If you’re considering pursuing higher education and you live in California, you might want to consider a California community college. By going to one, you can save money while getting a quality education. Read on to find out about admission requirements, the application process, deadlines, cost of attendance, and when you can expect to find out if you’re accepted.
Freshman and Transfer Admission Requirements
There are 112 community colleges in California, and if you reside in the state, admission to any of them is simple. As long as you meet one of these requirements, you can be admitted:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have a high school diploma.
- You have the equivalent of a high school diploma.
If you aren’t from California but want to attend college in the Golden state, you can, but the process isn’t as streamlined. Check out CaliforniaColleges.edu to find out more about residency issues.
Since California community colleges follow an open acceptance policy, transfer students shouldn’t have trouble being accepted, but credits that have been earned from other schools may or may not transfer.
Application Process
The first step to applying to college is figuring out which school you want to attend. You can visit the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office online to locate colleges near your home. The application process itself is straightforward – fill out the application, sign it, and send in a copy of your high school transcript if you have one. Once you get your acceptance letter, you’ll be required to take a couple of placement tests. After that, you’re all set.
When to Apply
Each college has its own application deadline, but a lot of community colleges in California will accept students right up until classes start. This doesn’t mean you should procrastinate, however. As soon as you decide which college you want to go to and which semester you want to enroll in, you should apply. The earlier you get accepted, the more choices you’ll have when it comes to when you want to attend orientation and take placement tests. You’ll also be more likely to get into the classes that you want.
Costs Involved
Contact each college you’re interested in to get information about application fees. Many colleges have online applications that are free. About 60% of community colleges in California have applications online, so there’s a good chance that the college you’re interested in doesn’t require any fees for applying. If your school does, though, you many qualify for a fee waiver. You’ll also be responsible for paying an enrollment fee for each class that you take, but if your family doesn’t make a lot of money, you can have that fee waived, too. Visit icanaffordcollege.com to find out more about income requirements.
When to Expect a Decision
Since the application process is so simple, you can expect to get your acceptance letter in just a few days. If you don’t hear from your college within that time span, it could be because of problems with your application. For instance, incomplete applications or inaccurate information will slow up the process. Expect it to take a little longer if you apply during a busy time of year, too.
California community colleges are great for students that want to get an associate’s degree or eventually transfer to a four-year institution. Costs are low compared to other schools, it’s easy to be accepted, and you’ll be able to find a college close to home.
