The Foreign Service Journal, December 2009

66 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT gram sometimes goes by other names such as “Running Start.” While still in high school, students can take advan- tage of higher-level coursework for credit. Courses and grades will appear on the high school transcript. Different institutions have different policies regarding class standing, credits and financial aid considera- tions for these programs. It is always best to ask for clarification on any of these policies, as they can vary greatly from institution to institution. Regardless of the course of study, it is extremely important for any student wishing to pursue a certificate or a degree to work closely with an adviser in the community college system to be sure that all requirements are being met, that appropriate classes are being chosen and that the student is on track to complete the program. Furthermore, a student will find it dif- ficult to transfer between an AAS degree and an A.A. or A.S. degree program. So proper advising is key. Transferring to a Four-Year Institution Many community colleges have what are called articulation agree- ments with state universities, in the same state or elsewhere, that provide for guaranteed admission for students who have maintained an established grade point average and met the Q: What Do These People Have in Common … ? George Lucas: film director, writer, producer Jim Sinegal: president and CEO of Costco Richard Carmona: M.D., U.S. surgeon general Robert Gibson: space shuttle commander, NASA Edward Stone: director, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; VP and professor of physics, California Institute of Technology Tom Hanks: actor Clint Eastwood: actor, mayor, civic activist Arnold Schwarzenegger: governor of California, actor Eileen Collins: space shuttle commander Calvin Klein: fashion designer Craig Venter: human genome scientist And 28 members of Congress A: All of the highly accomplished people listed here got their start at a community college.