Foo - Will 1 year at a community college increase odds of getting into university?

:(. My physics teacher told us that the grades this term are pretty lousy. Out of a class of 18, I know at least 5 are failing. I don't think I am failing, but I probably have a D, maybe a low C. It all depends on the last lab report and test we took.

Part of the problem is, I was 2 weeks late to join the class. It took a while to learn his expectations, I am doing much better now. But, I fear that such a low grade will reflect poorly upon me for college :(. The grades all of my other classes are fine. Am I doomed?

A lot of my friends went to the local community college for a year or two just to get the generic general education classes done with. A lot cheaper than going right into a university. I wish I had done it.

yes it will, if you can go 2 years and get your aa then you would just be a transfer student,
my wife got her aa at the comunity college and is working on her ba at a univesity taking online classes
it was quite easy to transfer

If five or more out of eighteen are failing, the teacher isn't doing his job. Apply to the colleges you want to get into, if you don't get in then go to a community college, get good grades and re apply to the college.
A teachers job is to educate, not just hand out grades and blame the failures on the kids though.

That is a possibility, my dad is a teacher at a community college right here, I think I would get a discount. Maybe I could get the generic courses done there for the first year. Then, when I am ready to take the nerdy courses, I will also be ready to spend the big bucks :p

If five or more out of eighteen are failing, the teacher isn't doing his job. Apply to the colleges you want to get into, if you don't get in then go to a community college, get good grades and re apply to the college.
A teachers job is to educate, not just hand out grades and blame the failures on the kids though.

The teacher does teach, and teach pretty well. It's just that nobody at the school has ever taken such a demanding class, he says it closely mimics a college course. Well, we've had NO preparation for it, and his expectations were the full 100% from day 1. If I was in his shoes, I would lower my expectations for the first term, letting students learn the expectations. I feel like now I am understanding, and able to cope with the stress induced by this class better. A month ago, it was feeling like this class is a black hole for energy!

Consider this,
Last year for my College Prep chemistry course, we would do lab reports about 2x per week, they would be about 1 page long. 5 questions to answer (give or take a few), sometimes we would produce a graph. We would always crank out some sort of data table in excel though. Then we would write a short paragraph conclusion. Typically 1-2 pages long, took 20 or 30 minutes. Honors Chemistry had almost the exact same stuff.

This year lab reports in Honors Physics-
My last lab was 13.5 pages long, given as a booklet. There were Computer drawn diagrams, 3 pages of data tables with size 10 font in excel. Intensive sample calculations, documentation of every step. Abstracts, conclusions, summaries, source of error analysis. The whole thing took about 10 hours to complete, thats 20x more time than last years!

And I don't fault him for it, I really don't. I've learned such a great amount in this class already, I love it. But, the demands of this class came as a shock to everybody in it. So, it took some time. He knows he makes it hard, he will admit it. I just don't think it's fair to expect all that from day 1.

I really wish I started out in community college. You'll save a lot of money, and employers will probably never know once you transfer, not that it really matters. Make sure you find out what classes will transfer and what won't.

All college professors think their class is the only one you have so they load up the work. Given that situation, you have to learn to manage your time and resources to get as much of the work done as possible.

I think that if a good chunk of the class is failing, it's a reflection on the instructor and his/her teaching ability and/or techniques. Of course if he/she grades on a curve, then maybe everyone will THINK they are doing better when in reality, the best grades may only be mediore at best. Just my 2 cents off topic...:D

What university do you want to get into? What do you mean by "fine" when you describe your other grades?

You seem like a pretty smart guy. I've taught college freshmen who couldn't even write a quality paragraph. You may be surprised how low the standards are at some universities. That said, one bad grade isn't the end of the world, especially if your other grades are good and you do well on the SAT, ACT, or whatever test they want you to take. If the class is still bothering you, can you take it over again?

Are you just looking for an average (not in a bad way) university? If so, you'll probably get in without much trouble. Are you looking for Harvard or something like that? If so, you could probably get a 4.0 for 2 straight years in community college and it still wouldn't be enough to get in. I don't mean to be a jerk when I say that, but it's true.

What university do you want to get into? What do you mean by "fine" when you describe your other grades?

You seem like a pretty smart guy. I've taught college freshmen who couldn't even write a quality paragraph. You may be surprised how low the standards are at some universities. That said, one bad grade isn't the end of the world, especially if your other grades are good and you do well on the SAT, ACT, or whatever test they want you to take. If the class is still bothering you, can you take it over again?

