Pros and Cons: The worth of getting an AA prior to transfer

Living in a world where rules, necessities and expectations are constantly changing, students must now look to transfer to a four year institution as associates degrees no longer hold the same value.

With community college acting as an alternative route after high school, students attending Pierce College are presented with the option of pursuing an associates degree and heading into the workforce or transferring to a four year school after receiving an AA Degree. The best option is to transfer to a four year and get a bachelor’s degree. Students have the ability to make those early college years worth the most by focusing on a four year university. Transferring to a four year means that students are already half way to getting their bachelor’s degree.

Kate Noah

AskKateAnything@gmail.com

“Dear Kate, What should I do with all these schoolbooks I’ve accumulated? Is it worth it to sell them back to the bookstore?” -

Burdened Bookworm

Dear Bookworm,

Selling your books back to the bookstore might be the easiest and most convenient option (besides maybe burning them in a bonfire), but you won’t get much money for them, which doesn’t seem too fair for a poor college student.

A good way to maximize the amount of money you receive for your books is selling them on Amazon. It’s easy to get started

Volume 120 Issue 11 with a seller account, and all the books you want to sell are most likely already listed and easy to find.

List the books you have, decide how much you want for them, and you’re all set. When someone buys your listing, you will be notified by email, and you have two days to send it off.

Amazon takes a percentage of the fee and you have to make a trip to the post office, but it’s worth it when you receive close to the amount you paid for the book in the first place.

Another option is taking your more expensive books to the same classes next semester and finding students who haven’t planned ahead and want to take advantage of a better price than the bookstore offers. You don’t have to sell it for much less than it’s going for at the store for both of you to get a good deal.

-Corrections-

Page 1: The obituary for William Russel was accidentally cut off. To R.S.V.P. for the service call (818) 602-7675.

Page 3: The article ‘Clubs Participate in ASO-hosted Spring Festival’ was authored by Sedigheh Sirchi.

Page 4: A typo appeared in the photo of Kristin Lassonde taken by Steven Castanada Page 5: The first place photo for the Creative category belonged to ‘Amira Fickeworth.’ Page 8: Ehan Hanson’s proper title is Sports Editor.

It is a waste of time if a student is capable of achieving their bachelor’s degree and choose not to. The benefits are too great to pass up especially when students who choose to continue can complete their degree in two years. In many instances, a bachelor’s degree is linked to a higher earning potential with employers often opting to hire the person with a better education. According to the LA Times, in 2012 people with a bachelor’s degree made about $17,500 more than peers with a high school diploma. Studying for your bachelor’s degree not only provides an opportunity at a better financial situation but gives students a better opportunity to decide what to do in the future. College is a place where students are able to take classes they feel will benefit them in their career choices and change majors if they so choose.

The ultimate goal of students attending Pierce College should be to transfer to a four year institution. Earning an associates degree is something to be proud of but if given the opportunity, students should earn their bachelor’s degree. Not doing so, or trying to, is a disservice to an educational career.

Meghan McGillicuddy mmcgillicuddy.roundupnews@gmail.com

Many students come to community college with the ambition of transferring to a fouryear university.

After completing the required courses in a community college, students often earn an associate’s (AA) degree in addition to the transfer requirements.

There are several benefits to earning an AA degree before pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

The first benefit is time. An AA degree takes less time to earn than a bachelor’s degree. For full time students, it can take an average of two years to complete about 60 units, the minimum requirement needed to earn an AA degree.

The second benefit is cost. Going straight to a four-year university can be expensive, but the cost can be decreased significantly if a student decides to pursue an AA degree first.

Not only does a student spend less time at a four-year university, but overall cost can be cut in half for students with AA degrees. Some fouryear universities have special accommodations as well.

Earning an AA can be an advantage when applying to four-year universities. There can be less competition for those who have earned an AA degree because students have already completed entry level requirements rather than a student who is applying straight out of high school.

Some students may not plan on transferring to a four-year university after earning an AA degree. More careers are becoming available that do not necessarily require a bachelor’s degree. Some careers include dental hygienist, nursing, construction management, and legal assistant, just to name a few.

In certain career fields, it may be worthwhile to be employed before continuing to pursue a bachelor’s or a more advanced degree such as a master’s degree. Getting an AA first can lead to a more focused education in pursuing a more advanced degree.

-COMIC STRIP-

Reporters: thereof.