Students are constantly searching for ways to save money and spend less toward college. Some make their education more affordable by completing credit hours at a community college before transferring to WKU.

Community colleges offer classes for less and don’t have the same expenses as a university, such as housing and meal plans. Students can live at home, take classes with transferring credits — mostly general education courses — and save money toward their final year, or years, of schooling at a university.

Madisonville junior Donae Morrow is one of many who followed that path. Morrow transferred to WKU last semester, after two years at Madisonville Community College.

“The transition was really smooth,” he said. “I feel more prepared and I already know what I’m here to do.”

He is pursuing a major in organizational leadership, something that he became initially intrigued with while taking classes at Madisonville Community College. According to him, this was hugely beneficial, as it allowed him to declare a major his first semester here and focus on that.

Morrow also suggested that taking classes at a community college makes for an easier transition to college, and college life.

“It makes college make sense,” he said.

Karl Laves, assistant director of the Counseling and Testing Center, said students who transfer are just as capable of success or failure as any student who has completed all four years here. Any problems or struggles they might specifically have would be problems with unfamiliarity with the campus and area, but that doesn’t last long.

“After a semester, they’re like anybody else; they know the ins and outs, and the local language, slangs and terms students are using to talk about class,” he said.

Owensboro sophomore Danielle Carrico has similar views to Morrow’s on the benefits of community college. She transferred last fall semester, after completing a full year and two summers worth of courses at Owensboro Community and Technical College.

“Community college was great for getting most of my gen. eds done, and it was so much cheaper than a university, but there was only so much I could do before I got behind in my major,” Carrico said.

Carrico also saw this as a money-saving opportunity, and a way to ease into college level classes.

She was more aware of how challenging courses were and would be, without adding in the shock of moving away immediately after high school.

Carrico said she would definitely recommend this path for schooling.

“Especially for those who have limited funds like I do,” she said. “It was also a great way to transition from high school to college; I was less shocked when I got to WKU than I probably would have been otherwise.”