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During my senior year of high school, the hustle and bustle of the College admissions process was the biggest thing on everyone's mind. Sending out college applications, getting replies from schools, and hearing where classmates had been accepted was the daily routine starting in late November and continuing right on 'til graduation day.

Having grown up in a middle-class suburb right outside of New York City, most of my classmates were planning on attending a four-year university out of state. My group of friends couldn't have even imagined not leaving home for our new College Experience.

So, what did four of my friends do when faced with the knowledge that they neither had the grades nor the money to attend a four-year university? Instead of staying at a local two-year college -- with the same high school cronies, part-time neighborhood job, and parents on their back- - they made the decision to transcend boundaries and go interstate.

These ambitious four decided they were not going to stay in New York after graduation ... no matter what. They knew there had to be an alternative.

They began a nationwide search for community colleges located in areas that appealed to them, especially ones near a large state university. They wanted to pinpoint an option where they could embrace the "college experience" by attending a two-year school away from home and then make a smooth transition to a nearby four-year university.

These particular pals of mine had always dreamed of living in Arizona for its beautiful desert weather and proximity to skiing, the West Coast, and Mexico. After speaking with friends who had attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, my friends discovered that Pima Community College was located only 10 miles from there.

This would be their school.

They contacted the Pima admissions office and found out about the costs, classes, and admissions requirements. To their delight, Pima's tuition was not much higher than that of a local New York City community college. In their minds, it sure beat staying in New York for the next two years. At least in Arizona, they would have the prospects of different experiences in a new city, and meeting new people of diverse backgrounds.

By working with the admissions office at Pima, my friends were able to choose classes based on their eventual plan to transfer to the University of Arizona. The counselors at Pima were able to provide information on which classes to take and which classes to stay away from.

Plus, a counselor at Pima was able to put them in contact with a local real estate agency, since they would have to find their own housing. And surprisingly, living off campus provided them with additional savings. Most universities require freshmen to live on campus and purchase a university meal plan. This is often more than the price one could find living off campus.

There was a trade-off, of course -- my friends missed out on the traditional on-campus freshman experience. To them, however, it was a worthwhile sacrifice. In the end, they all graduated from the University of Arizona. It took a little longer to do so, but none of them minded staying in Arizona for that extra time.

As for those of my friends who stayed at home and attended the local community college in New York, many never made it to a university and still have yet to earn a college diploma. The fact that my four Arizona-bound friends had a set plan and went away to school put the goal of graduating from a four-year university in real terms.

If this sounds like an experience you want to embark on, it's important to do your research. Use the Internet to find a community college near a state university you wish to attend (check out the American Association of Community colleges' site at www.aacc.nche.edu). Talk to friends and relatives about schools they went to and if they know of community colleges in their home states. Call the schools and tell them your plan to transfer after two years and get some guidance from their admissions offices.

Present your parents with the cost savings and cost comparison between your local community college and an out-of-state community college. By presenting them with enough information to answer all of their questions, you'll show them you are serious about pursuing your education and responsible enough to leave home without the structure of a four-year university.

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