#My Community College Experience

Hello everyone! I am an international student at North Seattle Community College - currently working towards an Associate degree- after which I will be able to transfer to a 4-year university. A community college allows for students to complete their first two years of college and then transfer to a 4-year university to complete the following two years of their major. Ideally, a student would spend the two years in community college doing their General Education requirements, exploring majors, and completing the prerequisites for their majors.

One of the biggest advantages of choosing to complete your General Education at a community college is that they are less costly than any 4-year university. This allows students to truly explore different disciplines and make an

informed decision about their major. Another advantage is that most in-state universities require that a designated number of admitted students be community college transfers. The transfer process is also less stressful than applying directly to a university.

North Seattle College is one of three community colleges collectively called ‘Seattle Colleges’. Choosing Seattle Colleges was easy for me because of how competent their advising team was. Before sending in my application, I was able to meet with an advisor and discuss my goals for my major. The international advising team makes sure to leave no stone unturned when it comes to informing international students about the transfer process and providing us with resources to plan our transfer.

They help you plan a transfer worksheet wherein you can plan out a transfer timeline and the prerequisites needed for your intended major. North Seattle College also offers a wide range of services for citizens and international students alike. Some of which include free counselling services, career counseling services and free tutors. They also offer work-study positions for students and have various clubs that you can be a part of. The resources that a community college provides to students planning to transfer to a 4-year university are truly excellent and to anyone who is undecided about which university to apply to, I recommend considering the community college path.

Nisha George

Associate of Arts Degree,

North Seattle College