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My husband will be finishing up his first 2 years of credit at the local community college this comming May, then go on to a four year college to finish his BS.
I also did that and will be starting my second year at the four year school. I didn't have to take out loans until 1/2 through my first year at this 4 year college, and so far we haven't had to take out any loans for my husband.
The nice thing about our community college is the payment plan where you put a % down then pay off the remainder in 4 or 5 equal monthly installments, no interest, just a $25 fee to set up the payment plan. It's how we have managed to put ourselves through school. Although the loans are because the 4 year I am going to doesn't have the payment plan, but I still put money towards it every month except the last few months since I've been unemployed.
Congrats to both you and your husband. I never heard of that type of payment plan. I know at the school I go to there's a payment called a "step plan" where you pay in thirds for your quarter of school as long as you pay off all of your classes by the end of the quarter.
The Penn State satellite campuses are very limited in their offerings and offer few majors and limited bachelor's degrees.
After graduating from one of the satellite campuses with an associate degree, there is no guarantee of admission to Penn State's main campus unlike SUNY where Community College students are guaranteed admission to a SUNY campus after earning an associate degree.
Well that doesn't mean they will get into one of the better schools that are options. It seems like most states have a more complete university has other options to the flagship unlike PSU.
The Penn State satellite campuses are very limited in their offerings and offer few majors and limited bachelor's degrees.
After graduating from one of the satellite campuses with an associate degree, there is no guarantee of admission to Penn State's main campus unlike SUNY where Community College students are guaranteed admission to a SUNY campus after earning an associate degree.
The PSU branch campuses are not like Community Colleges. The majors are offered at particular campuses and they state very clearly if you can finish them at that branch or if you need to finish at Main campus. While they do offer Associates, it's not their main thrust. To go to Main campus you must be accepted into that school's program. Engineering is hard to get into no matter what campus you start at. I think it makes sense that you won't be guaranteed admission to Main campus, but I think the bar set is a reasonable one.
Just because it's not like the SUNY's or UNC's colleges doesn't mean the PSU system is a bad one. Remember we also have 14 State colleges Welcome to the PA State System of Higher Education that are reasonably priced (unlike PSU) and fairly well regarded.
Oops, we've completely strayed from the OP, which was about CC's, not the Pennsylvania state colleges.
Well that doesn't mean they will get into one of the better schools that are options. It seems like most states have a more complete university has other options to the flagship unlike PSU.
They will get into a better one than had they just transferred from a private school.
They relax thee standards quite a bit for students who get Associate degrees at NY State CCs.
The outcomes are mixed. A student can gain entrance into a university center with a GPA as low as 2.75.
They get in, but statistically they do not do well when it comes do getting out. Graduating.
The PSU branch campuses are not like Community Colleges. The majors are offered at particular campuses and they state very clearly if you can finish them at that branch or if you need to finish at Main campus. While they do offer Associates, it's not their main thrust. To go to Main campus you must be accepted into that school's program. Engineering is hard to get into no matter what campus you start at. I think it makes sense that you won't be guaranteed admission to Main campus, but I think the bar set is a reasonable one.
Just because it's not like the SUNY's or UNC's colleges doesn't mean the PSU system is a bad one. Remember we also have 14 State colleges Welcome to the PA State System of Higher Education that are reasonably priced (unlike PSU) and fairly well regarded.
Oops, we've completely strayed from the OP, which was about CC's, not the Pennsylvania state colleges.
I learned something new today about Pennsylvania's state colleges.
No biggie, but thanks for directing people back to the main topic.
Yes I did.. I saved a lot of money and now I'm enjoying my 4 year school and not taking it for granted like many of the kids who start at 4 year school.
Yup. I transferred to a great school after getting my A.S. The first semester at the university was tough: Much bigger school, tough classes and I had to quickly adapt to the culture. But I adapted and did well. You will too, I'm sure.
The university I transferred to had a "Transfer dorm". For me, it didn't actually help since I already had friends from high school going there, so I had almost an instant group. You should look into whether the college's you're transferring to have a similar thing, or maybe a social club geared towards transfers.
Transferring to a small school might be tough socially: people will already be in cliques. On the other hand, you'll get the small class sizes and approachable professors that you're used to at the CC.
Yup. I transferred to a great school after getting my A.S. The first semester at the university was tough: Much bigger school, tough classes and I had to quickly adapt to the culture. But I adapted and did well. You will too, I'm sure.
The university I transferred to had a "Transfer dorm". For me, it didn't actually help since I already had friends from high school going there, so I had almost an instant group. You should look into whether the college's you're transferring to have a similar thing, or maybe a social club geared towards transfers.
Transferring to a small school might be tough socially: people will already be in cliques. On the other hand, you'll get the small class sizes and approachable professors that you're used to at the CC.
Thanks for sharing! I hope there's a places I get accepted to that have good transfer activities and dorms for that matter. I will probably join a few on campus clubs and groups to get better acquainted. I'm sure most of my friends will most likely be through my department or through my major classes.
well not everyone intends to transfer to a 4 year, either. i've never taken a class at a CC but i assume that a lot of students are just there to learn this or that random thing for their job or interests.
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I never heard of that type of payment plan. I know at the school I go to there's a payment called a "step plan" where you pay in thirds for your quarter of school as long as you pay off all of your classes by the end of the quarter.
