Attending a Community College First May Be Right For You
Introduction
As most individuals approach the end of their high school career, the fact that they are progressively assuming the role of an adult hits them. They will soon be swamped in real-world problems and need to make decisions that will resonate through the rest of their lives. Out of all the post-high school options from the military and work to travel and higher education, these options may be relatively complex and puzzling.
One of the major questions for students who plan to further their education have is whether to attend community college or a university directly out of high school. Community colleges were created for two primary purposes. The first is to bridge the high school and college gap with units that will transfer towards a bachelor’s degree. The second is to prepare students for the job market with entry-level career training and provide education for those who want to reenter the workforce or advance their current positions through more schooling. So, what are the pros and cons of going to community college?
Financial Difference
There is a major financial difference between the cost of community college and that of a four-year college or university. According to the College Board, in 2007-2008, the cost of tuition and fees at a community college averaged $2,360/year. This is significantly less than the cost at a four-year, public university which cost $6,185 and the bills at a 4 year, private university which equates to $23,712/year on average. Further, it is important to keep in mind that these figures do not include the cost of living which could add another $10,000 to $15,000/year to your educational expenses. This means that if you were to attend a four-year, private university, your education may exceed $200,000! You better ensure that you will get a return on that investment.
Pros
There are many advantages to attending a community college.
As mentioned above, the tuition is significantly less.
Convenient location: Most community colleges are located in the center of towns and cities. Consequently, you can save money on gas by using public transportation to arrive at school. Consequently, you will still be able to live at home due to the proximity of the campus.
Small class size: Most community college classes have less than 30 students. This means that students will receive more attention from professors, which will ultimately provide a greater capacity for learning.
Flexible class schedule: Community colleges offer classes during the morning, day, evenings, and weekends. This is a great advantage since it encourages individuals to work and complete any family responsibilities they may have.
Professors teach: Professors at community colleges, unlike at many four-year universities, primarily focus on teaching. They do not worry about publishing and researching as much as professors at other schools. Also, full-time professors at community colleges spend more time in the classroom than professors at the four-year schools.
Guidance: Many people do not know exactly to which professional field they want to commit for the next major portion of their life. By attending a community college, you can sample several fields and interests before committing years and money to an uncertain major.
Transition: Since community colleges are quite easier than four-year universities, the transition into a university will be much smaller from a community college than directly from high school. Also, with the convenient locations of many of the colleges, students may still be close to home which will help with the emotional and social transitions as well.
Cons
There are many advantages to attending a community college.
Limited education: Community colleges are only two-year schools. Consequently, you are not able to earn a bachelor’s degree there. If you are looking to complete a four-year degree, you will have to transfer to a proper university.
Easier classes: The community college student body is largely composed of students who can’t attend another university due to certain criteria and, therefore, there is less expectation of the students. Consequently, since the staff often becomes frustrated with many of the students neglecting to do their work, they don’t assign much. This leads to an easier workload than that at a four-year university.
Involvement of students: Since many students at community colleges don’t plan much past earning their two-year degree, they don’t place much effort into their studies. Consequently, the class discussions are often led by the professor and one or two enthusiastic students. This often creates painfully boring discussion sections.
Smaller selection: Since community colleges offer only two-year degrees, they do not have quite the course and major selection of a four-year university.
On-campus experience: By attending this type of college, students will miss out on the dorm-room experience and many social events such as sports and parties.
Difficulty transferring: Some of the credits you earn at a community college may not transfer to the four- year university of your choice. Therefore, you may have to retake classes which may delay your graduation.
Conclusion
Before you decide to attend a community college, it is important to weigh both the pros and the cons. It is also important to remember that for you to be happy during your college career, you should choose the type of school where you will be most comfortable and the type of school that will suite your needs.
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