There are many reasons we chose Community College for our daughter, and after completing her first community college class with an A, we are feeling pretty good about ourselves with this decision.
1. Our local community college is close to our home, is a safe school, Ian swims there, and she's already had plenty exposure to the campus.
2. Large fish, small pond. I am an advocate of being in an academic environment that challenges the student, but also allows their (individual) achievements to be recognized. Malcolm Gladwell outlines this well in his book, Outliers.
To switch to another of Gladwell’s favorite metaphors, the point is that being a big fish is very helpful, even when picking the small pond means forgoing the high-status allure of the big pond. Second-rate schools can promote first-rate achievement, whereas more-selective environments can squelch it.
3. Texas community colleges and public universities share a common numbering system which enhances transfer of credit. If the courses taken at the community college have a common number, it is accepted. Therefore, no time is lost making the transfer.
However, there are transfers at 1 year, and 2 years. I plotted out the practical difference for Haley with tentative course-work (which has already been reconsidered and changed).
The second option is a transfer after 1 year with 30 credits. This is advantageous over less than 30 units because no high-school credentials are necessary. No SAT/ACT, no AP, no high-school GPA. As a homeschooled student, it is 'helpful' to not have to 'justify' the transcript, or otherwise 'prove' competency (beyond the TSI, and the ACT she already took - which, BTW, she actually scored above the average incoming score for Xavier Univ of Louisiana freshman, and Prairie View, and TSU).
The second option allows her to get to the University sooner, so that, even IF she takes an "extra" year, that only meant that she either had follow-up chances to maximize success in a class, or had a lighter load to focus on the classes that matter. Also, she is EAGER to get to a University.
My logic is, try for the 1 year transfer. Worst case, its a 2nd year transfer. Winning either way...
4. Community College (in Texas) is like a secret back-door way of getting into college without all the "high-school drama." Literally, Haley completely "skipped" high-school, and is "doing high-school" in a truly dual enrolled environment in a class of people who are essentially...in high-school. BUT she's getting *credit* (real credit, not DE credit) and marks towards completion in a very real and practical way. This is sans the SAT/ACT. She was not trying to take SAT II Subject tests, and AP exams, and do the dance to get into a "prestigious" University. And as soon as I realized this, this CC option became GOLDEN.
5. Because she can do it NOW. No waiting. No age-restrictions. The process was simple and confusing at the same time:
- Apply online
- Create a transcript (and get it notarized) - transcript must have junior level amount of credits.
- Meet with an advisor
- Take (and pass) the TSI exam.
- Decide to jump all the way in: Graduate the student (now senior level of classes on transcript composed the way they recommend online).**
- Register (online) for courses***
- *Haley had CLEP credit that is $25 to post, and has to be done by the student (with an ID) in person, while enrolled.
- Get a student ID
Register for class and do well.
** Haley's Transcript - created by me. Complete and submitted.
***schedule considerations: based on time, gaps, days, teachers, subjects, transferable, prerequisites, interests.
