High schools across the globe are bustling with energy and excitement as many students gear up for college applications. However, for some, the notion of going to college and adulting for the first time can be terrifying.
It is a time of growth, self-exploration, and newfound independence. These young adults are expected to develop new skills and learn not only about the world around them but also about themselves.
Of course, there will be many challenges and failures along the way but that is how we all mature into self-reliant and proper adults.
I’m a prime example of this: I was a very late bloomer – at 18 I barely knew how to do the laundry or boil a pot of water let alone make a life-altering decision such as which college to attend although I did have my work cut out for me.
Academically speaking, I was underwhelming by any standard: failing grades, the constant threat of flunking out of high school, and no pizzazz. Teachers thought I had issues, my parents thought I had issues, even I thought I had issues!
My world was a total mess and all the while I was completely oblivious to what I wanted to do with my life.
Bad grades and a sprinkle of amotivation in an Asian household was definitely not a great mix so imagine my mother’s surprise when I told her I was equally clueless.
Okay, not a great start to an article about helping anxious high school students get into their dream schools. You’re probably thinking “this guy is out of his mind if he’s thinking about giving me college advice” to yourself right?
Well slow your roll, sorry to burst your bubble but my story does have a happy ending. In the spring of 2016, I was offered admission to my dream school, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a generous financial package.
I was also offered admission to other top universities such as USC, UC Irvine, and Penn State. I graduated in 2018 and am currently a graduate student at Columbia University (yes, the ivy league).
So what’s my secret? How is it possible an unremarkable student, like myself, was offered admission to every college I applied to? How did I achieve the unthinkable? But more importantly, how did I beat the odds?
Well, buckle up cowboy you’re in for a treat. If you read the title of this article then the cat is already out of the bag but I will elaborate more on this point shortly.
As someone who has been in the trenches and battled through the admission process with my trusty tips and tricks, I can tell you it is possible to make yourself a very competitive applicant to any school with the right guidance and decision-making.
My secret weapon was community college. Yes, you read correctly community college was my trump card and I’ll explain why.
“My secret weapon was community college.”
Let’s take my situation, for example: I scraped by high school with a <2.0 GPA, minimal extracurricular activities, and no SAT/ACT scores to report.
Obviously no admission officer in their right mind would recommend me for admission, especially not to world-class institutions, and for good reason. These top-tier universities have a reputation to preserve and religiously enforce high standards as a result.
Great, we’ve established that colleges don’t want me so what’s the point of stating the obvious other than to hurt my feelings? Well since we know it is impossible for me to be admitted through conventional means (high school route) what alternative do I have left?
The simple answer is community college, specifically the transfer route.
Community colleges are two-year institutions that afford numerous advantages and benefits that are not available to high school or university students and are worth considering.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on the author’s own opinions and personal experiences and should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all. It is strongly recommended that this article be used as a guide and supplement to your overall college plans so please consult with your high school counselor and family to determine a course of action that is best for you.
ADVANTAGE 1: GUARANTEED ADMISSION TO TOP UNIVERSITIES
The Transfer Admission Guarantee, or TAG as it is better known, is probably one of the best kept secrets among California community colleges and is arguably their most valuable asset.
TAG is an agreement between the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the University of California (UC) system which outlines the transfer requirements that must be satisfied to be guaranteed admission to one of the participating UC campuses: Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz.
Requirements are generally the completion of 60 transferable semester units and a 3.4 minimum grade point average.
NOTE: The TAG agreement only applies to community colleges in California and participating UC institutions. Transfer requirements may vary by community college so consult with your college counselor to determine a transfer plan that is best for you.
You may have noticed that UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UCSD are not on the list and thought this article was clickbait but I assure you it is not.
Sure they are not part of the UC agreement but these institutions have an excellent track record of accepting transfer students and have steadily increased the number of admits each year.
Surprisingly, UCLA actually accepts the most transfers out of any UC campus despite not being part of the agreement. This implies TAG is not the be-all and end-all of admission to top universities but going to community college is.
Another best kept secret is the California Community Colleges-Associate Degree for Transfer (CCC-ADT) program which offers a similar arrangement with the CSU system and is colloquially referred to as “a degree with a guarantee.”
