It is not easy to decide whether to attend a 4-year university immediately or to attend a community college for 2 years and then transfer to a 4-year college for your junior year and beyond. The answer looks different to everyone, depending on their financial situation. The most important thing is to be honest with your kids from the get-go (at least from their freshman year of high school) about what kind of college you can realistically afford. Some parents can pay for all 4 years at an in-state public school, but would have to take out loans for anything more expensive than that. It’s devastating for high schoolers to apply to and get into their dream schools, knowing they cannot afford it, forcing them to decline the offer or incur six-figure debt. It’s best to apply to what you can afford, and take on as little debt as possible in the process.