College Admissions Help Blog

The other day I had a student ask me what I thought about obtaining an associate’s degree from a community college before attending a four-year college. This is a very common question. Some students feel like they will not be able to keep up at a four-year school after attending a community college while other students embrace the idea.

I think that this is a great college plan (commonly known as the two-four shuffle) for some students. Attending a community college for two years allows you to get all of your prerequisites out of the way at a lower cost. You will save a ton of money and be able to spend time deciding what you want to major in.

The key to making the two-four shuffle work is actually following through with it. Many students who plan to transfer call it quits after two years. This is fine except for the fact that most students in this position do not have have a career plan after two years. Unless you were in a very specialized two-year program, your associates degree will not take you very far.

If you are going to go with this plan I suggest using your two years in community college as a time to figure out what really interests you. At the end of your first year start searching for colleges that have programs that interest you and fit your needs. Also consider how difficult the transition process will be with the credits you have earned. Some schools make it easier than others.

Ask Admissions Girl: Where can I go with my questions about college?

As high school graduation draws nears, many seniors are starting to feel anxious about starting college in three short months. If you fall into this category, you probably have a lot of questions about what to expect come September. The good news is that there are hundreds of thousands of other students going through the same thing and there is a place on the web where you can all go to ask your questions and share your experiences.

The College Admissions Forum is a place where students of all ages can go to ask their questions about college. The forum takes you far beyond getting into college and the admissions process. In fact, it encompasses all things having to do with college academics, living on campus and financial aid.

When you ask a question in the forum it will be answered either by one of your peers or a member of the forum team who has been in your situation. Maybe you have a question about what you should bring to college, or maybe you have a question about scholarships. Whatever it is, the College Admissions Forum is a place for you to seek answers.

Recent topics include:

• Choosing a major
• Preparing for college
• What is a private student loan?

You can also offer your own advice! If someone asks a question about something you have been through, you might be able to help that person feel more prepared for starting college.

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We always recommend you start applying for financial aid, scholarships and grants as early as possible. The sooner you apply - the more money that is available. However, for those of you who have waited - time is running out.

Check with your school's financial aid office to see what you can still apply for - and apply now... As they say - better late than never. And next year - start early!

Just noticed PrivateStudentLoans.com added another lender to their private student loan lender list. It seems they have the most complete list of national lenders - does anyone know of another site with more lenders??

Seems HS Juniors are getting busy looking at colleges, taking SATs and visiting a number of new sites set up for finding and comparing colleges - like www.HowToGetIn.com.

Post your favorite college admission sites and explain why you like them below...

Ask Admissions Girl: Do I have to choose a college major right away?

It seems like there are about 1,000 decisions to make on the road to college. You have to decide where to apply, where you will go, and where you will live just to name a few. Once decision that prospective college students often dread is choosing a college major. Choosing a major is not easy for everyone, but luckily it is not a decision that needs to be made hastily.

Most colleges do not require students to choose a major right away. Many college students have no idea what they want to do when they start school. This is especially true at liberal arts schools. Most students coming out of high school do not feel like they have taken strongly to one particular area of study. Because of this, students at a lot are able to use their first few semesters to explore their options and find out what they are really interested in. Usually, they have until the end of their sophomore year to officially declare their major.

So what do you do if they do ask you to declare? Even if you have to choose a major when you enroll in college it can always be changed down the line. Changing majors is usually a very simple process that requires very little paperwork. The process varies from school to school but usually students should consult their college adviser and registrar before moving forward.

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