To qualify for guaranteed admission to a CSU campus you must complete an approved ADT program at your two-year institution. The ADT consists of the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T), you just need to obtain one.
TIP #1: Although not a requirement, it is recommended that you complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) before you transfer otherwise you must do so when you transfer to a UC/CSU campus.
TIP #2: Assist is a great tool to use if your goal is to transfer from a CA community college via TAG or ADT. It gives a list of equivalent courses at your institution to take in lieu of UC/CSU course requirements.
Both TAG and CCC-ADT are an enormous advantage because they even the playing field for students who come from nontraditional backgrounds, such as low-income, first-generation, immigrant status, single parent and veterans, by providing equal access to high-quality education at top-ranked universities.
It’s no wonder why California is a popular destination for prospective college students.
ADVANTAGE 2: FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY
The average tuition for public, two-year colleges (in-state) is $3,440 compared to $9,410 among public, four-year colleges (in-state) according to College Board. This difference is almost by a factor of three meaning a student would, on average, pay almost three times as much for the same education at a public, four-year institution.
TIP #3: Community colleges are partnered with many foundations in the community making it easier for you to win scholarships. Check with your college’s scholarship/financial aid office for more information.
It doesn’t get any better for private, four-year colleges where the average tuition is a whopping $32,410 per year! That’s more than ten times that of two-year and three times that of four-year colleges.
Keep in mind bachelor degrees are expected to be completed around four years so multiply each value by four to get a more representative number.
It becomes abundantly clear that overly priced institutions, such as private colleges, offer far less financial flexibility since the expectation is that students will stick with their declared majors but many do not.
“…the expectation is that students will stick with their declared majors but many do not.”
According to the Department of Education, an estimated 33% of students will change majors at some point during their collegiate study so the time and resources that went into it were all for naught.
So imagine if you had already funneled in one to two year’s worth of tuition at a private school. That would be between $30,000 to $60,000 that went down the drain!
However, learning through mistakes is part of the adulting process and it is better to find out you don’t like something early on than being 10 years deep into that career only to realize it is not for you. The only problem is whether students should go into debt as a result.
This is where community colleges really shine. The lower costs of two-year colleges provide students the opportunity to not only explore other majors but to change them without breaking the bank.
I have switched majors myself so I definitely understand the anxiety and fear that comes with this decision.
Luckily the cost per credit at my community college is $46 so a single, three-unit course would be $138 compared to $1,822 at Columbia which makes that same course $5,466! This is approximately a forty-fold difference so imagine a 12-unit, full-time schedule.
Thanks to the affordability of community colleges, there is a strong likelihood that you can transfer with minimal to no debt (like me!).
According to the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University (Go Lions!), an estimated 59% of students at two-year institutions graduate without any debt! That is almost 6 out of every 10 students so there is a good chance you will too.
Now juxtapose this with the fact that students, on average, accumulate an estimated $29,200 in debt by the time they receive their bachelor’s degree. Ain’t no one got time for that.
ADVANTAGE 3: SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
Community colleges also give students like myself a second chance at life. Yes, I did make many poor decisions throughout K-12 but rather than having these mistakes be a life sentence I still have the opportunity to right my wrongs.
Unlike universities, two-year colleges typically accept applications on a rolling basis and without much of the hoops and hassles. Students can, in most cases, apply for the fall, spring or summer terms, which is beneficial for those who are considering other admission offers and are weighing their financial situation.
Lastly, minimum grade point averages (GPA), letters of recommendation, and other supplemental material are generally not required for admission.
NOTE: Transfer deadlines and requirements may vary by college so be sure to do your research.
These minimal requirements guarantee that all students have equal access to a college education with the chance to transfer.
As a result, these two-year institutions operate with what I refer to as “compassionate admittance” because there is the understanding that not everyone has had an equal chance in life due to extenuating circumstances but still deserve a shot at the American Dream.
ADVANTAGE 4: BLANK SLATE
Another advantage afforded by community college is tabula rasa, otherwise known as a blank slate since high school transcripts are typically not factored in community college admission nor the transfer process. This is especially good news for people like me because schools like UCLA will never see my F’s from high school.
Students enter with a clean transcript and it is their job to keep it that way by the time they are ready to transfer. Therefore, the coveted 4.0 grade point average you have always dreamed about is possible and within reach.
