Why a community college may be your best choice
If you plan to continue your education after high school, don’t think your only option is acceptance into a big name University or college. Unless you have plenty of funding or a scholarship and an enviable G.P.A., a four-year institution may not be within your present financial reach. This is not a good reason to forego a college education.
Even when you have the means to attend a four-year college or University, there are several reasons to consider doing your first two years at a community college. Let’s take a look and see why a community college can be an excellent alternative.
First, the tuition at a local college won’t knock your socks off like the typical four-year institutions might. If your parents are helping you out, the money saved can go towards other needs, such as clothes, car insurance and funding for your last two years. You may also get by nicely with a part time job, allowing you more time for studies.
Another advantage of attending a local college is that you are better able to make the transition between late adolescence and adult society. The largest segment of the community college students are, like you, just out of high school. The difference is that your fellow students are all fairly serious about their education and exhibit more adult behaviors. There is generally no cliqueish behavior or immature pranksters. Each student is paying for their education, with a definite goal in mind. Whereas University life can be a bit of a shock, in terms of stress and a nose-to-the-grindstone mentality, community colleges provide a serious education in a more flexible, laid back environment.
You may also find that community college instructors have more time available to devote to each student, due to smaller class sizes and lighter schedules.
If you’re a typical high school graduate going on to college, it’s quite likely you haven’t completely settled on your life’s career. A community college offers a good opportunity for a bit of exploration. Now’s the time to take a class in a subject that intrigues you, but with which you may have no previous exposure. Your student counselor can help you plan courses in such a way that the credits you gain from that intriguing class can most likely be transferred when you go on to finish your last two years.
Finally, a community college campus is, in most cases, much smaller than that of a four-year institution. This also contributes to an easier transition between high school and college. Make a visit to your local college. You may well like what you find.
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