Reasons to consider a community college

Fast Fact: The College Board reports that the average published tuition and fees for 2005"2006 is $2,191 for public two-year colleges, $5,491 for public four-year colleges and universities, and $21,235 for private nonprofit four-year colleges.

• You can get in and get started. So your grades aren't or weren't so great, or your SAT or ACT scores weren't stellar. The door to college hasn't been slammed in your face. Community college gives you a chance at a college education.

  Rather than delay your education, take advantage of community college's open admissions policy and get started. Build a stronger academic record that can help you transfer to a four-year college, or choose a more direct route to a career. The longer you wait, the longer before you achieve your goals.

• You can stay close to home. Community colleges are usually located where you live or are usually within easy reach. Many of them have a main campus and branch campuses so that you have easy and convenient access to their services without living on campus.

"I could have attended a four-year institution first, but I chose Montgomery College because of its excellent reputation, affordable cost, and closeness to home. I saved enough money in two years to ensure that my last two years at Rutgers University wouldn't be a financial burden. I got an excellent education and had opportunities I might not have had as a freshman or sophomore at a four-year school, including a two-week study-abroad program at Cambridge University."- Judith Martinez, Montgomery College (Maryland)

• You can get a flexible schedule. You can find a schedule of courses that fits into your personal schedule. Community colleges are geared to students who work full time or part time and who have families and other commitments. They are open days, evenings, and weekends, and you can study part time or full time. In addition, distance learning courses"online, video, television"offer students an alternative means of taking coursework that is often adjustable to any schedule.

• You can get help with the basics. Community colleges are focused on your success. If you need additional help with the basics"writing, reading, mathematics, science, study skills"they will help you gain or strengthen these skills through basic developmental skills classes. So if you missed out on the basics in high school or have forgotten some of them because you've been out of school for a while, you'll have an opportunity to catch up before you plunge into college-level classes. The aim is to help you be successful in your coursework.

Most community colleges also have special programs and services for students who are at risk academically. If English is not your first language, you'll also be in the right place, as there are special programs to help you.

• You can be the center of attention. Community colleges generally offer smaller classes and more individual student attention than many four-year colleges. Although faculty members do conduct research and publish, their main focus is on teaching you.

  Small class size and more personal attention help many students gain confidence and thrive academically. Tutoring, learning resource centers, and many forms of assistance are also available to help you succeed.

• You can test-drive the college experience. You may be undecided about whether or not you are ready for college, or if you even want to go to college. A two-year experience can help you gain the skills and confidence to go on to four-year schools. Or, it can help you decide you'd rather learn a technical skill and start your career. Either way, you always have the option to continue your education in the future.

• You can take time to adjust. Making the change from high school to college is a big adjustment. Sometimes, it's just too much to handle all at once. High school students who enroll in four-year institutions often find that they get sidetracked by campus social life, are homesick, or simply don't do well in their studies. Sometimes, life at the college or university that you chose just isn't what you expected.

If you're not ready to be on your own, community college is a great option. You can continue to live at home, get your feet wet at college, and focus on your studies. Community college can be an excellent bridge between high school and a four-year institution.

SNAPSHOT: Whitney Gentile enrolled in a state university in Texas, but found that the experience of a large campus wasn't what she anticipated. "I discovered that I couldn't just major in theater arts, which was what I wanted to do. Instead, I had to take a major in each of four different areas: dance, music, theater, art. I was exhausted trying to meet all the requirements. It was also hard being 18 and moving away from everything I knew even though I had some friends from home on campus. I've been working for a while and deciding what to do. I'm going to enroll in my local community college"Montgomery Community College (Texas). I plan to take some of my core courses before enrolling in another four-year school, probably to major in French. Going to community college will help me get refocused and not lose too much time."

• You can explore your options. Community colleges offer a broad range of vocational and technical studies, as well as liberal arts and science coursework.

  Through the college's career center, academic counseling, and other support services, you can explore what it takes to jump-start a career in fields as varied as accounting, culinary arts, criminal justice, nursing, or computer technology. You can also take courses without credit to see if a certain field is right for you, or to improve your readiness to enter the world of work. You can even enroll in a vocational or technical course such as automotive technology at the same time you're studying art, history, or another subject in a general studies or liberal arts and science track.

• You can chart a pathway to a four-year institution of your choice. Preparing students to transfer to a four-year institution is one of the original purposes of community college. Many four-year colleges and community colleges, especially those in the same state, have agreements to accept credits from community colleges toward the baccalaureate degree. Many state educational systems give first priority to transfer students from in-state community colleges to their four-year institutions. High-achieving students from community colleges are also accepted at prestigious four-year institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and Smith College. See Chapter 10 for more information about the transfer process and requirements.

FAST FACT: A long-term study of students first enrolled in public two-year institutions in 1995-1996 showed that 9 out of 10 enrolled with the intention of obtaining a formal credential (such as a certificate or degree) or of transferring to a four-year institution.

• You can enter the workforce faster with a career-oriented degree. Community colleges offer many programs leading directly to a career. You can earn a two-year associate's degree or enter a shorter-term certificate program (usually a year or less) that offers intensive training in a specialized field. These programs are often not available at four-year institutions.

  Moreover, studies show repeatedly that education translates into greater earnings over your lifetime. Individuals with an associate's degree or technical and vocational certificates consistently earn more than those who have only a high school diploma. The more education you have, the greater your earning potential.

FAST FACT: Graduates with an associate's degree can expect to earn more than $1.6 million in their lifetimes, about $400,000 more than someone with only a high school diploma.

• You can connect with employers. Community colleges are networked with your potential employers. They know what fields are "hot" and what skills the market demands because they ask employers what they need. Community colleges often revise their coursework based on advice from employers.

  Community colleges also offer internships, cooperative education opportunities, and community service learning programs that can give you a competitive edge in finding a job after you graduate or in getting accepted by a four-year college or university.

• You can stay competitive in your field or start a new career. Community colleges offer a great opportunity for you to upgrade skills to help you in your current job, or to learn new ones that will help you find a new position in the same or a different field. Many employers partner with community colleges to provide employees with specific training to keep them current with changes in their fields. Some employers will pay for job-related coursework.

• You can expand your mind. Community colleges are great places to explore a subject just for the fun of learning. Many adults enroll in continuing education courses to pursue a personal interest, such as learning a language or getting a grip on personal finances. Sometimes, this experience can motivate you to enroll in an academic or vocational program and earn a certificate or degree, or go on to a four-year school.