Benefit of a Community College
College is a very important part of one’s academic journey. It’s where lifelong memories as well as relationships are made. College is also where many people choose which direction they want to go in their life. So which college should one choose? I have always thought that the more expensive and reputable college one attends, the better job one will receive after graduating. After enrolling in PSEO at a community college I started to question that belief. Maybe I should just stay there, get my associates degree, and transfer out after receiving my associates degree in order to save money. So like any knowledgeable person, I researched the topic and through evaluating the pros and cons I came up with the conclusion that universities are not necessarily better than community colleges. While universities provide a reputable education and offer quality resources, community colleges in fact are much more affordable while providing a more well-rounded education. When comparing community colleges and universities the first thing I looked at was the price difference. Without scholarships, community colleges are far more affordable than universities. Looking at the student debt one call fall into, is it really worth it? How long are you going to be paying this debt off? I know many people who are still in their thirties that are still paying off student loans while they could be putting that money elsewhere, such as a retirement account. I can see
This article provides an insightful view into the perceived and real status of community colleges in relation to their university counterparts. Once thought of as a place merely for underachievers to attend for workforce training, Trowbridge points out these institutions now have more to offer. They provide an affordable opportunity for students to complete the same courses that are available at the university for a fraction of the cost. Noting the financial savings in comparison to the traditional university, along with the overall quality of instruction, local community colleges have become a viable alternative for those seeking a college education without the incurring unnecessary amounts of debt.
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
In the article “Two Years Are Better Than Four” author Liz Addison writes about how community college is a forgotten option for many students in America, and that it is not well advertised like the universities are. She writes about how community college is a great option for students who need a less expensive option, but still want a chance to further their education. Addison also writes about how they allow everyone to attend so you can “just begin”. Community college is a great option for many students because it allows for an affordable option for students to continue their education.
When I thought about my future and where I 'll be going, I thought I would be attending a university like all of my friends in high-school. I never thought I would be attending a community college. I really hated the idea of community college. I thought it was for people who had low ACT score or people who didn 't really try as hard as others in school. I always tried hard in school even when things got hard I still tried my best. I never thought it would be for me until I saw the benefits of attending a community college. I attend a two year college because I felt like I had a better opportunity to talk to my professor , also to better myself improving my knowledge by stepping out of my comfort zone.
When you graduate high school you have your choice of what kind of an education you want to get. You have your choice of going to a 4-year university, or a 2-year college. In order to decide you will compare the two and use the comparisons to come up with your final decision. Questions to ask yourself would be, what are you looking for in college, how do you want to learn, and how much money do you have to work with. Comparing University and Community college the first thing that comes to mind is the difference in price. Certain Universities are more expensive than others. The difference in price is because of the difference in price and size, also because of the difference in the
There are three main reasons why I agree Community College is the best choice. The cost of a Community college, and the cost of a University, to class sizes that could fit between 15-20 students, and the convenience that each school has for their students, and teachers. Although both, universities and community colleges serve the same purpose, the two are very different from each other. For instance, you might be an upcoming freshmen, and not sure whether in picking a 2- year college or a 4- year college. Choices could be, where you can pick a two- year college, but may not be able to experience a life you cannot have at a university. But, I can tell you this, if you are not prepared to leave home or you have no set goals in mind, then Community
This is not the only way that you can save by going to a community college. Chances are a larger university is not near your home. A school closer to home allows you to stay home and cut your bills another way by eliminating room and board fees and transportation expenses. Driving across town and maintaining your sometimes drastically lower living expenses sounds much better than the usurious bill many find themselves incurring at a larger school miles away from home.
