Top Five Reasons To Attend A Community College

Why would you consider attending a community college over a traditional four year college or university?  Years ago, most high school students thought of community colleges as a ‘Plan B’, or as an alternative to the traditional four year college.  Now a days more and more students are opting for community colleges, for all the right reasons. 

Here are the top five reasons to attend a community college

1. Cost

Tuition for the typical community college is significantly less than private college and universities, as much as 50% to 90% less. 

2. Location

There is practically a community college in every major town.  Many students commute by bus or train.  There is no need to move across the country to attend a four year college or university.  You can live at home and save on cost.    

3. Easier Transition

Community Colleges provide courses for transfer toward a Bachelor’s degree.  The money you save on completing your lower level courses and pre-requisites for a four year degree is substantial. 

4. To Increase Your G.P.A.

If your grade point average (G.P.A.) in high school is lower than needed to gain acceptance to the college of your choice, then you can still pursue college level course work at community colleges.  Community colleges are open to anyone with a high school diploma or G.E.D. (General Education Diploma).  Once you have successfully completed your Associates Degree with a higher G.P.A., you can then apply to four year colleges as a transfer student.

5. Job Skills

Community Colleges provide entry level career training for those students looking to go right into industry and for adult students who seek professional development for re-entry into the workforce or advancement.  Most community colleges grant certificates that certify you to work in specialized fields such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), computer technologies, paralegal, nurse’s aid, and more.

The Best Way To Evaluate A College Is By Visiting The College Campus

There are many ways to evaluate a college to see if it's the right fit for you; but the best way to evaluate a college is by visiting the campus itself.  The first thing you must do, before you do anything else, is to do your research online - it’s free and you don’t need to leave home.  The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). It is composed of almost 6,000 colleges and universities. It contains comparative databases on all of them. You can evaluate every one of these 6,000 colleges and universities by location, size, major, acceptance rate, academics, athletics, etc.  After you’ve narrowed your search down to a manageable size, you can then proceed to the college’s own website. If you’ve already done your research and learned all that you can from the college website, then your goal should be to capture the mood, the vibe, and all the personal impressions and interesting facts that can only be gained by an in person visit. There is no substitute for the personal experience that is unique to you.  The buildings and grounds, the administration, the faculty, the students all have their own voice and impression to leave on you.  Visit the classrooms, the dorms, and the dining halls.  Talk to the administration, the faculty, and the current students.  Take photos and jot down notes.  You won’t remember everything you saw, heard, or felt; but the overall impression will help you make a more informed decision.  So, visit the campuses.  It is the best way to evaluate a college. 

Last Word –

If you do end up applying to the college you already visited, there is always a spot on the application where the question is asked, “Have you ever visited our campus?”  You will score huge points if the answer is yes!