| I recently found an interesting study that quantifies the | | | | school you attend; and you come to the conclusion |
| relationship between various colleges and the | | | | that it doesn't matter where you spend your first two |
| percentage of graduates. Among other items, it shows | | | | years. |
| that the most expensive college is not always the best | | | | After completing the two year degree, transfer to the |
| for a degree seeking student. | | | | college of your choice and complete your Bachelor's |
| Surprisingly, the average college student (over 50%) | | | | degree. |
| takes at least 6 years to complete a 4 year degree. In | | | | There are several advantages to this method: |
| many colleges, the percentages are even worse. | | | | 1. No or low entrance requirements. |
| So what can you take away from this report to | | | | 2. Lower tuition and lower costs if you stay at home. |
| enable you to improve your chances of getting a | | | | 3. You will get a taste of college life, adapting to the |
| degree? | | | | rigors of self guided study. |
| Let's look at some of the choices that you could make. | | | | 4. At the two year point, you will have an Associate's |
| For example, if you live in California, you will have a | | | | degree; whereas at a four year university, you will only |
| multitude of college choices. Even if you decide to | | | | be at the 50 % (or less) point. |
| attend a university away from home, there are still a | | | | 5. Many Community Colleges have a smaller class |
| lot of choices within 100 miles of the major cities. A | | | | size, allowing more interaction with the professor. |
| look at the tables in the report would show that the | | | | This is the method that my daughter followed. As |
| University of California, Berkeley would be a good | | | | noted on my website, Education-Acceleration.com, my |
| choice with an 88% six year graduation rate. However, | | | | daughter graduated from an Italian High School. Even |
| this is offset by the fact that UC Berkeley is a classed | | | | though she was an exemplary student, when it came |
| as a Highly Competitive school. In other words, you | | | | time to enroll her in an American university, her |
| already have a history as great student to gain | | | | transcripts and High School Diploma were not |
| admission. Still, with tuition and fees at a low $7160 per | | | | accepted by the universities. We investigated having |
| year (CA resident) and high chances of succeeding, it | | | | her foreign transcript evaluated, but that would surely |
| remains a top choice for the serious degree seeker. | | | | take time and the results were not certain. |
| Compare that to California State University, Fullerton | | | | We were speaking with the Admissions counselor at |
| which has a 50% six year graduation rate with only | | | | one of my daughter's prospective colleges when she |
| $3,342 per year tuition. This university also has a much | | | | gave us the following advice; "Why not send her to |
| less competitive entrance requirement. | | | | Community College? They have no entrance |
| The authors of the report note that even in the same | | | | requirements, and to be honest; the first two years of |
| category schools (less competitive versus less | | | | college are all the same." |
| competitive) there is still a large difference in graduation | | | | She continued, "Your daughter can complete an |
| rates. They use California State University, Stanislaus | | | | Associate's at the Community College level, then |
| (52%) as compared to California State University, Los | | | | transfer to our college. Once she gets her Associate's |
| Angeles (31%) to show that schools with the | | | | degree, she can easily transfer. At that point, her High |
| comparable tuition rates can have vastly different | | | | School transcripts won't matter. |
| graduation rates. | | | | "Nobody cares where the student spends the first two |
| But what if you come from a background that doesn't | | | | years; they only care about the name on the diploma." |
| lend itself to getting into one of the highly competitive, | | | | This was the best college advice I have ever received. |
| high graduation ratio schools? There are still several | | | | My girl followed the Counselor's advice to the letter, |
| low cost options available. | | | | and graduated first from Community College, then |
| I have long maintained that it is more cost effective to | | | | from Wright State University. |
| complete an Associate's degree at a local community | | | | Conclusion: Review the report and use it to help you |
| college, and then transfer to the more prestigious | | | | choose the college that will give you the best chance |
| University to finish your degree. This is especially | | | | of graduating. I suggest you read the full report at the |
| effective if you have a GED, a foreign high school | | | | American Enterprise Institute's web page at: The |
| diploma, or a home school background. These | | | | report is titled, "Diplomas and Dropouts: Which Colleges |
| nontraditional credits are hard for a college to evaluate | | | | Actually Graduate Their Students (and Which Don't)". |
| and many times you will not get full credit for your | | | | If you come from a non-traditional background, go the |
| work. Add in the fact that the first two years of | | | | Community College route, and then hit the University of |
| college are almost all the same, no matter which | | | | your choice for your Bachelor's degree. |