Why I Chose Community College

Trying to achieve your dreams and reach your full potential in a town that has little to no guidance for youth, especially African American men, is a daunting task. Too often, young men from my hometown are given limited options for their future. The education system made us feel as if we were only created to work in trade career fields, or sign our lives away for four to six years to the various branches of the United States Military. College was a luxury that many, including myself, thought would never be an option.

Life skills play an important role for becoming successful professionally and improving our personal lives. Oprah, in her lifeclass video, talks about being responsible for yourself and not waiting for anyone else to change the circumstances around you as a way to develop the skills necessary to flourish. The story of Robert Sherfields first experience at community college, “How Community College Changed My Life” tells of how Mr. Sherfield let go of his past failures and worked toward a better future for himself. The quote by Charles Noble “First we make our habits, then our habits make us!” is great to remember when developing the life skills necessary to continue to grow in all aspects of our lives. The video, story and quote can all be connected, good habits produce responsible people. Responsible people are aware of their

Students nowadays face many challenges when it comes to obtaining a college education. We evaluate an institution’s quality based on what we need the most. The qualities sought out may vary by each person’s personal point of view. However, as a student, I’ve found that most students seek for an institute that benefits them the most. Attending a community college has been an enormous advantage towards my education. I have been attending San Bernardino Valley College for the last two semesters. I have come to respect their philosophies and values. The institution has now been in business for 87 years. They venture to encourage both students and faculty towards high standards of achievement and progress into exceptional members of the society. They now offer a variety of degrees, transfer programs and certificates for a wide range of students. San Bernardino Valley College has an accomplished staff, student support services and technological tools that pave the road towards the conquest of a quality 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.

One educational opportunity that I never would have thought would even have been an opportunity was my decision to go to community college. While I used to feel as though I had to prove myself by going to a 4-year university right away, at College of the Canyons, I have actually learned more about myself and my academic ethics. I used to feel that community college was a barrier, separating me from my university dreams. However, without my community college journey, my academic passions and endeavors might not have been the same. I have used this time to learn how to be more assertive as well as more willing to problem solve and think out of the box. Since my goals were not handed to me on a silver platter, the community college process has

Looking back to all my rough patches, i infer, would i be where i am today; would i have been exposed to different lifestyles if i stayed in Brooklyn? Along this journey, the exposure i have been given, has enabled me to initiate the best of things. The move to New Jersey tempts me to make another move to maturity. As the next step, to grasp my dreams, I believe Rutgers will guide me into the destined

Even after making the transition to Deer River High School in sixth grade, I continued to glide through school. My pattern of being underchallenged continued until I discovered College in the Schools classes this past fall. Finally, I was challenged (perhaps at times even more so than I imagined,) and I’ve grown exponentially in the past academic year. However, I feel as if that exponential growth is reaching its capacity in this specific environment. Becoming a part of the College of St. Scholastica’s academic environment would allow me to begin a new pattern of exponential growth both as a student and as a person.

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?

Although 2010 was not by definition, a recession year, it certainly felt like one. The growth of the economy was stifled, unemployment was stagnated at a little less than ten percent and interest rates and inflation were at near depression levels by year’s end. The state of the economy unequivocally influences tax collections and budgets, which in turn determines the financial prosperity of higher education, especially in the public sector. The two main sources of revenue for public colleges and universities are state appropriations and tuition. Generally, as cuts to higher education appropriations occur, campuses respond by boosting tuitions even higher. Yet, regardless of the size of the budget cuts, college and university tuitions

Being born and brought up in New Jersey, Rutgers always was known as a prestigious university. Rutgers is a place of opportunity. My brother who is a transferred into Rutgers last year, is always telling how the Criminal Justice program is amazing. He continuously tells me about the incredible classes he has had the pleasure of taking with professors such as Dr. Edem Avakame, Minteh, Shields and Adubato Associate Professor in the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice. Along with these professors, he has told me about his advisors, Lawanda Thomas and Alexandra Charles, who helped him as a transfer student adjust to being a new university student, along with showing him opportunities in networking within the Criminal Justice field by sharing news

I came into Norwalk Community College looking for a fresh start. I previously attended a 4 year university that became too much for me; attending school full-time, working 30 hours per week while trying to enjoy the college experience. At the cost of an “experience” I ended up failing most of my classes, putting my health at risk drowned by the tremendous amount of stress and just wanted to completely give up. Looking for a fresh start I decided to leave my University, and attend Norwalk Community College. Though this decision created self-doubt in the beginning, it soon came to my realization that it was the best decision I ever made. Immersed in an environment full of positive people, I was able to put my pieces back together.

During my senior year of high school, I made the decision to attend the local community college while my friends and classmates choose to attend state colleges and big universities. I wanted to attend a small college, because I came from a small town. It was also cheaper for me to attend a community college and commute from home to school. In High school I wondered if I was making the right decision. I had a lot of people tell me I should go to a state college or university instead of a community college, because I wouldn't get the "college experience." Now into my sophomore year of college at Northeast Community College, I believe choosing a community college was one of the best decisions I ever made. This college has provided me with a number

Approaching the end of senior year everyone was receiving acceptance letters to all well credited schools, like Rutgers, The College of New Jersey, Fordham, and many others, but there were some people, like me, who were opening letter from community colleges to attend. I quickly realized that I did not take high school seriously and was lackadaisical with my studies, causing my grades to suffer, ultimately leaving me no choice, but to go to community college. In hindsight, going to community college was not a regretful decision, and it has shaped me into the person I am now. People from all sorts of life come to community college for many different reasons, mainly similar to mine, to redeem their high school-self and get better grades.

The most recent challenges I’ve faced on my pathway to medical school include finding the time and resources to prepare for the MCAT while raising a family and attending school full-time. For as long I as I can remember I wanted to be a physician, but my only concern was how to get there. Growing up my parents emphasized the importance of finishing high school, but never expressed the importance of further my education. They knew my lifelong goals of wanting to be a doctor, but had little understanding of how to get me there. Shortly after graduation, I began (continued?) my educational journey, attending a local community college, then transferring to Arizona State University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences. It wasn’t until I transitioned to the university when I obtained a better understanding of what it truly takes to be a competitive medical school applicant. I began preparing myself for the medical school entrance exam, worked 10-12 hours in a genetics research laboratory, gained volunteer experience, and balanced a full-time course load. My plans were going smoothly and I felt as though I knew what it took to be

During my career at SUNY Orange, I have grown by leaps and bounds. I have mastered my short comings, earned a 3.5 GPA, made the Dean’s list three semesters and running, earned the Peter Albergani Inspirational Scholarship, and I was selected to attend the Exploring Transfer Program at Vassar College. SUNY Orange has opened many doors for me, doors I did not even know existed. I was not sure that I wanted to attempt to get my Bachelor’s degree, seeing as just getting my Associates degree was more than I ever imagined I would accomplish. That all changed when I was given the opportunity to experience what it would be like to attempt learning at a four year institution.