Community College Is The First Step Of Higher Education Essay

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.

A look back at the institution of education over the past 20 years will reveal that once upon a time a bachelor’s degree was long since considered the marker of ultimate success, the highest level of achievement that one could make in their lives. In those days, if for some reason you failed to march across the stage on graduation day after an epic, four-year stretch of high tuition, long nights studying, and unrelenting professors that found great joy in riding your back, then you had indeed failed at life.

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

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.

Another option offered by Minnesota high schools is a post-secondary enrollment option. This option is comprised of two programs offered to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors: the Post-Secondary Education Option (PSEO) and College in the Schools (CIS). These programs are administered by the Minnesota Department of Education and offer high school students to enroll in college courses while still attending high school. The PSEO program allows the students to attend a local college or university that has been approved to be offered to high school students. The College in the Schools option allows high school students to take the college level course from a certified high school teacher. In this option however the high school

After high school, I chose community college to work on basic courses while I decided on my future bachelor degree. At Tompkins Cortland Community College, I maintained a 3.37 GPA, qualified for the Dean’s List in two semesters, and graduated with honors. As a reflection of my abilities at the time, I would say that despite my achievements, my GPA was not as high as it could have been. None of the classes were overly challenging and I was dedicated to my studies, but my job took up valuable time. On average, I worked thirty-eight hours a week in order to support myself in college. I often felt crammed for time, and cut corners in order to get assignments in on time. For the quality of work I was able to put in, my GPA is accurate. However, given better means, I know that I could have graduated with a more appropriate GPA.

When I was a senior in high school I was accepted to Penn State and a few other schools, and was really pleased with how I had done at the end of my four years at my school, Council Rock North. But after a few weeks of investigating the potential costs and realizing that my savings would not be able to cover the costs of attending a 4 year school without putting my family and myself in a lot of debt, I realized that I could instead go to the local community college. I really liked this option because it allowed me to explore many of my passions for Computer Science without making a huge investment and locking myself into a certain path. Having now spent the last 2 years at Bucks County Community College, I've really deepened my passion for

I am a first-generation, Chicano and will soon finish my last semester before I transfer to a four year university in the upcoming fall. Coming from a first-generation household, I have had to overcome many obstacles to be in the position that I am now in. Community college has been a valuable resource that has allowed me to pursue an amazing education at a low price which has eased the burden of high tuition on my parents. Sometimes it is the cost of education that impedes those that seek it and scholarships are one avenue in which they become easier to travel down the path to success. Coming out of Gilroy High School years ago, I was unsure of what I wanted to major in and devote myself to but I had the amazing opportunity of enrolling in University of California, Merced.

Community college may seem like a school for underachievers, but in reality, its programs cater to many different individuals: High school students, adults returning to pursue (or finish) a degree, and people who are interested in taking recreational classes. Many community college students are programmed differently and they have different studying techniques and their own set pace for learning. The great thing about community college is that it can accommodate all of these individuals. Community college provides the tools and the know-how to help their students succeed. The affordability of community college, student enrichment programs, and smaller class sizes are just a few of its most desirable attributes. Despite the facts, there is a still a stigma surrounding the

All colleges have great advantages and disadvantages to offer to each future student to better their education. Students often look into colleges through their websites which is a smart move. 85% of the time, their websites will reflect on the college. Macomb Community College and Barnard College have plenty of differences and similarities as to how their websites carry information to their students.

Community college is an open book for everyone, meaning college gives everyone a chance, despite the student’s level in Reading, English and Math. Addison thought, “Please tell him that hope can begin with just one placement test” (Graff & Birkenstein, 2017. Two Years Are Better than Four Liz Addison, p. 257). Some college like a community college would accept a record of a students standardized test scores, such as ACT’s or SAT’s. A placement test must be taken if a student doesn’t obtain scores from a standardized test. Depending on what the students score is then they will have to take a class that is at their level such as Math 101, English 101 and so on. Placement test will help a student get to their remedial level classes to improve

First, by offering developmental education, community colleges are able to ensure that educational opportunity is open to all students who enroll, regardless of their academic starting point. While some four-year institutions provide developmental education, the number has decreased over time as community colleges took on more of this role. For the community college, this results in the need to serve a population of students who are typically the most at risk of failure (e.g., returning adults, high school dropouts, immigrants, and a large number of recent high school graduates who lack adequate preparation) (Mellow & Heelan, p. 196). This is just one example of the value that comes from community colleges’ ability to act nimbly to respond to changes in individual students’

This research study examines the effects of a developmental “boot-camp” on the standardized placement test scores of students enrolling in a community college. A developmental boot-camp is described as an online learning environment in which participants work at their own pace to refresh and enhance their skills in math, English, and writing in order to increase their placement scores and possibly place out of developmental community college classes. A community college in North Carolina implemented a developmental tutoring course in an attempt to raise placement test scores and place students into college-level courses (Hill, 2012, p. 2).

People have many different views about going to either a university or a community college. There are many similarities and differences between universities and community colleges in ways such as lower tuition rates, student population, academic programs, degrees, Greek organization, academic clubs, sports, commuters, residents, and credit classes.

Many new college students lacking preparation to successfully pursue postsecondary education on campus, a recent study shows that only one-third of high school graduates possess the minimum qualifications for a four-year college (Greene and Foster, 2003). In addition, a majority of students who study in two-year (community) college that also judged too weak to allow them enroll in college-level courses. In other words, those under-prepared students once study in college could not complete their degree on time, even drop out. In order to help under-prepared student complete college, postsecondary institution provides remedial or developmental courses on campus.