This omission will always be beneficial but if you would like to make references to draw comparisons and highlight your academic growth you could do so in your application.
TIP #4: Universities love an underdog story so if you did poorly in high school but made significant improvements in community college definitely include that in your application.
ADVANTAGE 5: STRESS-FREE HIGH SCHOOL
High school is an extremely stressful time ranging from puberty and “it’s complicated” relationships to bullying and peer pressure. Many of us have found ourselves in awkward situations with our crush or had a “mean girl” situation and that’s okay! It’s a part of life, you get the good with the bad.
To top it all off, many high school students are stressed and overworked as they compete and claw for a spot at their dream school and this might sound a lot like your own situation.
Do you wish you could hang out with friends over the weekends but can’t because you have to hit the books for the upcoming SAT/ACT exam? You might even have declined a party invitation just to get an extra cram session in.
Do you hate being pressured to hold countless club president, captain, student body, and internship positions in dozens of “that’ll-look-good” organizations?
More importantly, are all of these commitments taking a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health?
What if I told you none of these are necessary and you could instead focus on having a wholesome high school career?
Well, you’re in luck because no standardized tests are required for community college and admission is virtually guaranteed so high school students can have one less problem to worry about.
TIP #5: If you have decided to attend community college, there is a strong chance you do not need to take the SAT/ACT but double-check with your two-year institution.
ADVANTAGE 6: COMPETITIVE EDGE OVER HIGH SCHOOL APPLICANTS
Community colleges also offer far more opportunities for authentic professional and leadership development since there is much more at stake. By “authentic” I mean opportunities where one gains practical, real-world experiences.
For example, when I was elected into the Associated Student Body (ASB) as the Representative for Disabled Students, I was accountable to both disabled students and a student population of >20,000. Our job was to ensure the smooth operation of student programs and services and we had the purse to do so.
Each year we had a budget of approximately $1M so you could imagine the potential for real and lasting change (2017-2018 budget report provided below).
Not to toot my own horn but I did great work for my constituents throughout my tenure by expanding disability services and increasing the visibility of their needs on campus. My greatest achievement was the installation of an audio-assisted crosswalk on the main street for students with disabilities.
Now compare this to the high school ASB budget provided below; there is almost no comparison. I am not trying to demean or chalk up the work they do as unimportant because they do a lot of good.
NOTE: These values may vary by institution/high school and geographical region. The point is community colleges tend to be more resourced though it could be the inverse in some cases.
What I am saying, however, is that it is more recreational than transformative because a budget of a few thousand dollars can only do so much and go so far. The focus is more about cementing the high school experience rather than changing lives.
At the college level, you are responsible for the wellbeing of students and the quality of programs and services. If someone in my position does a poor job so will the quality of these resources.
But with high risk comes high reward. The transferable skills you develop from these opportunities, such as leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving, prepare you for the rigor of university work and give you a competitive edge over high school applicants.
ADVANTAGE 7: DIPPING YOUR TOES TO TEST THE WATERS
Yes, college is very daunting and you might be unsure whether college is right for you which is totally fine! College is not for everyone nor is it the only path to be successful just look at Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.
Community college is an opportunity to test the waters, get a sense of what the workload is like, and gauge whether it is a commitment you want to take on.
You might even notice (like many other students) that the curriculum is very manageable and the classes are essentially easy A’s. This is great news because that coveted 4.0 GPA is now within reach.
TIP #6: If you are nervous about the course load, take one class below full-time status during your first term (9 units instead of 12) and make the changes at the next term based on this feedback.
There is also the added benefit of time since students can work at their own pace through night and weekend classes which is an appealing option for those with family obligations or work commitments.
An estimated 80% of community college students are employed and 39% work full-time so you are definitely not alone. This way you can minimize the amount of debt you incur (interest rates are the silent killers) and ease the financial pressure to finish your program.
ADVANTAGE 8: VERY SMALL CLASS SIZE
Small classes are also very common among two-year colleges with an average capacity of 25-40 seats which ensures every student receives personalized guidance and support from faculty.
This extra care and attention are a luxury university students can only hope for since the majority of courses are taught in lecture halls that house 200-300 students at a time so they would be lucky if they could snag a smaller seminar class.
