Do you have to attend college before a university?

Am I settling by attending a community college when I know I can attend a university?

• I am currently planning my college future and very much so at a cross roads. I have good grades, GPA, and on track to graduate with honors along with many AP credits. I have been looking into some top university's in my state (OH) but they are all at least 2 hours away, this means i would have to pay expensive tuition and room/board. Where as the communtiy college is 30 mins away, and much cheaper. I know i could attend a good university but logic is telling me to go to the community college for the 1st two years at least. Im so confused comment please and give some insight!

• Answer:

  A community college is not 'settling'. It's an option that let's you test the waters of college life with a much smaller bill. You don't have to pay for room and board and other expenses related to going to a four-year university. What's more, if you earn an Associate's Degree at a two-year school, it can usually be negotiated that you can transfer to a four year school without having to repeat an general education courses, and you can jump right into doing class work in your specific field. The downside is that many universities offer scholarships that are only available to incoming freshmen. But that extra money would have to go towards the expenses of on-campus housing, a meal plan, etc., usually things that are required of freshmen. But most universities also offer scholarships for transfer students. I earned an Associate's degree, and am now a senior at a four-year university. It significantly cut the cost of my overall college bill. If you do attend a community college, look into joining your chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges. Graduating community college as a PTK member can secure you scholarships at many state universities.