The lingering question on any high school student’s mind is what to do after graduation. The options are endless and can be overwhelming, even for the most prepared student. College ranks at the top of the list for most. Recently, higher education has seen its biggest boost since its inception, however, within the realm of college, lies a whole world of additional concerns. Parents are by no means exempt for these worries. They are just as involved, and even more invested, in the paths their children will take after high school graduation.
If college is the preferred path, many times the immediate follow up option is the consideration of attending a community college instead of a traditional four year university. With the improved and more competitive curricula community colleges now offer, the once held stigma of a lesser experience is quickly diminishing.
Advantages of Community College
If you weigh the pros and cons of a four year university against the pros and cons of a community college, you would end up with an exhaustive list. A more efficient approach would be to explore the advantages of a community college and then make a decision based on whether your needs could be met there. If you find that they could not, then feel free to move on to exploring traditional universities.
One of the most apparent advantages of attending a community college, is the cost. Priced at approximately $10000.00 to $20000.00 less than traditional four year universities, it’s a no brainer.
Another plus is the ease of transition from high school. College is a huge shock to every aspect of a young student’s life. Large classrooms, lack of supervision, and the sheer responsibility of being out on your own, can cause varied actions from students. Community college is set up in a way that is more similar to the environment students have come to know in high school. Because of this, community college tends to cause less of a shell shock reaction.
Living expenses of community college students are usually slim to none. Why? Because a large percentage of students who choose community college end up living at home with their parents. This has a domino effect. Transportation, meal costs and out of state fees are also significantly less or non-existent.
Options after community college.
It’s common knowledge that transferring to a four year university is pretty easy for a community college graduate. Statistics show that community college graduates who transfer to traditional four year universities perform better than other students and there is also a higher rate of graduation amongst transfer students.
Many factors can be attributed to this statistic. However, it is likely because the community college transfer students are familiar with school life, and they have also mastered the multiple responsibilities associated with school and work-life balance.
Community college does not have to be seen, only, as a gateway to a four year college. There are also many employment opportunities worth pursuing that are available to graduates with two year degrees.
If you are unsure about your major, how you will finance school, or your ability to adjust and perform well academically, definitely give the community college route some serious consideration. It will save you a lot of headache and financial burden in the future. Take the time to figure out what works best for you. Also, keep in mind that community college is no longer perceived as a secondary option. It is just as viable an option for any high school graduate as any other traditional four year university
