Unfortunately,
community colleges have gotten a bum rap over the years because of the
stigma- they lack the effectiveness to academically prepare students for
a rewarding career and so on... However, many successful professionals started out a community college. Nowadays,
community colleges are filled to the capacity with students who are
eager to complete their educational requirements/and or earn an
associate's degree. The admissions departments have been very busy these
days trying to accommodate
the thousands of prospective students who want to register with a
particular community college. Many students will start at a community
college for their first two years, but will continue further to attain
their bachelor’s degree and higher from a University or other four-year
institution. For many individuals, community college is an
alternative to the more expensive four-year university. With the prices
of tuition and room and board constantly going up, and being in the
midst of an economic downturn, this is the best option for many. If you
are starting college for first time or if you just want to take some
colleges courses to enhance your current career, here are seven
practical reasons why you should consider attending a community college
for your educational needs.
1. Cost- Affordability is a good reason to apply to and attend a community college. With the cost of higher education skyrocketing every year, it’s simply more economically feasible to attend a community college. You
will save more than half of what you would spend in tuition expenses at
a four-year college or university during your freshmen and sophomore
years. Also, you would not have to pay for room and board
along with other universities fees. So…overall you will save a
tremendous amount of cash by applying to a community college. Financial aid is also available for those students who qualify. You can fill out a free FAFSA application online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to see if you qualify and the amount. Student loans are also available for community college students.
2. Two-year Degree program- The nice thing about community college is that you can earn your associates degree and then transfer your course credits over to an accredited four-year college or university, provided that the school you’re interested in accepts your credits. Basically, this is an opportunity to get your general graduation requirements out of the way. Actually, these are the same classes you would ordinarily take at a four-year college but at a cheaper expense to you. Community colleges offer a variety of degree programs that are in demand in the job market.
3. Quality education- The quality of education you will receive at a community college is equivalent to a University or other four-year college. Community colleges employ the best instructors to teach their students. The faculty has to meet certain criteria before they can teach. They must have at least a master’s degree in a specific area along with some teaching experience. Most instructors teach part-time while working a full-time job in the same field they teach.
4. Smaller classroom sizes- The classroom sizes in a community are much smaller than at a university. The average size is around 30 students or less, thus making it easier for students to raise their GPA and achieve academic success. You will also receive more individual attention and can access your instructors more easily than you could at a university. You should also keep in mind that you can attend your classes on site, take them online, or both—just as you could at a four-year institution.
5. Location- A Community College is conveniently located right in your neighborhood or within proximity where you don’t have to travel an excessive amount of miles to get to. Therefore, you will save in travel time and transportation cost.
6. Easier Transition process- Some students coming fresh out of high school--- incoming freshmen find it easier to adjust to a community college than at a University. Were you just an average student in high school? Don’t fret; your past academic performance is not a factor in being accepted into a community college. Didn’t do well on your ACT or SAT exam? Not to worry, community college will accept students who scored low or who didn’t take the exams. For this is not a requirement for admissions at a community college. Obtaining entrance into a community college is basically guaranteed, provided you have a high school diploma or a GED. But you will need to maintain at least a C average in order to remain a student in the school.
7. Transfer credits/degree to a University (general requirements)- First, you will need to find out the college admissions requirements for the university you plan to transfer to---to find out whether or not they will accept your credits. Bear in mind that some universities will not accept some credits from another school. However, you will find a good number of Universities that do. You will need to make an appointment with your academic advisor early on to find out which courses you will need to take and that will transfer (articulation agreement) to the four-year college or university of your choice. The most rewarding thing is…when you find the school that will accept your course credits and/or your 2-year degree; for the most part, you will have only two years to complete your bachelor’s degree.
2. Two-year Degree program- The nice thing about community college is that you can earn your associates degree and then transfer your course credits over to an accredited four-year college or university, provided that the school you’re interested in accepts your credits. Basically, this is an opportunity to get your general graduation requirements out of the way. Actually, these are the same classes you would ordinarily take at a four-year college but at a cheaper expense to you. Community colleges offer a variety of degree programs that are in demand in the job market.
3. Quality education- The quality of education you will receive at a community college is equivalent to a University or other four-year college. Community colleges employ the best instructors to teach their students. The faculty has to meet certain criteria before they can teach. They must have at least a master’s degree in a specific area along with some teaching experience. Most instructors teach part-time while working a full-time job in the same field they teach.
4. Smaller classroom sizes- The classroom sizes in a community are much smaller than at a university. The average size is around 30 students or less, thus making it easier for students to raise their GPA and achieve academic success. You will also receive more individual attention and can access your instructors more easily than you could at a university. You should also keep in mind that you can attend your classes on site, take them online, or both—just as you could at a four-year institution.
5. Location- A Community College is conveniently located right in your neighborhood or within proximity where you don’t have to travel an excessive amount of miles to get to. Therefore, you will save in travel time and transportation cost.
6. Easier Transition process- Some students coming fresh out of high school--- incoming freshmen find it easier to adjust to a community college than at a University. Were you just an average student in high school? Don’t fret; your past academic performance is not a factor in being accepted into a community college. Didn’t do well on your ACT or SAT exam? Not to worry, community college will accept students who scored low or who didn’t take the exams. For this is not a requirement for admissions at a community college. Obtaining entrance into a community college is basically guaranteed, provided you have a high school diploma or a GED. But you will need to maintain at least a C average in order to remain a student in the school.
7. Transfer credits/degree to a University (general requirements)- First, you will need to find out the college admissions requirements for the university you plan to transfer to---to find out whether or not they will accept your credits. Bear in mind that some universities will not accept some credits from another school. However, you will find a good number of Universities that do. You will need to make an appointment with your academic advisor early on to find out which courses you will need to take and that will transfer (articulation agreement) to the four-year college or university of your choice. The most rewarding thing is…when you find the school that will accept your course credits and/or your 2-year degree; for the most part, you will have only two years to complete your bachelor’s degree.
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