It's spring, which means that high school seniors all over are trying to determine what their next step is in life. Some may choose to go right into work, others may choose a vocational school, technical school, massage therapy, college, university, community college, the list goes on and on of available options.
The two main things I have heard throughout my senior year are community colleges and universities, so I'm going to talk about that.
Let's face the facts, most seniors just want to graduate and get school over with so that they can have independence and go do whatever the heck they want. Most are smart enough to realize that a high school diploma won't do that much, so they look into college. So when the options are layed out in front of them, most jump directly to a community college. You don't have to have the greatest grades to get in, you can take really easy classes to start out with, it's easier to work, most of your friends will be there still, etc. Then they look into a university. At least four years to receiver a bachelor's degree, choosing a major, living in a dorm, having to keep grades up, more expensive than a community college, etc.
http://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/Publication.asp?UID=344
I found this site and I feel that it has really good information on community colleges and their graduation rates. Students aren't as likely to finish a full degree program when they attend a community college. It's easier to party, stray away from studying, or just ease your way along. It could take many more years to receive a degree than if you just went to a university in the first place. Now yes there is partying in universities, we all know that, but students are confined to an environment of learning and getting their degree done. That's what they have advisors and counselors for, so that the students stay on track and get their degree(s) done in a timely fashion. Many have limits as to how long you can take to get your degree.
Personally, I think that students should start considering universities more so that the drop out rates aren't so high and people may actually do something with their education. You've been in school for 12 years, so what is another 4 going to do? And those 4 years are going to be focused on something you love to do, not subjects that you consider dull and boring.
So what is your opinion on the situation? Are community colleges worth going to or should you just jump straight into a university and get all of your education done with?
My Dad is the Vice President of Edison Comunity College. I could go there for free if I wanted to, but Instead I am going to Cedarville University. I take PSEO and I feal that the classes I take there are from under qualified and professors, and are not as good as classes at High School. I wanted to be challenged and away from my parents, so I am going to Cedarville University this fall. If you go to a community college the major reason is money, or your grades. A lot of the people that go to Edison are also adults. When you have allready settled down, have kids, or have a job, it is just not practical to go to a university.
It's still practical to go to a university after having kids and a job. Most people are just too lazy to put in the work required to do so. I agree with you that the education is worse at a community college. As an instructor at a university, I've seen it firsthand.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder
I think that going to a community college first can be a good thing. I started at a community college. I mainly went because of money and somewhat for my grades. While I was there I got very good grades. I was inducted into PTK, a community college honor society. After this I applied to several Universities and was accepted to Tulane University and Colombia College in Missouri. Colombia offered me half tuition and Tulane offered me a $10,000 scholarship both because I was a member of PTK. Without going to a community college I would probably have not been offered these scholarships or been accepted to either of these schools. One thing about the drop out rate of community colleges, you have to look at the kind people and reasons why people go there. Some people who did not do well in high school are more likely to go to a community college then a university or college. So these people may decide that college is not what they wish to do so they drop out. Also, some people only take a few classes. They do not go for a degree.
Yay Phi Theta Kappans! :]
Après la pluie le beau temps. ♥
Thanks for addressing that. My friends think that community college is a place for failure but it's not. They just don't get it even if i try to explain.
in my opinon better. If you go to a university and for some reason have to live off campus your paying so much more which is bull crap because why should you pay more to live off campus then on campus!!!! My top choices right now are hacc or the art institute of philly and you have to take 2-4 year classes there. And if you go to a community college and live on your own instead of in a dorm you get a feel for the REAL world, i think that living in a dorm is more like still living at home and there way to many rules. Once your 18 your an adult and wheather you live in a dorm or off campus you should be able to decide what you do and if you live in a dorm you have alot of rules.
"but students are confined to an environment of learning and getting their degree done. That's what they have advisors and counselors for, so that the students stay on track and get their degree(s) done in a timely fashion. Many have limits as to how long you can take to get your degree."
I am confined to an environment of learning. I have advisors and counselors too. And in actuality, most schools do not have a time limit. I have never heard of that anyways. I know somebody who just entered his upper division and he is 23. He has been attending SDSU for 5 consecutive years. The average time it takes (as we all know) is now 5 years not 4. Many CC students stay on track.
The reason the percentages make it seem like CC students have higher drop out percentages due to the fact there are LESS students. A CC is around the size of a large high school. A University can be anywhere from a large high school to over 40,000 students. So you really can't compare the statistics.
Après la pluie le beau temps. ♥
Education, no matter where you are, is what you make of it.
I'm starting on my 3rd year at a community college and I'm preparing to transfer in the fall to a four year university. So its not necessarily that it has to be one or the other. For alot of people, community colleges are just a means to get to a four-year university. And, depending on what four year university you go to, you have more of a chance to have one-on-one guidance from a professor. And, the teachers at community colleges aren't 3rd rate or anything. My psychology professor had a doctorate degree, he graduated from Harvard and he had lots of years of experience in the field.
And I know what you're thinking...I'm on my THIRD year at a community college that should only take 2 years. But Its not that bad. I didn't really know what to major in until some of my teachers inspired me to major in English so my first whole year, I was major-less without any real academic agenda. And I'd rather spend a few hundred dollars a credit hour trying to figure out what I want to major in, then do the same thing at a university where it would probably cost me an arm and a leg.
So in my opinion, it all depends on the individual. For some a 4 year university is better and for some its not. And as far as community college students partying all the time, for those who do party all the time aren't serious about school regardless of where it is. So if they had gone to a four year university they probably would have dropped out anyway. And like I said at the beginning, its what you make it. If your in school to learn and better yourself it will show.