Admissions Academy Blog

Advantages to attending Community College

•  Posted by Lori McCormick on April 18th, 2008 in Admissions
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There are approximately 2.5 million students attending the 109 California Community College campuses statewide. Day, evening, weekend, and online courses offer flexible schedules, and with faculty committed to fostering academic growth, attending a community college is a practical choice for many. Here are five reasons to consider attending a community college:

1. Earn college credit during high school. During high school, you can take pre-requisites or general education classes concurrently with your classes. Concurrent enrollment allows academically talented high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college-level courses to receive credit while still attending high school. In addition to gaining college credit, one community college semester is the equivalent of one year at the high school level. If you don’t have time during the school year, you may also consider taking classes at a local community college during the summer.

2. Personal Attention. The average class size at a UC campus is approximately 100 students, while the average class size at a California Community College is only about 30. Smaller classes provide more opportunity for questions and discussions with your peers and your professors. Unlike larger research-focused universities, actual professors, not teaching assistants or graduate students, teach community college classes.

3. Affordable Tuition. Over the past decade, changes in state funding, tuition, and financial aid have made the cost of attending college less realistic and less affordable for students. At the UC campuses, students should plan on paying an average of $23,980 annually in fees. At a private university, students can expect to pay about $44,450 annually. Tuition at a California Community College is far less expensive. With tuition averaging about $13 per unit, students can expect to pay approximately $1,200 annually in fees. Many families don’t realize that Community Colleges offer financial aid for students who qualify. Be sure to inquire about scholarships, grants, and aid opportunities through the college’s Financial Aid Office.

4. Guaranteed Admissions. Many of the UC campuses offer Transfer Admissions Guarantee programs (TAG) with local community colleges. These programs guarantee admissions to students who sign contracts and complete the transfer requirements. For example, if your heart is set on attending UC San Diego, research which community colleges offer Transfer Admissions Guarantee programs and plan on attending one of those campuses. In some cases, living closer to that UC campus and attending a community college with the transfer guarantee program will assist you in getting accepted into your dream UC. Here’s an interesting article on UC Transfers

5. I want the college experience but want to start at a Community College. There are over 10 California Community College campuses that offer on-campus dormitory facilities to their students. That means, you can still have the traditional college student experience of moving to a new city and living in a dorm while paying a fraction of the cost of a four-year college.

Here is a list of campuses that offer dormitory facilities:

- College of the Redwoods
- College of the Siskiyous
- Columbia College
- Lassen Community College
- Reedley College
- Santa Rosa Junior College
- Shasta College
- Sierra College
- Taft College
- West Hills College, Coalinga
- Yuba College

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Determining the cost of college in today’s economy

•  Posted by Lori McCormick on April 17th, 2008 in Articles of Interest
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Last year students and parents borrowed nearly $60 billion dollars in federally guaranteed loans – an inflation adjusted increase of 6% annually over the last five years.

This year, paying for college is going to be more challenging than previous years. Loan companies are in turmoil, home values are decreasing, and banks are raising rates on borrowing. All of this has left students and parents in an unfamiliar state, wondering how to pay for college. Here are links to two articles that address the rising fear in determining how to pay for college and what can be done about it.

The New York Times, “Fewer Options Open to Pay for Costs of College” by Jonathan D. Glater

The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Be Careful in Weighing College Aid” by Gail MarksJarvis

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Helpful Hints: AP’s and SAT Subject Tests

•  Posted by Sarah Ziegler on April 11th, 2008 in Academics
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If I’m enrolled in an AP course, can I just take the SAT Subject test in that course?
While an AP course is certainly rigorous, students should be aware that being prepared for one test doesn’t necessarily translate to being prepared for the other. In US History, for example, the AP test is more focused on reading, analysis, and writing, whereas the SAT Subject test is more focused on specific dates and facts. Be sure to allocate time to study for them separately.

Aren’t AP scores are more important for admissions than SAT Subject test scores?
Depending on the college, AP tests may not even be an official consideration in your overall acceptance. Having AP scores doesn’t exclude a student from having to satisfy a college’s specific testing requirements. At the UC’s, for example, students must take two SAT Subject tests regardless of the numbers and scores of their AP tests.

What if I score poorly on my AP test. Will colleges see those scores?
AP score reports are separate from a student’s SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject test reports, so while students will need to send their SAT scores, they do not have to send official AP score reports until after they have decided to attend a particular college.

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