Which Community College?
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Questions
- Community Colleges with Dormitories?
- Deciding between Santa Barbara CC and Cabrillo
- Community Colleges with Dorms!
- Looking for a good JC for a bright student
Community Colleges with Dormitories?
Aug 2013
My high school junior is a likely Community College candidate. I would, however, like him to have as much of a college living experience as possible. I am trying to identify Community Colleges in California that have student dormitories. For example, Santa Barbara City College has student dormitories that provide a wonderful living experience, including providing students an opportunity to mingle with UCSB students. Unfortunately this school does not have programs that I think are the best fit for my son. So please let me know if you are aware of any other California Community Colleges with student dormitories. I would like ones of substance. For example, Reedley College in Reedley also seems to have a dormitory, but it is relatively small and somewhat isolated, so not as ideal sounding as say the Santa Barbara option. Thanks! Mom of future Community College Student
This information is on the website www.cccco.edu. There is a College Housing section listed as one of the options after you click on Community Colleges. Anonymous
Just wanted to correct something in your post. You wrote, ''Santa Barbara City College has student dormitories that provide a wonderful living experience, including providing students an opportunity to mingle with UCSB students.'' Unfortunately, like most community colleges in the state, SBCC does not have dorms for students. There are apartments in Isla Vista with SBCC and UCSB students living in them. They're privately owned. SBCC doesn't supervise students and is not responsible for the residents. I would send only a very mature teenager to live in Isla Vista. It's at least 10 miles from SBCC so that in itself is an impediment to getting to classes. And Isla Vista is truly a partying place. I'm all for kids having fun but IV is over the top. There are some privately owned places in Santa Barbara proper - probably a better choice and way closer to SBCC. The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office website lists the handful of community colleges in California that have their own housing for students here: http://www.cccco.edu/CommunityColleges/CollegeHousing.aspx Hope you find the right school for your teenager - and housing! Dana
Our son just completed his first year at Butte Community College in Oroville. He lived in a privately run dorm in Chico called Craig Hall, and he was fine with the place and the food. Bus shuttles run between the dorm and the school and are provided for free. Good luck. Anon
Deciding between Santa Barbara CC and Cabrillo
April 2007
I am helping my senior BHS son decide what community college to go to. He is primarily looking at Santa Barbara City College or Cabrillo (Santa Cruz). His main goal is to do a transfer program into communications, journalism or film studies for his bachelors. We're looking for feedback on the student experience at SBCC versus Cabrillo. For Cabrillo where do kids live? And for SBCC is it better to live close by or are the dorms near UCSB a good option (Fontainebleu). He's concerned about how much partying (alcohol at SBCC or pot at Cabrillo) goes on, since he knows he'll do better with fewer temptations. Other possibility is Cuesta in San Luis Obispo, but it seems pretty small and isolated...thoughts? Mom
My daughter is a freshman at UCSB and loves going to school there. She lives on campus in a small room with 2 roommates. They get along well and all study hard. My daughter is academic and goes to all her classes and discussion sections. She joined a sorority and does community service work mostly. They are only required to attend one meeting per week. The sororities do not put on any parties. They stress doing well academically and keep track of students grade point averages. During Halloween week police patrolled the streets of Isla Vista and only residents could enter. No alcohol was allowed outdoors and my daughter's roommate's brother was arrested for drinking a beer on his porch. I was concerned about drugs and alcohol and partying. So far it does not seem to be an issue on campus. anon
I grew up in Aptos and I know that Cabrillo College has fantastic reputation these days. My brother, a life-long student, has taken classes there forever, and my nephew got his AA degree there recently and has now trasfered to Cal State Monterey Bay. He had a great experience at Cabrillo. My nephew lived at home, but I think students must find apartments to share. Housing has got to be expensive. On the plus side, there is lots to do in the area -- the beach and mountains are right there and the towns of Capitola and Santa Cruz are lively. Cabrillo feedback
I don't know anything about either Cabrillo or SBCC but I'm a firm believer in the community college system. Great teaching and the cost can't be beat. Several thoughts---one reason that I went ahead and sent our kids to 4 year schools was so they could have the freshman dorm experience. It was always something that I thought I missed out on by going to Delta College (in Stockton) and then transferring to Cal. There are community colleges with dorms; see http://www.cccco.edu/find/dormitories.htm if that's appealing.
Also, you might decide between the two community colleges by looking to see which school he wants to transfer to. Is he planning on transferring to the UC system? He might end up wanting to transfer to the school near the community college he attends and I don't think that UCSC has much communications or journalism to offer. I don't know about film studies. But good to look ahead. Sally
Community Colleges with Dorms!
Nov 2004
Just wanted to let people know there are 11 community colleges in california that have dorms! I'm very happy to have discovered this. See http://www.cccco.edu/find/dormitories.htm Joann
My son went to SBCC and had a very good experience. When he graduated from high school, he had been accepted to a few four year schools, but was on the fence about going and I was questioning if he should even go to college at all. SBCC was recommended to us by a few people, and he was open to going for a year. He ended up staying for two years (plus summer classes) and was able to transfer to Arizona State University where he is currently a senior. When he was at SBCC two of his professors also taught at UC Santa Barbara and taught great classes. I am sure there are more that teach at both schools. They do have an honors program and offer a lot of support with transferring and transfer agreements. My nephew also attended SBCC about 10 years ago and transferred to UC Berkeley. As a bonus, it's a very pretty campus by the ocean, lots of clubs and activities for students to get involved in and of course, it's such a great value. One of my co-workers has a daughter who went there and also had a positive experience. Good luck with your decision!
My daughter went to Cabrillo for two years. Her housemates were mostly UCSC students so she had a typical student experience and had a window into UCSC life. She had a good experience with Cabrillo advising, and was accepted to UC Berkeley, Davis and Santa Cruz. She ended up choosing Santa Cruz so she didn't have to uproot, but she appreciated having other options. It was very much the right choice for her.