penguinsix

It's been mentioned several times here as a low-cost option to US universities and now the New York Times has just written a long article about how more and more middle-class families are using Community Colleges as an option against sky-high tuitions at four-year universities.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/e...imes&smtyp=cur

For those who are unfamiliar with how it works, you can go to a community college and get your 'core requirements' out of the way for most US universities. The basic required courses in math, science, English, foreign language, etc. that you will need to graduate from a four-year school can be obtained for a fraction of the cost by attending one of these schools.

carcajou

This is a well-trodden path, but became much more popular when university tuitions absolutely blew out about 10 years ago.

Important to mention that if you transfer to the four-year uni after community college, your degree just says the name of the university, with no mention that you were ever at a community college.

tom169

The student needs to double check that their community college credits will be transferrable to the university they choose. Sometimes the university will not accept them or only accept a percentage.

I think a fair rule for a parent saving for their kids college is only paying for a 4 year in state public school.

robin1234

It could be argued that you get what you pay for with college. At a good liberal arts college, a student might go as a freshman, not really knowing what they want to major in. They might take intro courses in (say) math or physics with really top level professors who are good teachers, and get hooked on that department, and end up majoring in a subject they wouldn't have otherwise thought of. Certainly at the liberal arts college where I worked, there were teachers (math, physics, biosciences for instance) who regularly collaborated with undergraduate students in research that was published in high level journals. Not saying that couldn't happen as a community college, but a lot of the faculty there are - less than charismatic, shall we say. And they are usually just teachers, and not encouraged by their institutions to pursue research.

AdobePinon

Which is a double edged sword. Some research profs want nothing to do with teaching, and it shows.

That being said, anyone who thinks they’re interested in research should start at a research institution. You might not get much done as a freshman, but the exposure may well be life changing.

robin1234

Small liberal arts college for undergrad, then research university could work better if you choose the right professors at undergrad.

Phyzz

We are doing this with Daughter #1. Found out where she wants to end up first, then made sure that she is communicating with them each semester to ensure that her credits are transferable and any other advice that they can give.

Both colleges are being very helpful, and recognize the overall value.

Daughter #2 ruled this out as an option early on. I told her that the amount I will contribute is the equivalent of the CC, any extra is on her.

BenK91

Exactly what my wife has done - she's just been accepted into CU Boulder but as others have said she was in contact with the admissions office there for most of the way making sure she had the correct GPA and correct classes taken each semester.