As a lot of you know, Iāve just graduated from my local community college. Attending there was no-doubt the best option for me, especially since it allowed me to get almost two years of college done before I graduated high school. Despite the reputation it often gets, Iām a huge fan of community colleges.
advantages of community college
First of all, itās much more affordable that traditional four-year schools
But you still get a high-quality education!
Quite a few of my teacher graduated from Ivy League schools, and all of them were really knowledgeable in their fields.Ā
Smaller class sizes = you get to know your teachers
You can live at home and stay close to friends, family, and the job you already have (plus no moving or cramped dorms!)
Youāre taking the same classes you would be at a university for way less, since the first two years are all general ed requirements wherever you go
what to know before you go
Itās not going to be a breeze. The classes will be just as hard (if not harder in some cases) as their university counterparts. Youāre getting a serious education, so youāll have to put in serious work.
It may be a little tougher to make friends, since unlike universities everyone goes home at the end of the day. That being said, itās totally possible! You just have to be intentional and reach out to people in your classes
Itās not full of slackers, like the stereotype says. In fact, itās pretty much the opposite. Most of my classmates were paying their own way through school, meaning that they actually wanted to be there and learn as much as they could. I met some of the most dedicated and hardworking people in my classes at cc.Ā
Know your long-term plan as soon as possible. If youāll be transferring after, itās good to know if the classes youāre taking will transfer to where youāll be going.Ā
Related: meet with your advisor often. Even though it wasnāt required, I went in to see my advisor before every semester, just to make sure that I was still on track and that all the classes I was taking were beneficial.
Get to know your teachers. Iāve found that cc teachers genuinely care for their students, so itās super beneficial to get to know them in case you need help in that class or even in the future. Iāve had past teachers help me out with projects for other classes and write reference letters.Ā
Donāt just go to class and go home! Get involved in any way that you can, even if that just means studying in the library instead of your living room. Youāll get so much more out of your time there if you actually invest your time there ā get to know people around campus!
Take advantage of any resources they have! At my school there were career counselors, free tutors, loads of books/movies available at the library, an open gym, and a ton more. Not to mention all the discounts you can get with your student ID!
Join clubs, if theyāre available. Theyāll look good on future applications and youāll make great friends!
Look for other opportunities on campus ā I participated in several art shows and wrote for the literature and arts journal, and they were both really great experiences for me. Find things to be a part of, and you may be surprised to find a new interest!
Overall, community college is a really great option for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. Donāt let people tell you that youāre not just as smart and determined as university students if thatās where you decide to go! Go forth and totally kill it, my future community college students.Ā
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