How Much Time Should You Spend at Community College?

Thinking about transferring? How can you be sure that you're ready? It's not just about reaching 60 units, it's also important to consider how secure you feel in your academic plan. The beauty of community college is that it is a financially and academically safe environment in which you can experiment. While you're completing your general education, you have the chance to dabble in various fields of study, which will ultimately lead you to your major. This is a huge factor in the amount of time you spend at community college. Different majors may also take less or more time to complete. Although 2 years is typical, you may find yourself taking longer. This is totally fine. In fact, many students take more than 2 years to transfer and everything turns out alright. I attended CC for 3 years and managed to transfer to UCLA for my desired major. The most important thing about all of this is to trust the process and plan your education carefully.
About Me
-Name: Hailey Dollar (yes, that's my real last name)
-Age: 24
-CC: West Valley College, A.A. in Liberal Arts
-Undergrad: UCLA, B.A. in Applied Linguistics
Career goal: Speech Language Pathologist
Let's connect!
/ haileygoes2ucla
/ haileygoes2ucla
Disclaimer: I am NOT affiliated in any way with the University of California, California Community College or California State University, or the admissions departments of these institutions. The information presented in this video is taken from my own personal experience and is a reflection of my opinion only.

[@CALISUPERSPORT]

To anyone stressing out about that 2-year timeframe in community college, *DON'T!* I took a whole damn 5 year break from college and had to do 3 more years when I returned and switched to a STEM major. Just get it done and don't worry about staying on track with your friends at 4-year universities. It doesn't matter and as someone who will get their bachelors 12 years after most my high school friends, you find they're actually incredibly supportive and wishing for your success regardless of the time it takes, just as long as you finish!

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

I’m so glad that it worked out for you. And you’re right that true friends will support you unconditionally.

[@ninagoo7877]

I did 2.5 years, and it was still in a hurry. I took classes in all summers and even in winter. Its just not so easy for students who major in stem. There are also lots of reasons for people to not transfer in 2 years. Sometimes I'm worried a little bit because I know I would graduate late and I don't like that. But I also try to comfort myself that its totally fine if the result is good.

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

I'm really glad thinks worked out for you!

[@MrDodger3222]

I think I spent like 5 years total at community college lol. I went part time, had to take a few English and Math remedial classes since my placement test scores sucked, failed my Elementary algebra class over a summer session so had to retake it the following Fall semester, didn't know what I wanted to major in during my first few quarters so I was taking only classes that interest me, I wanted to earn a AA degree before transferring, changed my BA major from Business to Sociology, had to take a few more lower division classes after graduating with my AA from Foothill, took my remaining community college classes at De Anza to get the maximum 64 units I needed to transfer over to ASU and couldn't afford to transfer sooner. I think that explains very well why I stayed so long at community college lol. I should have graduated 10 years ago but at least I finally graduated 2 months ago!!

[@stayhappy2609]

Congrats on 5k, Queen! Well deserved!!

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

Thank you so much ☺

[@graceisbored902]

Congrats on 5k!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

THANK YOU!!! 😭🎉

[@angelqueen807]

Congrats on 5k girly 🤪🤪

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

Thanks so much!

[@jimmyramos1989]

I did 1.5 years at CC and Ill be at UCLA in the fall. Took me 13 years to get to this point...I am 33 years old lol.

[@theeliasarchives]

what did you major in?

[@jimmyramos1989]

@@theeliasarchivessociology and minor in public policy. My long term plan is to get my Masters in Social Work and work in prison.

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

that's amazing!!!! good for you

[@matthewcrome5835]

I'm a non-traditional student who has to take classes part-time due to health concerns, plus I'm not 100% set on my major so I want to explore, so I'm probably going to take a long time (already on my fifth semester). But I intend on transferring (Berkeley is my dream school), and I've been to several Zoom events held by the UCs around non-traditional students and transferring in general. One of the speakers took 8 years to transfer due to being an ESL student and a single mom, and another was 10 years older than the college seniors by the time he transferred (due to a long stint in the military). When I visited UC Davis in person pre-COVID, there was a woman with a mobility disability who was in her 30s and still an undergraduate because she could only take 2 classes at a time and needed a notetaker. So people can take really long and still transfer and graduate.

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

They certainly can! Not everyone has the luxury of devoting all their time to school. That’s the beauty of community college 🙌🏼

[@CALISUPERSPORT]

That is great, keep working hard. I also watched transfer webinars but never saw special ones for non-traditional students. People forget school is for many age ranges, especially at the CC level. You'll see or at least hear about people in their 30's and 40's taking classes.

[@heitorb7765]

Hey Hailey, how are you going ? I do a Linguistics course in Brazil, so I'm kinda curious about what is the course like there (the structure, the subjects) ! Could you make a video about it ? I also wanna know, how are Indigenous languages treatened there by the Government (in California or US in general) and the population ? Does the uni give them some support ? Also the uni (specially the professors), do they follow a specific theory, such as structuralism, functionalism or generativism ? Pardons by my English if there is any error.

[@prettypocahontas1458]

Interesting questions.

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

Hi Heitor, interesting to hear from someone else studying across the globe! Which university do you study at, if you don't mind my asking? I have a friend from Brazil who studied linguistics there. I actually have multiple videos on my channel about my major in the playlist "My UCLA Experience," so I would encourage you to check those out. I don't really know much about indigenous languages tbh, but I have met several PhD students and UCLA faculty who work extensively on various indigenous languages. My experience at UCLA has been that students are exposed to a wide variety of theories. There isn't really any limitation on what is taught, though generativism is emphasized in many classes. Chomsky actually gave a special lecture series at UCLA when I was a junior.

[@heitorb7765]

@@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege Thank you for answering, I'll check them out !! Cool that you have a Brazilian friend, currently I study at University of São Paulo (USP).

[@litutheking6646]

I think those who are taking associate degree within 2years kinda ok for them if the program is mostly intership and theory related not lab, computer sort of things.. Whats ur point about hotel management or restaurant management degree for 2 years.? I mean those who are seeking course or job related not wanting a Higher bachelor or doctorates degrees.. Certain fields requires real life experience..

[@aryanmendes4090]

do cc have sports and parties and stuff ?

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

Yes

[@KentoSky]

Just take summer classes

[@HaileyDollarGoesToCollege]

Unfortunately, it’s not always that simple.