Community Colleges tend to have fewer students per class, which means more attention from teacher to student. This is good for students who like access to their instructors so they can ask questions and avoid getting lost in the course material. Universities are bigger than community colleges and it takes a little longer to find your way around campus. Most teenagers graduate from high school eager to leave their parents house and do grown up things. The benefit of attending a University is living on campus instead of your parent’s home. Not all universities have dorms, but the majority of them do. Which you have to pay for parking, fitness center, laundry and other fees included. Both university and community colleges sponsor
When people talk about college, they are often talking about typical four year colleges and universities, but there’s another option. One that’s less talked about. Maybe because it’s viewed as less prestigious or maybe because it’s just not that common of a choice. Except that it is. Students from across the nation choose to attend Community Colleges for a myriad of different reasons. So why is Community College often viewed in a negative light when so many students are attending them? Why are so many students looked down upon for choosing Community College if it helps them achieve their goals in life? Your choice of college doesn’t diminish your achievements unless you let
According to Jenkins and Fink, the writers for the Community College Research Center, an average of 38% of community colleges students transfer to a 4 year college and 42% of the students complete a bachelor’s degree within the next 6 years. Going to a community college is very beneficial and affordable to children with high or low income. While I am taking Economics my teacher broke down the concepts and benefits of going to a community college versus a university. For example, going to Moraine Valley Community College is about $3,570 a year for their tuition, while the University of Illinois is around $15,686 in tution. If you go to Moraine Valley Community College for 2 years you will only be paying about $7,140 versus going to the University of Illinois for 2 years and paying $31,372 Your saving $24,232 dollars if you go to a 2 year college versus going the whole 4 years. If people are struggling financially this can be a financial advantage. Some junior colleges cost less than two-thousand dollars each semester for students who attend full time and it gives students some time to prepare for a 4 year university if they plan on taking their education further. Going to a community college helps students to set goals and aspects for their future career they want to pursue to transfer to a university. So why doesn’t Joliet West counselors promote the idea of going to a community college?
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.
While other students in my high school class were looking at catalogs for different universities around the country, I was looking through catalogs for my local community college. For years, my mom spoke of the benefits of attending a community college before transferring to a university, and given my family’s limited financial availability, starting out at a community college was the perfect choice for me. It was undeniable that going to a community college offered many benefits. For example, it would give me the chance to take classes that would go towards earning my Associate’s Degree without increasing the financial strain on my family. It would also allow me to be home so that I could assist my mother and sister in whatever way that I
Choosing the best route can be hard to do especially just three months after graduating from high school. Students have many options that they can choose from and sometimes decide on an option that doesn’t offer the best of benefits for them. A lot of times, the student is tired of school and does not want to commit to another 4 years of education for multiple reasons. Even the students that do go on and further their education after high school, do not get enough training or experience at the time for the jobs they may want down the road and may wish to go back and get more of the training they do need when that time comes. Community Colleges can provide students with an affordable, 21st century education focused on entering the workforce.
In her article, Magdalena Kay brings up the idea that students feel the need to go to college in order to obtain a job that makes enough money to support the lifestyle that they want (3). These students want to go to universities to earn their degree so that they can achieve their blissful little life with a gratifying job, but for students, it is not always possible to make it to a university right away as planned. Frequently universities cost too much, people are not mature enough, their grades are not satisfactory, or they need to work and do not have the time for classes; this is where community colleges come into play. They can be a great option for people who are unable to go straight to a four-year college and they allow students to get most of their general classes out of the way and help them work towards a bachelor 's degree. A majority of students transfer to a four-year college from community colleges by virtue of the benefits of it, but through the process over 50 percent of students lose some portion of their credits and this sets them back on their path to earning a degree. While transferring has copious benefits for students, there are not a multitude of options for paths between colleges to transfer.
Why is community college the most effective option? The answer to that question is simple. Community colleges provide just as much opportunities as a four year does, but just as a lower price. Price is a very important topic now a days and saving can be very beneficial to one's future. Another example of college price is the two colleges compared. Manuel S. Gonzalez Canche author of the article "Is the Community College a Less Expensive Path toward a Bachelor's Degree? Public 2- and 4-Year Colleges' Impact on Loan Debt", conducts a study to determine the price difference between starting at a two year school versus starting at a four year school. The outcome of the test was that a two year school has less expensive student loans. The study