Students with an A.S. degree from a community college can transfer to my alma mater as a junior. When you consider that tuition, fees, books, room and board cost about $50,000 each year, this can be a great way to save a fortune.
It’s also worth noting that even if you get full credits they may be non-specific credits. Like sure, it counts in place of English 101, but if you want to major in English, you have to take the version offered by that four-year school (or get the pre-requisite waived) in order to take English 215. And those credits may count toward graduation but not towards the number of English credits required to graduate with a degree in English.
Of course, the first step is simply to take some courses–if you don’t take any courses, you won’t get any credits. And start with the admissions people–they deal with people like the OP and her daughter all the time–they can point you towards the schools that their students transfer to successfully, they can help with financial aid, they can give you a lot more information specific to that college than we can.
It’s the same at my alma mater. Transferring with an A.S. or A.A. can make a world of difference. When the university saw I had an A.S. (Associate of Science degree) they accepted all of my transfer credits at face value. A classmate of mine who transferred without an A.S. had 12 credit hours (four classes) rejected by the university even though the university accepted them on my transcript. All because of that A.S. It set my classmate back a semester. Never undervalue the value of an Associate degree!
Is UNH a state school? Usually those are a lot better with accepting credit than private schools that want you paying them money 'stead of the CC. For the OP, find out what universities this place has transfer agreements in place, and which classes are articulated where. In every catalog at my CC, under every class, there was a line saying -UC- or -UC/CSU- or something so you wouldn’t have any unpleasant surprises when transferring.
It was $5 per unit with a $50 cap when I started in '89. Those were the days…
To the OP, regarding the SAT: since your daughter is starting off in a community college, there is no reason for her to ever take any of those tests.
Well, it’s twenty bucks a unit nowadays, but everything’s more expensive now that we live in the future; also, it’s zero bucks for high school students, so that’s cool too. Got my G.E.s done that way. 
One thing I don’t think anyone mentioned is that there are often special scholarships for kids who are the first person in their families to go to college. Make sure you mention this to the financial aid people.
Good luck to you and your daughter.
Not a whole lot of time to post, but if you are in Lorain County, look up the Lorain County Community College, http://www.lorainccc.edu
Good place, decent prices, I’ve gone there for a while.
Just please note that this is not the case with every 4-year college. Quality varies; some CC classes are crap and some are better than what you can find at many 4-year schools. Credit transfer is not guaranteed unless the receiving school says it is.
This is a more abstract suggestion, but I recommend not fixating on the phrase “like to work with people.” The vast majority of jobs require working with people. This is a phrase that tends to slow-track people, especially women, into low-paying careers. Good people skills will serve her well in just about any job she winds up in. Try to focus on identifying which of the scientific, technical, managerial, financial, or quantitative skills that the labor market actually has demand for that match to her interests and abilities. Use education to build marketable skills in those areas, because people will always be there to work with.
I went to a community college in Pgh, PA for 2 years and then transferred to a 4year college basically in an effort to save money (closer to home, and cheaper classes). I was also the first on both sides of our family to go to college, and my mom decided to take classes shortly after I finished my 2years (she got an AA).
Transfers:
If your daughter has a university in mind she’d like to transfer, then take those courses. I started taking classes thinking I was going to go to one school, then decided on another - turns out my 2nd choice (where I actually ended up going) didn’t accept 1-2 classes that another school did. I worked with my advisor to plan out my required courses, and then I signed a ‘transfer agreement’ of sorts between the CC and the 4year school that guaranteed I could count those classes towards graduation. Don’t forget about language requirements too, I needed them before I could transfer (but I did my 2 years of spanish in HS)
Parking:
Here’s what I’ve found regarding parking - whether it be community college or the parking lots at the big schools (I parked at my boyfriend/now hubby campus, and walked/rode bus down to my school). Places closes to entrances fill first and early - those that attend the 8am classes. Then there’s the second wave of students who show up for 930-10am classes - usually a longer walk.
I found it useful to go to school at the same time everyday, and use the extra time in the computer lab or library to do school work or just veg out. I felt like a slacker being at home, and it was nice to have a spot near the front of the school when I was done for the day.
On campus activities:
Getting involved whether it be a work study position (financial aid opportunity) or joining a club really helped me feel like a part of the campus. Plus it helped break some of the shyness I felt.
I was in Phi Theta Kappa (honor society of the 2year college). I became an officer, because they needed a webmaster at the time (late 90s), but with the group on campus I got to go to lots of exciting places for conferences and such. It was definitely a lot of fun, and this group of ‘nerds’ really knew how to party - whether they were 18 or 65! It was pretty thrilling when one of the girls from our chapter was running for international office, and then several others were on the All-USA Academic team.
