Traveling and transferring, is it worth it?

As the deadline for deciding on a college comes closer and closer I seem to be becoming more more confused on what I want to do and where I want to go. Go to a $45,000 school for four years without knowing what I want to do? Go to community college and transfer after two years to my dream school? Risk losing a deposit on a school if I get into a school in Europe?

My Parents most recently gave me this opportunity:
If I go to community college for two years, live at home, and get a job, I am allowed to travel anywhere I want (within an allotted budget, obviously).



Now I'm conflicted. Being a transfer student means you miss out on some of the traditional college experiences, especially because you (at least in my case) will have commuted from home for the two years of college. But if it means I get to transfer into a dream school I was initially deferred from and be virtually debt free, is it worth it? If it means I get to spend my Summers traveling Europe and who knows where else, is it worth it?

I talked to my friend the other day who is currently doing a very similar thing where she is enrolled in community college and plans to transfer out after next year. She answered a lot of my questions about stigmas and stereotypes and the differences between the schools. (its always helpful to ask a friend)

The bottom line with community college and transferring is that it is better financially. Being a transfer student means you get a degree from whatever school you transfer to while spending a little more than half of what a 4-year student would have spent, saving your parents and/or yourself A TON of money. (unless you're my friend Jenna who got a freaking amazing scholarship that pays all but like $300 of her tuition, but we can't all be her) 





Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some big decisions to make. Wish me luck.


Talk to you later,

-Karin xx