WHY CHOOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE?
Attending community college was not a concept I had thought about prior to my senior year of high school. After all, I attended a vocational magnet school where acceptances were only doled out to the highest-achieving students in the county. The school was ranked second in the state, 49th in the nation, and boasted a 91.7 out of 100 College Readiness Score. The local community college wasn’t even allowed a booth at our college fairs; It was expected that my peers and I would attend four-year universities.
However, I was more uneasy than excited after receiving my college acceptance letters. I was 18 and totally unsure about my future. There was no way I wanted to move across state lines, bearing thousands of dollars in loans, with no clear idea of who I was and what I wanted. I felt stuck and turned to the internet for a solution, stumbling upon forums of community college graduates touting their experiences and outcomes. Curious, I began to do more research and began weighing my options.
Community colleges, or two-year colleges, are public higher education institutions. They offer certificate programs, professional development, and associate degrees. Many even tote their own college sports teams and honors programs. Their appeal arises from their affordability. While the average student attending a public four-year college pays $10,740 in tuition and fees, a community college student will only pay $3,800.* In an interview with the New York Times, Jill Biden said, “community colleges are the way of the future.”**
After looking into my local community college, I realized all the potential benefits I could glean from attending. Apart from the obvious cost-saving benefits, I would be able to transition into adulthood, have more time to learn about myself and my goals, and still receive higher education; All while still living at home. Upon graduation, I would have the choice to join the nearly one-third of community college graduates that go on to transfer to a four-year school.*
Admittedly, I was scared of what my classmates would think of me. In my graduating class of 70, I would be the only one going to community college. I worried they would think that I wasn’t smart or good enough to get in anywhere else. My only solace was knowing that I had weighed my options carefully and was confident that this was what was best for me. Now, after completing my first year of community college, I can confidently say I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
The wonderful thing about community college is that it has something to offer everyone. For high school students that didn’t do as well as they had hoped to or didn’t get into the school they wanted to, community college gives them the opportunity to try again. For others who don’t enjoy learning or are only after a decent-paying job, community college offers short certificate programs that make the transition into the workforce easier.
Like many high schoolers who have always expected a traditional four-year college experience, I was worried that my student life at community college would be lackluster. However, as with most things, it truly is what you make of it. Many community colleges have an extensive amount of clubs, organizations, and societies that allow students to build friendships and participate in interesting projects and initiatives. I joined the History Club and Humane Society at my college and found an amazing group of individuals that I’ve grown very close with as we’ve planned and taken part in engaging events on campus.
For some high schoolers, the thought of applying to four-year schools after community college can be a major turnoff. Particularly, if they had a bad experience with the process in high school. However, it is more and more common for community colleges to have articulation agreements with local public and private four-year colleges. Many high-ranking institutions like Howard University have articulation agreements with community colleges across the nation.*** These agreements ensure that community college graduates have practically guaranteed acceptances and a full transfer of credit at their new universities. Further, many community colleges have academic advisors on campus that can guide students through the application process.
Ultimately, there is no wrong route on the path to higher education, and no one should be shamed or looked down upon for doing what is best for them in the grand scheme of things. Especially when, for many, community college is just another step on the roadmap to success. Many highly successful individuals like Morgan Freeman credit some of their success to their time at community college.† For others like Michael K. Williams and Halle Berry, community college was a stepping stone that allowed them to reach the success they have today.‡ Thus, regardless of where you may find yourself in life, your local community college will always be there for whatever you might it for.
REFERENCES
* “Community College FAQs,” Community College Research Center, https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/community-college-faqs.html.
** Saltmarch, Matthew. “Jill Biden Sats Community Colleges Are a Key U.S Export,” NYTimes, 7 July 2009, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/world/europe/08iht-biden.html?scp=11&sq=barack%20obama.
*** “Articulation Agreement.” Howard, https://www2.howard.edu/sites/default/files/HUArticulationAgreement.pdf.
† Ross, Kelly Mae, and Josh Moody. “Famous People Who Attended Community College,” U.S.News, 14 July 2020, https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/slideshows/famous-people-who-attended-community-college.
‡ Riskey, Erin. “Famous Community College Graduates,” Study.com, Nov. 2017, https://study.com/blog/famous-community-college-graduates.html.