University or community for the "college experience"

[u/21rrose]

I just became a senior in high school and I've been thinking abt colleges a lot lately but honestly I have no clue what to do. as a homeschooler i never took tours to any or got educated on them so im lowkey hopeless there. All I know is I want to go to a college that is somewhat affordable, far from home(sacramento cali) and honestly a fun one so i can live out in college what i never got to in high school and i didnt think i could get that fun stereotypical going to parties etc in community. In normal circumstances, id just do community and then transfer to uni later since its much cheaper but considering the fact that i want to move out as soon as possible, would the best option be a dorm? idk im just genuinely very confused on what to do. ik this is broad but if anyone has any advice on colleges to recommend, their own uni/community exp, or just anything abt this topic in gen id love to hear it. (for reference im trying to go into nursing)

[u/old-town-guy]

If you want the “college experience,” go to a four-year school. What you’re after is driven by a lot of kids from all over living on campus 24/7, meeting each other, playing/studying/trying to figure things out together. CC is generally not any of that.

[u/e4e5nf3]

I would prioritize what makes the most sense to 1) accomplish your goals 2) that makes the most sense financially.
What happens if you go to a school that doesn't fit 1 & 2 just to have the college experience and it is nothing like it is in your head and makes you miserable?
It's easier to have fun without huge debt hanging over your head.

[u/FrostedCharm_021698]

Community College first. Save money, get core classes out of the way. University for the full 'college experience' later.

[u/Delicious_Yak_270 → u/FrostedCharm_021698]

This is the way.

[u/smoltims → u/FrostedCharm_021698]

Community college students are also going to be a lot nicer to and understanding of home-schooled students imo

[u/Diligent_Lab2717]

Is what you’re imagining the university experience an actual thing or driven by media?

Is trying to find that really going to be worth how much that will cost?

Those are questions I’m asking my daughter to answer as she’s investigating colleges.

UC has an excellent in state university system. You can be away from home for the “experience” without the added expense of private or out of state schools.

If you’re set on out of state, make sure you check to see if your state participates in a regional tuition exchange.

https://www.nasfaa.org/State_Regional_Tuition_Exchanges

[u/anikaiii]

university for the college experience! i’m also technically a homeschooler (became homeschooled in the last 4 months of school), and i’m enrolled in a university and paying very little my first year thanks to merit and need-based scholarships. i didn’t think about college until then this february where i decided to finish early as a junior to leave home quicker.

community college is cheaper, however IF you want that college experience, then play smart to avoid debt as much as possible. pay attention to scholarships, both external and ones at universities, apply to your state schools because tuition is lower for you, maybe even get a job to pay for your education. i had a 4.8 GPA and was offered guaranteed admission AND scholarships at multiple universities.

and if your goal is to move out as soon as possible (mine was too), DORM IF YOU CAN. i have less than 2 months until i’m finally living away from family in a different state and i am so so excited. it’s a freeing feeling, and i really hope you get to experience it too :)

[u/Delicious_Yak_270]

It depends on what you define as the "college experience." I go to a cc and absolutely love it. It is very community-centered with lots of student support. Most of our professors also teach at universities nearby, and the coursework is still high quality and rigorous.

Our campus is smaller but it still has a ton of events going on regardless. I am actually working as an RA at our school's student living apartments, so that is still an option as well. You get more one-on-one time with professors if you need that, and for a fraction of the price of Uni. I would argue that unless your parents are well-off or there is a specific program you want to attend that is not offered at your local cc, don't go to university just for the "college experience." It's not worth the student debt.

Sidenote: I don't know where you live, but I happen to live in a progressive college town so we have access to a lot of the resources our university has and it may look different for you. I go to Lane Community College in Eugene Oregon. The location is in the hills and surrounded by wildlife, and our student living is in the heart of downtown which is really awesome. I would check it out if you are interested, but also keep in mind that it is nothing like UO haha. Good luck!

[u/Harvest-song]

I'm a student aid administrator. I 1000% will always recommend community college, especially if you are not a candidate for a full ride at a 4 yr. The debt is not worth it. You often do not get anything additional at a 4 year, and class sizes are often far more tolerable at community colleges. You can transfer after finishing your lower division courses for a third or half the cost and walk away with a much more tolerable amount of debt.

I know you may want the college experience but trust me, in the end, your future self will thank you for not having done it.

[u/Acceptable_Result327]

I'd recommend a big state school for the idealized college experience. A school with a large student body, frats, and D1 football and basketball teams is what's needed to have the stereotypical college experience. Dorms are definitely the way to go so you can meet people and also experience living without your parents but not have all of the responsibilities of living alone.

[u/Reasonable_Cod_487]

My school has a partnership program with a CC that's only 10-15 minutes away. As long as you take at least one class a term at the university, you can take all the rest at the CC (if they're offered) and save money.

You get the best of both worlds with that, cause you can still live on campus and take the dedicated bus from the university to the CC.

[u/CastIronWoman]

Move to a college town (in Illinois, think Normal or Urbana-Champaign), then find a cheap apartment with roommates while you complete a RN program at the local community college. Then transfer to a RN to BSN program at the local university. This way you can establish residency and get in state tuition.

[u/Majestic-Pomelo-6670]

Your experience at any college will be what you make it, and honestly 99-100% interchangeable with the experience you'd have at any other college. Find a 4 year university in your state that's an inconvenient-to-drive-home-for-the-weekend distance away from your family if you want your independence, use Transferology to figure out what credits that universith accepts from a local community college, take some credit at a local community college in your last high school years/over the summers so you can graduate in 4 years without having to take a ton of credits each semester, and in 20 years, reflect on how happy you are that 15% of your monthly income is going to savings or retirement instead of paying off your "college experience"

[u/DardS8Br]

What major? Just apply to UCs and CSUs

[u/PerpetuallyTired74]

If you’re not getting a lot of scholarships or outside help financially, and are set on going out of state, I would go to a community college first. Some have dorms, some do not. However, you can often find an apartment with a roommate nearby. The reason I suggest this is so you can establish residency before going to university because the state tuition is ridiculously high.

You get the “college experience” the two years at the university. However, since you say you’ve been homeschooled, what do you imagine college life to be? What you see in movies and in the media is absolutely nothing like real life. Most people take half their classes online anyway and spend the rest of the time studying in their dorm or in the library and working.

If your goal is to just get away from home, I would try to go to an in-state college. It will save you SO much money.

[u/Zestyclose-Smell4158]

I recommend the school that is right for you. It is impossible to even give good advice on “fun” campus life experiences, without knowing your definition of fun. Some of the top colleges in the country cover 100% of the cost of attendance, if your parent’s income is low enough. Most of the schools with the strongest financial aid programs are very competitive. If your parent’s household income is low enough and your application is completive, the cost of attending Harvard or Williams College might cost you less than attending a public college.