The problem with large classrooms is students may be unable or unwilling to engage with in-class material or participate in discussion due to fear of embarrassment, consideration for others, or simply a lack of time.
As a UCLA student, it was pretty intimidating to speak up in class because hundreds of eyes were on me and just the idea of getting the answer wrong was paralyzing enough.
These limitations can disrupt learning and often require students to expend additional time asking fellow classmates or the TA for clarification when it could have been addressed during class.
Finally, the small class size offers community college students the opportunity to network with professors on a personal level which translates to better letters of recommendation and therefore a higher likelihood of college acceptance.
TIP #7: When it comes to letters of recommendation it is the quality not the quantity that matters. Find someone who knows you well and can speak to your achievements.
For example, when I was the President of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, I regularly met with my advisor who mentored and pushed me to be a better leader over the course of three years. I eventually asked her for a letter of recommendation because she had seen my growth first-hand and can best articulate my qualifications and work ethic.
This close professional relationship might not be nearly as possible or as substantive at four-year institutions since most tenured professors are researchers by trade and whose main priority is their lab work (gotta boost that h-index).
NOTE: This observation does not apply to Ph.D. programs since professors work closely with doctoral students on their dissertation throughout the 5-7 year program.
TIP #8: If your PI teaches a course take it and make every effort to meet during office hours. The best times to do so are the beginning of the term or right after an exam.
This is not to say university professors are poor mentors, my point is there will be significantly more factors competing for their attention, such as fellow students, graduate students, lab work, publication deadlines, etc.
As a result, professors typically do not have enough time to meet with each student individually so count yourself lucky if they still remember your name next time.
In my experience, university professors often meet dozens of students at a time during office hours and it only gets worse over midterms/finals week (usually filled out to the door).
It is also very difficult to form close working relationships with them since you will instead be assigned to a graduate student or the lab manager/coordinator.
TIP #9: Always give 110% to your assigned graduate student because their feedback will be weighed heavily in the letter of recommendation.
This arrangement limits what the professor or PI personally knows about you so your supervisor’s feedback will be weighed heavily in the letter of recommendation.
ADVANTAGE 9: IMPLICIT PREFERENCE FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
A lesser known benefit of community college is that the “transfer student” label can actually play to your advantage and should be branded as your “stand out factor.”
During my time at UCLA, it was an open secret that professors preferred transfer students (junior standing) since we tend to be more prepared for the rigor of college work and have the necessary skills and discipline to succeed.
“[transfers] tend to be more prepared for the rigor of college work and have the necessary skills and discipline to succeed.”
Many transfers are individuals who, despite their unfortunate circumstances (i.e., teenage pregnancy, addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, poverty, abuse, familial strife, first-generation), were still able to succeed academically.
ADVANTAGE 10: SIDESTEP UNIVERSITY TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Lastly, the waived standardized testing requirement of four-year universities is arguably the best advantage afforded by community colleges. This gives you a leg up over high school applicants because you just need to focus on academics and extracurricular activities while they worry about SAT/ACT exams.
NOTE: Always check the transfer requirements for each institution as some may require SAT/ACT scores (e.g., Harvard).
No one was more ecstatic about this advantage than I was because I’m no Albert Einstein and standardized tests only make me look dumber than I actually am.
How many times have you heard “you have to score a perfect 1600 on the SAT to guarantee a spot at [school name]”? We have all heard similar sayings for way too long and I can tell you this is not true and definitely not necessary!
Besides these tests are problematic anyway since they are usually a reflection of socioeconomic wealth, short-term memory, emotion regulation, and test-taking ability rather than a measure of true intelligence.
Sure, the essay portion is a bit better than the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions but how often do we do so within an hour? My guess is very rarely since many of us typically allot hours, if not days or weeks, to craft the perfect, well thought out paper.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Thank you so much for reading my FIRST article! I poured my heart and soul into this piece so I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it. My intentions were to show my readers that any dream is attainable because if this dum-dum (me) could do it so can you! I understand it won’t be easy but nothing worth having in this life is easy. It takes patience, persistence, hard work, and a lot of time but once you achieve your goals the feeling will be magical.
