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"California has an extensive JC system, if they are not ready for a four year college, let them go there."

That's what I was thinking.

Also, those who attend junior colleges and transfer tend to fare better than those who attend four-year institutions the whole time.

Reason for this is JC students tend to be there for one reason- to get their degree. Four-year kids aren't nearly as focused.

I did JC before going to a four year school, and there are a lot of reasons to do it. Nobody cares where you spent your first two years, it's where you graduate. Second, it costs about a quarter what a four year school costs, and the student can generally live at home. Third, it creates an excellent bridge to a four year college. Most freshmen are not mature enough to deal with the temptations of a four year school. I watched a lot of freshmen come in, and there was a huge tendency to party hard in the first semester, and be on scholastic probation the second semester.

Most of the students I work with are plenty intelligent, but they've never learned how to study. I spend probably the first three weeks of class teaching them how to study. By the second half of the class, I can give them an assignment that includes memorizing a full page chart and expect an average of 93 or so.

They can also handle a 300 question test. They're motivated and they want challenges. There's nothing more rewarding than watching a class go from hating to study and do tests to having over half of them voluntarily show up for an optional 2 hour study session. Great feeling, almost as great as walking into a fire station and knowing I've trained over half the people there.