Ok, I keep pondering this but I don't know what to do. First off, I'm a senior in HS and I have slightly above average grades (3.4 gpa), and got accepted to a nearby state school. The only problem is, I'm looking at taking out quite a bit of loans each year, which I don't really want to pay back, especially in this very unstable economy..who knows what jobs they'll be in 4 years?. I am already getting a scholarship through my job for $1,500 and some money from the state, but nowhere near enough. I probably have enough to pay for two years straight out.

I'm now considering going to community college for a year (it would cost me virtually nothing..maybe $1,000 for the year tops with books and everything, counting in my work scholarship), and then transferring to the state college, but I'm worried it will hold me back in the future or make it harder for me to transfer to a real school. (I'm not too worried about the social aspect as I already have a few friends going to community college and the state school I got accepted to isn't a huge "party school". My job here is pretty stable and am making above minimum wage.even if I was to work on campus at a traditional college it wouldn't put a dent in any loans.

Advice from anyone would be appreciated.

You usually have to go to community for two years and then transfer to a 4 year school. Sometimes (depending on your major) this can lead to you have a very tough final 2 years or taking a total of 5 years to graduate. Also, if you go to a university for all 4 years you can get more/better references and have more time to do extracurricular stuff, but that also depends on what major you choose. You should also be able to get financial aid to pay for your tuition/fees unless your parents have too much money.

^ heh, the ol' myth about getting financial aid. it's not about if your parents have too much money, it's whether or not they make too much money. doesn't matter if a huge chunk of that goes to their pile of debt.

i was in the exact same situation last year, having to decide to go to a state school, taking out loans, or stay home and go to the community college for free. ultimately i decided the money i would have to spend this year was worth getting out of my town and experiencing real college life. coming home for the holidays and seeing my friends here (i'm home on spring break now actually) makes me realize what stupid and boring shit i'd be doing right now if i had gone to community college. i'd likely be regretting not leaving when i had a chance. and i'm not even having an "OMFG BLAST!!11" at the state university.

as i struggle to make out my schedule this year as efficiently as possible, i also realize it's likely a year of community college could've slowed my progress toward graduation. but i went into college undecided and with a year of credit from senior year in high school, so i was running out of general classes as it is.

i'm assuming you'd live at home with your parents if you went to community college, and in the dorms if you went to the state school? you've got to consider how things are at home. my parents have no rules basically, but they can annoy me pretty easily, so i was getting anxious to get out by senior year of high school.

i could also see myself settling in to life here, hanging out with community college kids, and maybe thinking "oh an associates degree is enough" and never transferring.

my dad had a discussion with some of his bosses about hiring people who transferred from community colleges, and i think at least one guy said he would hold it against the applicant, even if they just went there for financial reasons. i guess in the corporate world, community colleges still have some negative stigma attached to them.

talk to your guidance counselor, though.

Not a bit. I knew many, many people at Berkeley who did just what you're talking about, and they were just fine. The biggest handicap I can see is that it will give you half the time (or somesuch) to get to know your professors, and thus to secure some good recommendations for further study. If this doesn't concern you--of if you're the type of person who is good at sucking up--then go for it and save the money.


Entheogenic

Just make sure whatever classes you take at the community college will transfer over to the 4 year college. If they do, you're fine. I actually picked my college based on which one would accept all of my transfer hours, among other things.

In British Columbia if you go the community college route to start you can transfer into UBC or SFU with incredible ease. You are even given priority over other students and can get in with a 2.3-2.6 GPA.