by: Matthew Robinson
By the time I got serious about school itself, I was in high school and it was
already too late. I had unrealistic goals for my GPA, which wasn't horrible at
2.8, and even better if you weighed it with my Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
However I found myself at the end of my senior year with few colleges to choose
from. As an aspiring filmmaker, I needed to go to a college on either the West
Coast or in New York. I hadn't gotten accepted into any of those, and so I had
to make a choice - either go to a college I knew wouldn't help propel me into
the entertainment industry, or find a way to transfer into a top college. I
chose the latter.
Community college was not the only option, but it was the best one for me.
Going to Santa Monica College offered me great classes where I could knock some
of my general education classes out of the way for a low price. As an out-of-state
student from Ohio taking classes in California, I paid less than
$2,500 a semester to attend a full schedule of classes. I also received
financial aid for being a full-time student, which cut deeply into the overall
cost of tuition. In fact, Santa Monica College gave me more financial aid
and more value for my dollar than the four year university I currently attend.
Being at a community college certainly has its cons, like the bus commute I had
to wake up at five-thirty every morning to take. However, it was a
worthwhile experience that helped me learn a good work ethic, and left me
with zero debt from my first two years of college. Here is a little secret
- the better community colleges of the nation give you the same
level of education you can get at most public and private universities for a
lot less money. I feel more people should look into enrolling into
community college for the first two years of college.
The best advice I can give to anyone looking to transfer to a four year
university is to find out which classes will actually transfer. Colleges can be
very picky about which classes they will accept credit for, so it's
important to talk to an academic advisor who can give you a list of which
classes will transfer to which colleges. Be sure to also contact the four year
institution you are interested in for a list of community college classes they
accept, as their lists can sometimes be more up-to-date. The last thing you
want to have happen is to discover that all your hours of effort in a class are
not worth anything, and that you have to retake the same class at a four year
college. Trust me, I know from experience how awful that feeling can be.
There is a saying, "C's, get degrees." This is very true when you are
at a four year institution, but when you are enrolled in community college
and are trying to transfer out, a "C" doesn't mean much. Most
colleges and universities will not accept classes for credit if you received
anything lower than a "B-" in the class. There are ways to appeal
this and try to have the class(es) accepted at some colleges, but this isn't a
guarantee. So if you aren't good at English and mathematics, don't take algebra
and British literature in the same semester. They will require nothing less
than your best effort, dedication and discipline.
You shouldn't take all general education classes either. Have some fun with it,
while the tuition price is low. Take classes tuned towards your major,
preferably ones that will transfer, but, if there was ever a time to experiment
with possible new majors, it is now. Stay focused, but remember this is
your time to figure out where you want to go and what you want to do.
Letters of recommendation will also be very important, the same as just
about anything else you apply for. Scout out potential professors early who can
write you a letter of recommendation. Look for professors who either teach
basic general education classes (e.g. English, science, math, history, political
science etc.), or professors who are linked to the major of your interest. For
some this may go without saying, but you need to alert a professor about a
letter of recommendation at least six weeks before it's due. These are teachers
of college students; they have busy schedules. Once they agree to write you
one, make sure you remind them as well. You don't want to think they've sent in
three letters of recommendation and later find out you only had two sent in
because a professor forgot. Mistakes can happen, but it's up to you to do
everything in your power to prevent them.
You should also apply to many colleges. A safe number of universities to apply
to are four. They should cover all ranges and be different based on price, GPA
entry level, proximity, etc. You never want to have only one choice. This is a
country that gives us an ice- cream shop where we have thirty-one flavors to
choose from, so you should at least be able to pick between two colleges.
Finally, and perhaps the most important advice I can give to potential transfer
students is this: do not become frustrated if you don't get into your top
choice right away. I started applying to get into my top pick university at the
end of my second semester at Santa Monica College and I was rejected two times
before they finally said "yes". It was one of the happiest days of my
life and a moment of true accomplishment that every transfer student should
feel. So don't get discouraged because of setbacks. Sometimes it takes a while,
but in the end it will be something you can hang your hat on. Plus, it will be
pretty nice when you have about fifty percent less debt than your fellow
students come graduation time. That's a big plus for me, as Pepperdine
University is not in the least bit cheap .