Of course, it’s all about how much effort you want to put into being a part of campus life. My mom joined and she seemed kind of ‘meh’ about it, and my father in law who went back to school just got invited as well. For me, I liked having it on my early resume and the connections I made from it.
Campus/Course Selection:
The CC I went to was a smaller campus with several other campuses spread throughout the county. It was quite confusing at first picking classes, only to find out it wasn’t at the campus I thought it was - and that’s 45 mins in the opposite direction!!
Good luck!
I want to thank everyone for all your posts. It has really helped a lot.
I think it is just a matter of jumping in and contacting the CC and setting up an appointment.
Should we fill out the FAFSA before we go and have that all ready? Or will they have us contact financial aid and have us fill it out with them?
The FAFSA deadline isn’t for a few months still, and you fill it out online. I’m sure they would be happy to help, but I doubt you’ll need it - it’s quite an easy process.
Okay, SOMEBODY has to ask this question: If you didn’t go to college, have no idea how to apply to a CC (You obvs can harness the internet, why can’t you Google the CC and their admission requirements?) and have to ask a message board for advice that is readily available, how do you think you were helping your daughter by home-schooling?
Even if she had an undisclosed problem that made home-schooling a necessity, you should have been on this issue years ago, not now, when she’s eighteen. She’s behind the game and it’s your fault…what were you thinking?
Not that I owe you an explaination but your post seems to indicate that more that just yourself needs one so here is goes…
I did do that. I wanted more hands on experiance and advice. I don’t think there is anything wrong with asking questions on a message board. That is what they are there for and In My Humble Opinion is just the place.
My daughter has always been a very good student but when she started seventh grade the public school she was attending was bad.
After the first semester I went to an honor student assembly as she was getting a merit award. I was waiting for her in the hall after it was over and two fights broke out as I was standing there. Once she came out we had to go to her locker and the kids were acting like animals. The poor girl could barely get to her locker as another fight broke out and kids were screaming and pulling on each others clothes and book bags.
I did not see her being able to continue to learn in that enviroment so I withdrew her and homeschooled her from then on. I could tell that the violence was taking a toll on her and I did not want that to effect her education.
She is not behind the game. She “graduated” a year ahead of what would have been her class by obtaining her GED. She got her GED in August and turned 18 in October. All of her peers do not graduate until this year.
I did discuss college with her right after she got her GED but she seemed to shy from it then. I think she just wanted to take a little break and she did have time as I already stated she was a school year ahead.
She is working part time so she was not sitting with her thumb up her ass. She saved money and bought a car. She also buys all her own clothes/shoes and pays two household bills as “rent”.
She was also over weight but she has taken that in hand by joining the community center and using their gym and has been eating better. So far she has lost 40 pounds. I think that has helped her confidence a great deal. There is also a girl at work that she has become good friends with that is in college. She is 20 and they have talked about it.
So I think between the weight loss and the discussions she is ready now. It was not like I could force her to go, she is 18. I know my daughter. She is strong willed, like the rest of the woman in our family. Harping on her about it would have done no good. It is a choice she had to make. Was I supposed to hog tie her and drag her off to college?
She also lost her father in November so I that set things back a couple months.
She is a good kid and has a good head on her shoulders. I think she would do very well in CC and I am going to do everything I can to help her which is why I posted this thread in the fist place.
Your post was an obvious attempt to upset me and maybe even get you pitted but to be quite honest I don’t feel you deserve either. Try harder next time.
Most requests for advice on this board could be solved by Google or contacting a “direct” source. Do you always stagger into threads to vomit your precious opinion, or is there something about this OP that trips your righteous superiority switch?
Sue Duhnym you’re a jerk AND you can’t read. It is obvious from the OP that her daughter graduated accelerated.
Regardless of that, anyone who would critique someone else for not launching directly in to college when they didn’t feel ready, is clearly a moron. IMHO many more people of the 18 year old persuasion should take some time off to clear their head and work than currently do.
I want to personally thank you both (Sleeps With Butterflies and Hello Again) for your replies. For a minute there I thought maybe I was crazy and that my thread asking for advice was stupid.
I could have left out the homeschooled aspect but I thought it was important to ad to my post. My daughter is not sheltered and has not been kept in a cave. She may have some confidence issues but who didn’t at 18. At least she is not some cocky know it all as so many kids these days seem to be.
I really don’t understand the attitude Sue Duhnym has and she appears to be a poster for many years so maybe she has an issue with homeschool?
Either way I do thank you all. I plan on calling the college in the next couple days and settings things up to speak with admissions and finincial aid.