Empower your child to find the right path

My child is considering JWCC followed by a four-year college. How do we navigate that process and get accurate information about transferring?

Communication is key! Talk to both schools’ advisors about programs, deadlines, scholarships, etc. At JWCC, we work directly with transfer schools to customize degree plans to ensure students take the classes needed for their specific transfer school and program.

PRO TIP: All four-year institutions have an admissions advisor who specializes in recruiting transfer students from other schools- especially community colleges. Connect with the transfer advisor to learn about the school’s specific transfer process, scholarships, deadlines and support!

 How do we figure out what our cost will be?

Full-time tuition at JWCC is around $5,200 per academic year. For a realistic estimate of what that means for your family, we offer a worksheet to help summarize expenses and then subtract scholarships and financial aid. JWCC also has payment plans and loans to help resolve the balance. Many students and families that are able to “pay as you go” and graduate from JWCC debt-free. Students learn their exact cost when registering for each semester.

 Where do JWCC students live? Is housing available?

JWCC does not have housing; many JWCC students continue to live at home and commute to the campus. Students who choose to live on their own or need to move closer to campus find houses or apartment complexes on their own. Many students live in apartments on North 12th Street or at Ridgebrook Apartments at the intersection of 24th Street and Harrison. 

 How do we make sure all of my daughters’ classes will transfer?

All JWCC credits will transfer to other colleges, but it’s important to make sure that the classes you transfer out of JWCC are the exact classes to satisfy the requirements for your particular school and program. JWCC advisors work directly with transfer schools to customize a degree plan to ensure students are taking the classes that fulfill the requirements of their specific transfer school and program.  

What accessibility and support is available at JWCC?

JWCC has student support programs including TRIO and Perkins. JWCC’s disability and accessibility office helps students in a number of ways. In addition, JWCC offers tutoring, Pathfinder connections, a food pantry, counseling services, and much more to support our students. We also have a specialist in veterans’ affairs.

When students continue living at home after high school, there can be additional strain on the parent-child relationship. This is a time for students to begin “adulting” and that transition is important even if your student is still living with you. Here are a few tips to make the path smoother:

1. Do not treat college as a continuation of high school; celebrate this milestone of beginning a new life chapter.
2. Loosen rules, curfews, and expectations from the high school years to acknowledge that the student should now be more independent. This does NOT mean there are no rules, so clearly outline the expectations and limits that are essential for respectfully living as part of your family.
3. Expect your student to take more responsibility for self-care, life tasks, and time management. This means you should not continue to wake them up in the morning, do their laundry, cook every meal, and set their appointments. Encourage increasing levels of independence.
4. In contrast, realize that during especially stressful times (like finals), your student may need more of the support you traditionally provided, like serving healthy meals.
5. Clearly detail who will pay for expenses related to college, health, food, transportation, phone, computer and internet access, clothing, and other needs or wants. Include your student in financial discussions and budgeting.
6. Students may feel disappointed they are not “going away” to college like some of their friends, so be prepared for those emotions and don’t take them as a personal reflection on your relationship.
7. Encourage your student to spend time on campus meeting people and getting involved in activities. Important learning opportunities take place outside the classroom!
8. If your student is working in addition to taking classes, realize that group projects, job shadowing, meeting with professors, and studying should take up a significant amount of time outside of class. While your student will technically be in class fewer hours than in high school, students will need to dedicate more time outside of the classroom to be successful.
9. Help your student establish a dedicated space to study effectively. This may mean redecorating their bedroom and/or repurposing a common space in your home. Respect the space and time needed to be a successful student.
10. Clearly discuss expectations regarding privacy and keeping you informed of their schedule and whereabouts.
11. Colleges treat students as adults, so even if you are paying the bills, the college will communicate directly with the student regarding grades, bills, and other information. Discuss in advance what information your student should share with you.
12. Demonstrate interest in your student’s classes and activities without trying to micromanage how and when they complete homework and projects. Do not contact professors regarding your student’s performance – that is your student’s job!
13. Encourage your student to take advantage of campus resources including tutoring, academic/career counseling, and mental health services.
14. Expect your student to make mistakes as they become more independent and take responsibility for their education and life – natural consequences are important lessons in becoming adults. Be supportive, but do not rescue students from the consequences of their decisions.
15. Listen to your student’s evolving perspectives respectfully with an open mind and encourage them to expand their world view through questioning, personal growth, and social awareness.
16. Create a plan with your student regarding next steps after JWCC, including living arrangements, job or four-year college, responsibilities, and expenses.

Living at home doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the college experience. Embrace the opportunities for new experiences and exercise more independence while still living in peace with your family. These tips will help:

1. Get involved in a club, organization, or other extracurricular activity on campus to meet more people. Attend orientation and other campus events.
2. Make a conscious effort to try something new (a class topic, sport, or club you haven’t done before) and meet people who are different than you and your high school friends. Learning from and working with others, in and out of the classroom, is an essential part of college.
3. Study, eat, and/or hang out on campus between or after classes – spending more time on campus enhances the college experience. If you are only on campus for your classes (or your classes are all online), you’ll miss opportunities for making friends, group study sessions, and getting involved.
4. Refine your time management skills – less time in class doesn’t really mean you have more free time. Find a healthy balance between studying, job shadowing, exercising, socializing, campus activities, and family time.
5. Find the best place and situation for you to study without distractions, both at home and on campus. Do you study best with complete silence or quiet background music? Alone or in an atmosphere where other people are also studying?
6. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance – catch up with your professors during office hours, coordinate study groups with classmates, and use tutoring resources as soon as you begin to struggle in any class. Transitioning to college-level classes can be difficult, but there is plenty of support to meet the challenges.
7. Feelings of anxiety, depression, or being overwhelmed are not unusual as students transition to college and adulthood. Do not hesitate to reach out to the wellness resources on campus, even if you feel your symptoms are relatively minor.
8. Many students living at home also work – be sure your work schedule allows plenty of time for studying, job shadowing, and working on group projects with your peers.
9. What matters to you? Find an organization that supports a cause that is meaningful to you; volunteer for that cause if possible.
10. Be respectful of your parents, siblings, and other family members, as well as their needs. Promptly communicate changes to your schedule or family plans.
11. Understand that letting go can be difficult for parents, especially as you are still living under the same roof. Be patient and communicate honestly about challenges and expectations as you transition to adulthood.
12. Although your role as a student is a significant commitment, remember that as an adult member of a family, you need to contribute to household tasks like cooking and cleaning.
13. Chances are, you will continue to develop new perspectives from your parents and older family members. Share what you’ve learned in a constructive, non-judgmental way.