Are you just looking for an average (not in a bad way) university? If so, you'll probably get in without much trouble. Are you looking for Harvard or something like that? If so, you could probably get a 4.0 for 2 straight years in community college and it still wouldn't be enough to get in. I don't mean to be a jerk when I say that, but it's true.

I was looking at UNH, but I feel like I was only looking because it was close and convenient. I'd like to go a school somewhere between average and 1337, in between. I do not want to go to a place like Harvard, I really don't, and would never waste my time applying.
If you were to take a gpa of my grades excluding physics, it would fall between 3-3.2.
The SAT score is something I don't know yet. I doubt I did stellar, It was not until after the test I was told that you are better off leaving an answer blank if you don't know it. :eek: I suppose I will subject myself to that crap of a 5 hour test again :(.

I do think I know what you mean about some people who get accepted to 4 year places. I know a few people surprised me to say the least, in regards to their whereabouts after high school.

I may have missed it, but I didn't see mention of the major you will be pursuing once you get to college. That may largely determine the impact of your physics grade in the eyes of potential colleges. When I applied to schools for engineering, they were more interested in to see that I had done well in physics and calc, and didn't seem to care that my english grades were so-so.

I was looking at UNH, but I feel like I was only looking because it was close and convenient. I'd like to go a school somewhere between average and 1337, in between. I do not want to go to a place like Harvard, I really don't, and would never waste my time applying. Hmmm, from a financial point of view, I'd recommend taking 2-years @ CC and getting an AA and doing all of the pre-req. classes from a university. You'll get the same knowledge & training for 1/10th the cost. Then most of those will transfer straight into a 4-year univ. Best to check with the 4-year school that you're interested in and see their transfer-programme and what classes are credited. However, this is a backup plan, apply to all your 1st choice university first and see how it goes from there.

Getting into schools also isn't a linear thing, there's a lot of other factors besides SAT and GPA. I didn't get into Berkeley but got into Harvard, and it was the other way around with my brother.

Don't do UNH!!!! Sorry, I had to say it. I went to UMaine. :D

Unless you do poorly in community college, it will help you at a bigger school.

I really don't know my 1st choice university :(. On top of that, I don't know my first choice major either! I am pretty certain it will be something in the scientific field, perhaps engineering. Electrical engineering is a possibility, as well as mechanical. I don't know if I've come across a slice of science that has not appealed to me yet, so I just have to pick my favorites I guess. This physics class is by far my favorite class I've taken. Something that I would never have said a few years ago, but I really enjoy the math. But this class is still somewhat general, even though we go into decent depth into a subject. Later in life, I suspect I will want to teach, but that is just a hunch and a while away.

Don't do UNH!!!! Sorry, I had to say it. I went to UMaine. :D

Unless you do poorly in community college, it will help you at a bigger school.

What was UMaine like anyways? I've never met anybody who went

A lot like UNH I guess. About the same size, same age and also the flag ship university in the system. Nice country setting. The city of Bangor is about the same size as Portsmouth and is about as far away.

...oh yeah, 2 college hockey national championships!! :p

Do it for the financial reasons, not to improve your attractiveness to universities. And, if you DO decide to do it, work your @$$ off at the CC. Your high school grades sound more than good enough for the kinds of universities you're looking at, but nothing will look worse to them than poor grades at an easy CC.

Oh, and as far as majors - don't sweat it. If you don't know, just pick a uni that has a good spread, and apply into something generic (liberal arts) that fits your strengths. Switching majors once you're at a school is cake, people do it all the time.

i am not really sure what to do here.

I met with my guidance counselor today, basically a useless visit. He just asked what part of the USA I want to be in, I told him northeast, close to home if possible. He asked what size school, I said medium. He printed off a list. That was the extent of it.

The truth of the matter is, I am not a scholar. Last year my gpa was 2.8 or something of that like, not awful, but not lovely either. Basically, my parents want me to live with them for a while to save money. I am definitely open to that, not for my entire college career obviously. But, for at least the first year. But that means I have basically two options:
Go to UNH (which I do believe would be nice)
Go to one of the community colleges around (like the one my dad works. He teaches culinary arts, I would never even see him though).

I was told UNH seeks students with around a 3.0GPA, and SAT score of 1100 EXCLUDING the writing section. So my score excluding the writing section would be 1050. I am going to retake that though, I certainly did not perform my best. I look back now and think of some stupid mistakes I made.

