Attending College : A Terrific And Terrifying Experience

Benefits of attending a community college as opposed to a traditional university tend to be overlooked by potential students. They are either unaware of its advantages or do not fully understand how this type of education can benefit their cause. Year after year large amounts of students choose to go straight from high school and in to four-year universities. The problem with this particular situations is that universities in general tend to have 50-400 students in one

Many students who may not have the best grades or have the top act score can find it hard to get into many of the schools they dreamt about going to but starting out at the community college level allows you to get your foot in the door with school , and allows you to become a stronger student. “That is the understanding- that you will grow a little bit with your first English Class, a bit more with your first psychology class, a whole lot more with your first biology class, physic, and chemistry.” While attending the local community college grow as a student and a learner so when the times come to transfer a stronger student is entering that

May arrive to college with fewer resources and more academic needs, which can lead to discrimination

Choosing a college means going to a new, unfamiliar world of immense possibilities. One of the hardest decisions a high school graduate face is the choice between attending a Community College or a University. Although Universities and Community College serve the same purpose, each has its differences and similarities in their learning such as the admission requirements, expenses, size, and student life. Community College are the most common type of two-year College that prepares you to continue your education, are often an affordable and convenient option. Universities you can earn Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees which is more expensive. At a University, you can

Liz Addison, the author of “Two Years Are Better than Four,” started with a question on the importance of college. She wrote this essay in response to Perlstein’s piece, “What’s the Matter With College.” Addison argued that college is important while Perlstein thought differently. Starting with how the beginning of the college process starts, Addison states that for any one person, that the idea of a community college is for one to begin their journey (Addison, 256). This I would agree with because attending a four-year college during the start of the college journey, I have found myself lost with no idea on how to begin. Therefore, transferring to a community college, finally realizing that a community college is where I should have begun.

Today, many people seek higher education for a better advantage in finding a job and getting a better life. Even though many people think going to a four year college directly from high school is a good idea; they are wrong. Starting out at a two year community college is more affordable. Also, it helps people explore careers and prepare people to do better in four years college later down the road.

Attending a community college has several benefits such as the low tuition and book fees, smaller classes, and experienced teachers at an affordable cost. In this two year period students also have the time to mature and get serious about their career before they get into the four year institution

Community colleges in the United States develop rapidly and have become a vital component of the postsecondary education delivery system. As of 2011-2012 school year, 45% of all undergraduate students were enrolled in public two-year colleges, approximately 8.3 million students (Knapp et al., 2012. Cited by AACC Fast Facts). And it seems that with globalization and Obama’s education agenda, the trend of growing enrollment in community colleges won’t change. A high school graduate who decides to pursue postsecondary education may face with a dilemma--whether enroll in a community college or a traditional four-year college. Even within a community college, a student may be faced with a choice—enroll in a vocational program and enter workforce after graduation with a vocational certification, or choose an academic program with an intention of transferring to four-year institutions.

After twelve years of school, where will you go next? Many of you have developed the ambition to prolong your education and attend college. Today, there are many more options than there were in the past. One does not have to graduate high school and go straight to a four year university. It is sometimes better for a student to go to a community college and focus on transfer courses or simply get an Associate’s Degree. On the other hand, there are young adults that prefer to leap straight into a university and focus on the specific program for their Bachelor’s Degree.

The class size is surprising to most students because the tuition is so reasonable. While classes aren't as small as those of a leading private university, many have as few as twenty students. In a smaller class, professors have the opportunity to learn more about their students. Likewise, students will find their teachers more accessible and can get assistance when they need it.

Deciding whether to attend a community college or university can be a difficult decision for students especially high school seniors and fresh high school graduates. After graduating from high school, the next step in the academic journey is to attend a college or a university. Before I got into college, I wanted to attend a university. I never considered attending a community college because I considered it irrelevant and less rewarding than a university. Now I have a different view about community colleges and I can clearly point out the major difference between a community college and a university. A community college is a two year college which offers two or three year courses and award associate degrees and certificates. Most community colleges are linked with certain universities which makes it easier for students to transfer. My decision to attend a community was strongly influenced by Cost, easy transition to university, and the need to balance school, work, and social life.

There isn't anything more important to community colleges than the certainty that they can and should provide all qualified people who are looking to be accepted with admittance (Vaughan). The people of the community college represent forty-four percent of all undergraduates and forty-nine percent of students attending college for the first time (David). These students include a lot of minority students, students with a low social standing and the non-standard (age twenty-five and older) student who commonly enters college less academically equipped (David). Most community colleges have made immense advancement in reducing a lot of geographical and economic blockades that have in the past limited college admittance (David). Community

Is it beneficial to attend community college before attending a university or is it a waste of time? There is a huge debate on whether or not attending community college is worth the time, or if it is as wasteful as rumored. While some people argue that it is not worth attending a community college before a university, I believe that it is beneficial. It helps students transition from high school to college life as well as encourage them to further their education.

With less students in the hallways the school would be less crowded. Passing periods and lunch shifts would be less congested, and easier to manage. Less students in the school would also mean smaller class sizes. This would give the underclassmen students more one-on-one time with the teachers in their electives. Without the extra students, teachers would be able to focus solely on the underclassmen students who have not had the opportunity to take the elective classes. They would also not have to worry about students creating problems because they have already learned the material which is being taught. If electives are geared towards underclassmen, teachers would be able to make the course work more suitable for the younger students.

Communication is a key player in the aspect of education. Teachers and professors at times do not have a personal bond with their students. The lack of communication often leads to students not learning as much as expected or becoming successful at slacking off. This can happen with large class sizes. Large class sizes compared to smaller class sizes often times leave the students wondering if their teacher even cares about them or if they are even learning the topic at hand. Coming from a class size of 23 all throughout high school, I never knew the full advantages of being nearly 20:1 with my teacher. Realizing that was in fact a blessing later when I attended college to realize some of my fellow colleague’s struggled coming from large class sizes some even reaching the 3 digit mark. Student’s education experience differs depending on class sizes, I believe smaller classes are more effective.