A recent Washington Post article told the story of a well qualified student who, with the agreement of her parents, decided to attend community college and transfer after two years to a four year school.
Happy Students Learn Better
The reason driving this decision was the perceived cost of a full-time education at a four-year college or university.
This is not an uncommon issue, and with the rising cost of post secondary education, coupled with a struggling economy, it is one that many more families are likely to face in the near future.
Attending A Community College …
… Don’t Let It Be A Panic Button Decision
The decision to attend a community college should be as well planned as the one to enter a four year college or university.
Like all strategies it is important to both look at the whole playing field and to pay attention to details to ensure your choice matches your objectives.
Community colleges provide a valuable alternative for many different students with a range of academic abilities, social skills and interests, career goals and financial considerations.
Students who did fairly well in high school may complete prerequisite and core courses for two years at a more reasonable cost.
This group of students often plans to transfer to a four year college or university after one or more years at a community college (many states have guaranteed transfer-admissions tracks available for community college graduates – check your individual state for the options there).
The timing itself may even help their family financially by waiting for a sibling to become college age and thus enhancing financial aid eligibility with more than one family member in college at the same time (Check out financial aid rules).
Above all, families need to fully understand the workings of student financial aid to avoid being misled and discouraged by the “sticker price” of a four year school.
Get Ahead Of The Game
These variables suggest that the family and student will benefit tremendously if they plan ahead:
- Investigate and evaluate candidate four year colleges to which they hope to transfer while still in high school.
- Also keep in mind that most four year colleges admit fewer transfer students than they do regular admission applicants.
- Admission may not be not automatic!
- A community college, in some cases, may also admit transfer students in only one semester during the year. This can be costly if it catches a student and parents by surprise.
- Investigate thoroughly the transferability of community college course credits at the candidate four year college(s) they are considering for completion of their bachelors degree.
- The range of courses at a community college may be limited and the level of academic achievement may or may not meet the expectations of the four year institution.
(Don’t make the mistake of assuming, for example, that calculus at a community college is the same as calculus at a four year college specializing in business or engineering.) - Verify, verify, verify.
Pluses & Minuses
Students may well find some of the best professors they will ever experience at community college.
They may also enjoy greater access to these professors than they would at a four year college. However they also will find a very broad mix of capability and goals among their classmates.
Social interaction at a community college is somewhat more restrained than at a four year school. People tend to go their own way after class, and many classes may be scheduled in the evening hours.
Campus life through dormitories and sports is obviously more limited. For those who plan to transfer they must also consider that they will be parachuting into existing social networks when they arrive at their four year college.
This not impossible to overcome, but should not be overlooked either. Some colleges provide orientation or counseling that addresses this factor. Know yourself and act accordingly.
The more relaxed admissions criteria at community colleges open the door to higher education for a number of students who may have struggled in high school. It allows them to catch up academically, focus on or even intern in their intended careers and all at a reasonable cost.
This sometimes forces the introduction of remedial or elementary class work that can frustrate students that are more academically competitive.
In summary, attending a community college can be a rewarding experience, but the decision to go there should not be as a last resort.
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This is one of the better articles on community colleges I’ve read in a long time. The three most important words in this article are: verify, verify, verify. I cannot tell you how much heartbreak people go through because they didn’t verify what they deemed “obvious.” Even high school guidance counselors, who hardly have the time, are guilty of this sin.