This is exactly what I did, but unfortunately the statistics are against folks who do this, by more than a landslide.
I spoke to a guidance counselor at the private high school where I teach...and according to her, some 80%+ of community college students never go on to attain a 4 year Bachelor's.
Apparently they get caught up in the work-aday adult world--get married or do other things, and suddenly at 30 years old realize that life is OK and they're unmotivated then to finish.
This was the path of my sister actually--although she's an intelligent, capable person, she just never finished college...and in her 60s, has never had a job paying more than about 25K a year. (she's doing OK, and probably wasn't meant for college...but still...)
Knowing that 80% statistic, if I were a parent, I'd think twice about sending a kid to community college while working a dead-end job, as the chances are very high, they may never leave that pattern.
Better to finish college ASAP, than to string it out 5 or 6 years into the mid or late 20s, which is marriage, family & career territory.
Our ancestors by the way, 200+ years ago, typically went to University at 14, 15 or 16 years old. If raised with the right discipline, and actually of academic-minded college-material, they can handle it...
The REAL problem is that people assume that if one is of average of above average intelligence, you MUST go to college--and skilled labor or other skilled jobs are looked down on, and ruled out (and we wonder why jobs are "shipped overseas"), THAT IS THE REAL MISTAKE BEHIND THIS!!!
Totally agree! I've been talking with my elderly folks about this recently. When they were growing up, going to a college was difficult (dad worked his way through college on GI Bill after WWII) & if you had a college degree, it had a lot of worth. Now, the expectation is everyone will go to college. You have to get a masters or doctorate to distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack. Also, my mom was a teacher & she had many struggling students that would have done really well in a technical school, but the folks pushed them to get that 'college degree'. As another example, I have a friend whose son was certainly smart enough & making the grades for college. During high school, he took an auto repair class & fell in love with it - told his mom he wanted to go to technical school vs. college. She was a wise woman ... supported him 100% in not going to college (her dream) but in going to technical school (his dream). He's very happy, successful & making a ton of money.