choosing. Mine would hav ebeen, but I got accepted to a better 4 year school than I originally planned, and they did not take much of my community college credits.
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reader, Johnny2301  +, writes (19 October 2010):
 Actually, this can be a very good idea. However, the ease of transferring credits between two year schools and four year schools will probably depend on the state you are in. Some states, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, have an excellent system worked out for this. In fact, I know many individuals that went to a two year school first, because of the cheaper tuition prices, then were able to transfer nearly all of their credits to a four year school and graduate after another two years. However, this is something that will require a great deal of research on your behalf. You will want to look and see how any four year colleges you are interested in transfer credits from two year schools. If you can make it work, it is likely worth it. Very good question.
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reader, daletom +, writes (19 October 2010):
The idea of starting in a community college, then completing a bachelor's degree at a 4-year school is valid, but it's not easy to make it happen as smoothly as you describe.
In general, there are often problems transferring credits from one school to another and that's especially true when moving from a 2-year school to a 4-year program. Many students end up needing an extra or two (or more) to complete their degree program.
Unfortunately, most schools set their own requirements about what they will accept as transfer credits. Your work at community college may not be accepted at the 4-year university, or it may only be acceptable as "general electives" - leaving you with the need to complete most of the degree program at the 4-year school. In some cases it even varies among departments or majors at a particular school. For example, you may find that the chemistry or physics you take at community college is accepted by the 4-year school . . . but NOT if you major in science or engineering! (Many departments, not just science and engineering, want their students to complete certain foundation courses at their own school. Sometimes there is justification for this; in other cases it's dubious - but the rules are still the rules.)
Advance planning is the key to making your idea work smoothly. This is going to sound difficult to somebody who is "... still trying to figure out what to do with my life ... " but your best approach is to start with the end-goal in mind, and work back from there. That means identifying a degree program at a particular university, and learning the specific graduation requirements. These might be rather general, such as "POSC150 or similar course in American government and the Constitution", or much more specific like "EDUC356, Teaching English as a Second Language to Asian Adults". Then you need to identify specific courses at your community college that satisfy particular graduation requirements. Don't go by course titles - you will probably need to contact an academic advisor at the 4-year school and ask, "Does this course at my community college satisfy the requirement for some class in the ??? department at your school?".
This process may be fairly easy in some cases, and rather difficult in others. In some cases, particular 4-year schools (or specific departments within a school) have collaborated with some community college "feeder schools" and published recommended plans of study for students wanting to start at the community college and finish at the university. And some states are working to standardize courses and curricula across their entire system of public secondary education, and you can quickly identify courses that will be accepted at face-value at any school in that state's system. In most situations - especially where your 4-year school is out-of-state, or a private institution - you will have to make the contacts, do the homework, and ask the questions on your own. Your High School guidance counselors should be able to coach you and offer useful suggestions as you go through this process
Please don't think I'm trying to discourage you. You have a good idea, but making it work efficiently will take a little effort on your part. And even if it doesn't work efficiently, I don't think that true education is ever wasted - unless YOU choose to waste it.
Don't be discouraged that you don't know what you want to major in. As I recall, something like 2/3 to 3/4 of all college students change their majors while in school. A major university (10,000 students or more) may actually offer many options for you to explore, but it will also require you to be aggressively pro-active in doing that exploration - a LOT of students at large schools end up drifting along for several years, and eventually dropping out (sometimes described as "doing the Freshman year five times"). Again, your High School guidance counselors should be able to help you narrow your attention to a few different majors. Richard Bolles' job-hunting book, "What Color is Your Parachute?", (see http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/ ) and similar books based on work by Bolles and John Crystal contain many practical exercises to help you identify interests and abilities - if you make the effort, and have the integrity, to work through them.
