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I thought I'd start a thread on Community/Junior Colleges since there was a fair amount of bashing going on in some threads.
I went the traditional college route at age 17, got into a number of Top 25 schools and picked one. Never back then would I have dreamed of 'degrading' myself and attending a CC.
Since then, I have gone to undergraduate, graduate school and worked with people who have attended CC. Back in undergrad, some of them were so smart and hard working, I'd ask them "Why did you go to CC? Why didn't you just go to 4 year?"
The answers ranged from $ to they were too busy or lazy to be a very good student in HS. But they were at 4 year. VERY good students. Better than a lot of the 'native' years.
So, I'd like some others to share their stories about attending CC or meeting those who did.
I went to a CC straight out of high school because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I got my associate's and then worked a few years. After I got things figured out, I went to a university. I went in as a junior with all of my core classes completed, so all I had to do was focus on my major. I eventually went all the way through a PhD program and am now a college professor. I see more students waste time and money at a 4 year, changing majors umpteen times, failing classes, and eventually dropping out (heavily in debt) when they should have spent a few years at a CC getting themselves figured out before making a decision (choosing a major/career) that will alter the course of one's life.
I owe CC a lot. When I was younger in high school, my parents had forced me to drop out. They never wanted me to go to college. I waited the good seven years before turning 24, then enrolled myself. If it wasn't for a CC, I'd never get the chance to go to college.
I was working full time in the day and going to CC at night. They did a lot more to accommodate their evening students than the 4 year schools in those days, not sure about now. Transferred to 4 yr school for my junior/senior years. Still finished my degree at night. Graduated with zero debt.
I recommend community college to everyone for the first two years of a 4 year degree if the student has only a vague idea of what they want to do with their life. I also recommend it to everyone who is working their way through school. And I really recommend it to students who don't get the college of their choice. It's a lot easier to get into the 4 year school you want to go to as a transferring junior than as a freshman, in my opinion...simply because of college dropouts. Only caution that when you go to CC you know in advance which transfer credits the 4 year school will accept.
Bachelor's degree looks the same if you went to a CC for the first two years or to the 4 yr school for all 4 years.
I went to a CC straight out of high school because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I got my associate's and then worked a few years. After I got things figured out, I went to a university. I went in as a junior with all of my core classes completed, so all I had to do was focus on my major. I eventually went all the way through a PhD program and am now a college professor. I see more students waste time and money at a 4 year, changing majors umpteen times, failing classes, and eventually dropping out (heavily in debt) when they should have spent a few years at a CC getting themselves figured out before making a decision (choosing a major/career) that will alter the course of one's life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MAniacTHW
I owe CC a lot. When I was younger in high school, my parents had forced me to drop out. They never wanted me to go to college. I waited the good seven years before turning 24, then enrolled myself. If it wasn't for a CC, I'd never get the chance to go to college.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LauraC
I was working full time in the day and going to CC at night. They did a lot more to accommodate their evening students than the 4 year schools in those days, not sure about now. Transferred to 4 yr school for my junior/senior years. Still finished my degree at night. Graduated with zero debt.
I recommend community college to everyone for the first two years of a 4 year degree if the student has only a vague idea of what they want to do with their life. I also recommend it to everyone who is working their way through school. And I really recommend it to students who don't get the college of their choice. It's a lot easier to get into the 4 year school you want to go to as a transferring junior than as a freshman, in my opinion...simply because of college dropouts. Only caution that when you go to CC you know in advance which transfer credits the 4 year school will accept.
Bachelor's degree looks the same if you went to a CC for the first two years or to the 4 yr school for all 4 years.
Thanks guys. I love the responses. Out of curiosity, were you good students in HS?
And I really recommend it to students who don't get the college of their choice. It's a lot easier to get into the 4 year school you want to go to as a transferring junior than as a freshman, in my opinion...simply because of college dropouts. Only caution that when you go to CC you know in advance which transfer credits the 4 year school will accept.
Bachelor's degree looks the same if you went to a CC for the first two years or to the 4 yr school for all 4 years.
Yes, but . . .
Transfers form a CC to a demanding university can be problematic. Say someone who is interested in math attends CC for two years and then manages to transfer to Stanford or Brown as an incoming junior. That student will be buried alive in the new program. I saw this happen several times when I was an undergrad at a big-name school, even for kids transferring in from respectable four-year colleges.
I can imagine someone reading this and thinking "Why? Calculus is the same at Cal Tech as at my CC." Well, it's not. There is far more emphasis at (say) Cal Tech on proofs and theoretical underpinnings. Also, the instructor may well include advanced topics from real analysis in the first-year course (whether that course be called "calculus" or something else).
The same kind of problem occurs in most of the rigorous disciplines, including physics, physical chemistry, engineering, and probably economics and finance.
Transfers form a CC to a demanding university can be problematic. Say someone who is interested in math attends CC for two years and then manages to transfer to Stanford or Brown as an incoming junior. That student will be buried alive in the new program. I saw this happen several times when I was an undergrad at a big-name school, even for kids transferring in from respectable four-year colleges.
I disagree. I went to Berkeley, majored in STEM and some of the transfer students were at the top of the class. Of course, perhaps only the top community college students were accepted, but still, that's irrelevant to your point.
Are you aware that you can get a Masters degree in engineering without having a bachelors in engineering? They make you take a few make up courses and then throw you right in. Smart people make up the lacking background fairly quickly.
Could you argue that STEM is more rigorous at Stanford and Cal Tech than Berkeley? Yes. At Brown? I'd say not really. Could you argue that STEM is so much more rigorous at Stanford and Cal Tech than Berkeley so that it's the difference between a CC student doing well and completely floundering? I wouldn't but even if you did, that's just 2 schools in the entire nation. CC students will be fine anywhere else.
I went to a CC for the first two years since the courses transferred and were way cheaper.
You have to do your research though because I remember the counselors were not that at all helpful.
Introduction to Art is the same no matter if taken at a university or CC.
Most of the classes the first 2 years are just more in dept general ed.
There may have been one or two electives in my major that I needed for catch up but the money I saved was worth it.
Our public universities have published equivalency lists for courses from our two year schools. Transfer credit is guaranteed. Some of the four year schools offer guaranteed admission to students who complete a two year associates degree at the community colleges. At roughly 1/3 the cost, they are a great way for some students to get their bachelor degrees. The degrees they eventually get don't have an asterisk on them.
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