It’s not JUST a Community College. It’s a place to learn & grow!

I speak to many students as they are looking for colleges and determining where they should start after high school.  I often here that “I’m going to just start at Community College”, said with a negative or unenthusiastic tone. There is always a stigma said with a community college, as it’s only 2^nd best or not as good of an education.

It’s the Smart Way!
Starting at a community college is the smart way to begin college, especially for students who haven’t yet decided on a major.  It’s a way to learn about different areas, take a variety of classes and pick a major if undecided.  A HUGE benefit is the cost.  Attending a community college allows students to receive a quality education at a lower cost.  It’s a win-win for the student.  Many college students fall into debt within their first year of attending college.  By attending a community college students can save about $15,000 in their first couple years of college.  Typically a community college semester (four courses) costs the same amount as one course at a four year college or university. 

Learning Environment with Quality Instruction – Not from another student

Students are able to learn in a smaller setting of up to 30 students per class at a community college versus a large lecture hall of 150 plus students at a four year college/university.  Also, another benefit is the students are taught by the actual instructor.  At a larger school, you may have a faculty member overseeing the course but they have a teaching assistant (TA) who is the one to facilitate lectures, who is actually a student. As a previous community college student I was able to connect with my instructors, ask them about professions and networks and build a relationship.  Once I moved on to a larger university, that wasn’t feasible due to the size and commitments faculty had.

The REAL DEAL.

Community college students learn through the process of education the easier way.  If they struggle or don’t succeed at first, they aren’t wasting thousands of dollars and they aren’t affecting their overall GPA for their bachelors degree, since the credit will only transfer.  The support is endless at a community college from academic groups, tutoring, and success seminars.  Often many students at the community college are multitaskers.  They are in school, working and involved in student life and/or clubs.  This is a skill community college students develop early in college, which they carry through the years into the workplace.  When they begin at their transfer college and in their career, they have already learned how to multitask, balance life and school and don’t have to go through a transition stage from a “traditional” college student to working in the real world.

 

High school students that are looking at colleges and deciding where a good fit for them would be, they may want to consider starting at a community college. 

 

Learn more about the community college experience at this local community college: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XvkDxQsSo4