Your desire to save money is valid and commendable. (Many people are of the opinion that, for the majority of students, the difference between a high-priced education and an inexpensive formal education is mostly just the price.) You should investigate other options to the community college. Many four-year universities, especially in major urban areas, offer programs for evening and part-time students that can get you started toward a degree without incurring the costs of a full-time, resident student. Some employers still have liberal tuition-assistance programs for their employees pursuing college degrees, though details vary widely. (In the past, a few employers - such as a well-known package delivery service - almost insisted that employees in certain entry-level, unskilled jobs should be enrolled in college courses . . . and the employer liberally reimbursed the costs.) Of course, the classic example of employer-funded education assistance is the U.S. military, but remember that service members are, first of all, soldiers expected to give themselves as weapons of war.
You asked, "Please help, and what do you think I should do?". I'd say you need to ask some more questions - first, asking questions of yourself; then using those answers to form the questions you can ask of others. Please consider the responses given here, and come back with more of your questions!
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reader, kirra07  +, writes (19 October 2010):
Go to your school's guidance counsellor and ask them for advice on schools, programs, and how to figure out what you're interested in.
There are lots of colleges that you can then transfer to university. And you can go for general arts or general science programs for the first year or two to figure out what you want to do. Take some courses in different fields and see what interests you the most. Talk to adults you know (neighbours, family, family friends, etc) about their jobs to see what you might like.
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reader, Manya +, writes (19 October 2010):
In most cases you would be able to get your bachelor's degree doing 2 years in a community college followed by 2 in a university. However, this might depend on what you major in, and
on the particular schools you choose -- like whether or not the university accepted the credits from the community college.
I imagine most would, but again it might depend on your major. Why not find out about this from your nearby community colleges? Or talk to your school guidance teacher.
You might want to enroll in just a course or two until you figure out what field you want to continue in.
Also, if you went to some universities, you could perhaps go part time if you were working! Ask around and figure out a good plan for yourself! You're young and I think very wise to think carefully and not just get in over your head financially! Also, some jobs will pay for you to go to school. There are many, many options.
Best of luck in finding your dream program!
Manya
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reader, thatonegirl11 +, writes (19 October 2010):
 I'm doing the same thing as you- and it helps if you can't afford a traditional university without taking out student loans. You might need to check on the schools' websites to make sure your credits will transfer correctly; they generally do but it wouldn't hurt to look. If you can take AP or dual credit classes I also recommend doing so. It will save you time and money and is definitely worth the effort!
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reader, raiders +, writes (18 October 2010):
 you can go to the 2 year college and get your AA and than transfer to 4 year college you will safe lots of money doing it this way, mainly because you are not sure on what you are majoring in.
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reader, breath_in +, writes (18 October 2010):
 i can totally understand that your still in that stage where you have no idea where life can take you and what you want to do or where u wanna go its normal i think we all go through it at one point because our ideas change with time so its natural . you can totally make this work if you want just make sure that the classes that you'd be taking transfer to a four yr university cause sometimes they don't depending on the school . what you can do is attend your 2 yr college and go for your basics and then transfer when your done that way all u have to do is go to the university and worry about taking the classes you need that go toward your major whatever that may be .
Don't stress to much over it though you have a whole year before you make your finally decision on where and what you want to do besides a lot of people end up changing there major .
but if i were you and you want something different a change in scenery and met new people have new experiences live independently then i suggest you go to a university away from home to get what everybody wants the college experience. i know it seems scary but its worth it .
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 October 2010): You can't get a degree by mixing and matching. You have to complete and pass the syllabus that the university sets.
Take a gap year, do some work experience in different places. What are your best classes? Do something that goes with that. Is its math, try architecture or computer programming. I'f its English, try journalism it editing. Etc
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reader, anonymous, writes (18 October 2010): You can save a lot of money by going to a community college for your prerequisite classes (english, math, history, etc) Meet with a counselor at the college (it's free) before you sign up for any classes and ask for a transfer guideline for your university of choice and then set up a counseling appt. At the 4 year university to verify that they will accept the classes you plan on taking. Sometimes classes don't transfer because they are not high enough levels or you may take a 3 credit hour class and then find out that you need a 4 credit hour class when you try to transfer over. You will save yourself time and money by following through with a little research. Ask the counselor to help you get finaancial aid also :)
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