--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a semester, I left Cal Poly to…" description: "\"After a semester, I left Cal Poly to attend a local community college - Palomar in San Marcos. It was the best move. I worked, saved money and eventual..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg" --- # After a semester, I left Cal Poly to attend a local… ![“After a semester, I left Cal Poly to attend a local community college - Palomar in San Marcos. It was the best move. I worked, saved money and eventually transferred to a different state school. In all, I went to college for three years.” quote by Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg) > “After a semester, I left Cal Poly to attend a local community college - Palomar in San Marcos. It was the best move. I worked, saved money and eventually transferred to a different state school. In all, I went to college for three years.” [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving a university for a community college can be a strategic step toward better opportunities. **In simple terms:** Changing schools can lead to success. Key Takeaway Consider alternative paths when current one stalls. Themes education career planning risk‑taking Mood inspirational practical Type personal development motivational When to use this quote - career change - financial planning - academic transitions Key Concepts personal development strategic decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - What factors made the new college a better fit? - How do you assess when a change is needed? A Different Perspective Success isn’t guaranteed; outcomes vary widely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-years/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Community college](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-college/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [I would certainly look at a proposal for tuition-free community college for two years if the students kept a certain high grade-point average.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/i-would-certainly-look-at-a-proposal-for-tuition-free-community/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) > [I was born in Evanston, Illinois. I spent my elementary and part of my junior high school years in a D.C. suburb. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-washburn/i-was-born-in-evanston-illinois-i-spent-my-elementary-and-part-of-my/) [Abigail Washburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-washburn/) > [All of the great big men went to college at least two or three years. I think it's a big factor. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/all-of-the-great-big-men-went-to-college-at-least-two-or-three-years/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [I went to college for four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-went-to-college-for-four-years/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [When I was 18 I went to college for two years and didn't work for a year which was essential for me, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/when-i-was-18-i-went-to-college-for-two-years-and-didn-t-work-for-a/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I only went to college for one semester, community college outside of Dallas. I got to the end of that and said, 'I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-michael-foster/i-only-went-to-college-for-one-semester-community-college-outside-of/) [Scott Michael Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-michael-foster/) > [In college, I was a cartoonist at 'The Daily Northwestern.' So I draw myself. I was an animator. But basically, I went to Northwestern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-musker/in-college-i-was-a-cartoonist-at-the-daily-northwestern-so-i-draw/) [John Musker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-musker/) > [I got expelled from high school, and then did my exams from home. I decided, through that experience, that I was going to expediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-got-expelled-from-high-school-and-then-did-my-exams-from-home-i/) [Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/) > [Community colleges provide higher education where people live, helping to build strong ladders of opportunity that allow people to secure a foothold in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-perez/community-colleges-provide-higher-education-where-people-live-helping/) [Thomas Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-perez/) > [Kids should go to college, but they should go to the best school they can afford to get through with minimal or no debt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/kids-should-go-to-college-but-they-should-go-to-the-best-school-they/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Community colleges are one of Americas great social inventions a gateway to the future for first time students looking for an affordable college education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/community-colleges-are-one-of-americas-great-social-inventions-a/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [“It’s not like we’re at a community college and God is at an Ivy League school. It’s like we’re at a community college and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-altrogge/it-s-not-like-we-re-at-a-community-college-and-god-is-at-an-ivy/) [Stephen Altrogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-altrogge/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I simply want to celebrate the fact that right near your home, year in and year out, a community college is quietly - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ryan/i-simply-want-to-celebrate-the-fact-that-right-near-your-home-year-in/) [Kay Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ryan/) > [A lot of students who are 18 or 19 go to college partly for the social aspect of it. At the community college, people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/a-lot-of-students-who-are-18-or-19-go-to-college-partly-for-the/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) ## More by Taylor Tomlinson > [I'm so desperate for all the wisdom that only comes with age. But I can't do anything except wait for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-m-so-desperate-for-all-the-wisdom-that-only-comes-with-age-but-i/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [My dad's really funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/my-dad-s-really-funny/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I've always wanted to wear black lipstick, but I think you have to have like a really cool personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-ve-always-wanted-to-wear-black-lipstick-but-i-think-you-have-to/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I watch old clips sometimes and I'm like, I think I'm making people sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-watch-old-clips-sometimes-and-i-m-like-i-think-i-m-making-people-sad/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [Life, for better and worse, does not go the way you might have envisioned when you were 16. And I would not change anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/life-for-better-and-worse-does-not-go-the-way-you-might-have/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I just want to talk about darker subjects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-just-want-to-talk-about-darker-subjects/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I started doing stand-up in high school and knew I was funny, but I didn't think it was something I could actually do full-time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-started-doing-stand-up-in-high-school-and-knew-i-was-funny-but-i/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I hope if I'm going to do a dirty joke, it's at least clever and not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-hope-if-i-m-going-to-do-a-dirty-joke-it-s-at-least-clever-and-not/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [Nobody is truly for everyone and now you don't have to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/nobody-is-truly-for-everyone-and-now-you-don-t-have-to-be/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I am generally writing about things happening in my own life, in what I hope is a very relatable way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-am-generally-writing-about-things-happening-in-my-own-life-in-what/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I started doing stand-up at 16 and I didn't have the life experience to talk about politics or social issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-started-doing-stand-up-at-16-and-i-didn-t-have-the-life-experience/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [I was a really shy, scared kid. I was really, really anxious to go on stage for the first five years that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/i-was-a-really-shy-scared-kid-i-was-really-really-anxious-to-go-on/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [When I started doing standup, it was the first time I felt comfortable with myself. I think people I went to school with were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/when-i-started-doing-standup-it-was-the-first-time-i-felt-comfortable/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [Some people will say, 'Oh, you're very wise beyond your years,' and that's just a nice way of saying, 'You hate yourself, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/some-people-will-say-oh-you-re-very-wise-beyond-your-years-and-that-s/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [Something has to be really cool or funny... for me to think about wanting to do it. I think my agents would probably prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/something-has-to-be-really-cool-or-funny-for-me-to-think-about/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) [Explore all 71 Taylor Tomlinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After a semester, I left Cal Poly to attend a local community college - Palomar in San Marcos. It was the best move. I worked, saved money and eventually transferred to a different state school. In all, I went to college for three years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Taylor Tomlinson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-attend-a-local-community-college/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-attend-a-local-community-college/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/taylor-tomlinson-9678_best_after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-atte_352017.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After a semester, I left Cal Poly to attend a local community college - Palomar in San Marcos. It was the…” — Taylor Tomlinson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Taylor Tomlinson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After a semester, I left Cal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-attend-a-local-community-college/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/after-a-semester-i-left-cal-poly-to-attend-a-local-community-college/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```