Academically, I am not a great achiever. I do think I will have just under a 3.0 GPA, despite not having many A's. That being, because of the two honors class's I have. But last year was not great with grades, even this term isn't great. As usual it seems, not bad, not great.

I do however have an internship, job shadow, and at least two letters of recommendation (one of who has been my teacher for 3 years). One is my teacher for Engineering technology, the other for an Honors history class. Theres a few people outside of school who I know would write letters of recommendations. One being my boss, the other being the person I job shadowed. I've worked with him for several involved projects. I do feel I have some substantial achievements outside of school worth noting. But I get the impression that type of thing does not really matter?

One big advantage I see is that with a community college, like one said, it will cost significantly less to get the first few years done. A few thousand's less as far as student loans go does not make me frown! But, I just am hesitant spending 10k a year at UNH when I am not even sure it is where I REALLY want to be. I don't even know, and I just don't see myself knowing that right now. If I went to a CC, I could save up money to go to the school I really want to go to, which may be more costly than UNH for all I know. I doubt I will get a scholarship for anywhere, so I could use it :p

My guidance counselor did say that after you've finished a year of college, your SAT scores and highschool grades are not even looked at anymore. Starting w/ a clean slate might be nice....
I've had several teachers tell me that I will do much better in a college class than highschool, so for all I know I WILL be a scholar when that time comes.

SUNY, the state university of New York, works it so that if you recieve a degree from any of SUNY community colleges and then apply to three 4 year SUNY schools, at least one of them has to accept you. As long as as you had a high enough gpa to graduate, it will be enough to get you into a 4 year in NY.

SUNY, the state university of New York, works it so that if you recieve a degree from any of SUNY community colleges and then apply to three 4 year SUNY schools, at least one of them has to accept you. As long as as you had a high enough gpa to graduate, it will be enough to get you into a 4 year in NY.

Many 4 year universities have agreements with area community colleges. I'm going to community college right now and finishing my aa and then transferring up to a 4 year (where I'll be a junior) for my ba. Saving a buttload of money and am already accepted. Can't beat that.

The CC route just seems like the most logical. At the end of the day, your final diploma comes from the school you want, and you save. I am somewhat leaning toward that direction.
Though my parents seem to want me to just go to a 4 year from day 1 'till day of graduation.

Well it turns out I can get a significant discount by attending the school my dad teaches at. I really think this is what I will do right now. I fear that going to UNH will be me settling, I hate to settle, and of all things, I don't want to settle for something as big as college. I must be well challenged to be happy, that's just the way it is.

So my hopes are, I can get as many of the generic credits (Calculus, english things, your liberal arts, etc.) as possible @ the CC. This is a pretty low cost to me as well, always nice. Now, after a year or two getting these courses done (which I would have had to take at a university anyways but at a much higher cost with no benefit I can see), I can apply and will likely be accepted into a school I actually WANT to attend. A school where I am driven to attend, not just because of convenience.

Chances are, this will be like what I said- between average and 1337. I really need to be challenged, you always learn more when you are challenged over your head I find, and learning is probably my favorite thing to do. This school will probably cost a good amount, even w/ scholarships. So after a year or even two at the CC, I would have saved up money to be able to afford a school I would not otherwise afford. By the time the generic courses are done or nearly done, I will be able to really get into gear with as many science courses as I can take, so I can find out what appeals to me the most for a major.

Thats the plan as of now, tentative of course!

Which CC? Just curious.

CC is me being too lazy to type community college :)

CC is me being too lazy to type community college :)

I think he is asking for the one where your father works.

^^ What he said.

My daughter goes to York County CC in Wells Maine.

Oh, sorry :p

Atlantic Culinary Academy, which is now a part of McIntosh College

LOL, I had a feeling it was McIntosh!

I live maybe...
2.5 miles from McIntosh, okay 3 to be fair.

Perfect. You can go there on the cheap, and commute by bike to save money on gas. :D

To the original question: from what I've seen, yes, generally a year at a community college increases your odds of getting accepted to a university.

However, my opinion, based heavily on favorable results from my experience and the difficulty in transferring credits for many people I knew who started at a CC, is that if you can get into the university from the start and can afford the extra tuition, it is worth it to have a consistently structured curriculum path from the start through to graduation. Naturally, each person is different and for some the greater similarity between a community college and high school may ease the transition. Student loans may seem daunting, but once you've graduated and have a good job, they're not that bad.

My advice is to apply to both, tour the schools, and compare the offers. Also, ask someone at the university in the school you plan to study in about possible difficulties in transferring credits. Then the decision is up to you.