Out in certain parts of the internet, some people have been spouting “wisdom” that parents should save money by having their kids start out at a cheap community college. That turns out to be very bad advice:
Bright, well-prepared community college students are 36 percent less likely to make it through to a bachelor's than similarly qualified students who start their degrees at four-year schools. Bowen realizes that message is likely to rile politicians and students who are hoping to use community colleges to save money in this economy but notes that his findings confirm those of others: "It is pretty hard to argue with the data . . . . If you want a bachelor's and you can start out at a good four-year institution, that is what you should do."
Why do community college students fall by the educational wayside so often? Other research has shown the influence of motivated and challenging peers, who are not always present in community college classrooms. Many community college students also have complained over the years about the failure of their schools to direct them to classes that will count as transfer credits. In addition, Bowen says many students are probably put off by complicated transfer processes.
So if you care about your kids’ futures, make sure they start out at a real four-year college. Don't be a cheapskate.
Also, if your kid goes to the best four-year school he can get into, his chance of graduating will increase:
Thousands of bright, qualified students apply only to lower-ranked schools where their grades and tests scores are above those of the average student. But the new study finds that those who attend such "safety" schools are far more likely to drop out than those who get into "reach" schools. "It is counterintuitive," Bowen says. "You might think that if Sally goes to a school where she is top dog, she will have a much easier time graduating. But that's not true. She has a better chance of graduating if she goes to school with other people as talented she is."
These findings are obviously related. If your kid hangs out with a lot of slackers (which will happen if he attends a lousy school), their slacker ways sometimes rub off.
