Although many students would believe that going to a four year college is part of “the norm,” many brush past the idea of community college, a subject usually thought of as an alternative instead of attending a four year college.
Even though many students typically head off to four year colleges after graduating from high school, a fair amount also attend community college before transferring to a four year college. There are currently 1,123 community colleges spanning the United States, and many students who believe a four year college is too large a jump from high school opt for community college instead, spending a few years refining their skills and taking the necessary classes to transfer to a four year college. Out of Menlo-Atherton’s class of 2014 graduates, around 33 percent of students chose to attend community college.
According to the Community College Research Center, 45 percent of high school graduates are enrolled in community college. The reason for such a large number of students is a direct result of the low tuition to attend, costing around $2,200 with grants and up to $4,552 without grants according to U.S. News. Due to this immense gap, many students find community college appealing, as they can pay less money by going to community college and transferring to a four year university instead of immediately going to a four year college. Many students coming from low-income families or other backgrounds find community college a more realistic option. Other students feel community college simply suits them more than a four year university. Senior Ina Franke, who is planning on attending community college this fall, believes that “community college can offer the same education and help someone figure out what they want to do before transferring to a college with a good program for that major.”
The AACC, or American Association of Community Colleges, states that community college is a “vital part of the post-secondary education delivery system” as it “prepares students for transfer to four year institutions, and provides workforce development and skills training.” By choosing to attend community college, students are given a substantial range of programs to choose from along with small class sizes and the ability to take specific classes if transferring to a four year college is a goal for the future. And with Obama’s recent proposal to lower the community college cost for students to zero, many are thinking about community college and the benefits it holds. “[Community college] is more practical, since you can plan time commitment more loosely (if you need to) and it’s cheaper, which allows you to save money for later,” says senior Sophi Bock.
Alice Kleeman, the college and career adviser, hosts a yearly Community College night, where she educates students and families about community college. On this night, she discusses the process of applying, and has visitors from local community colleges participate in a panel. She believes community college is a great option for students involved in financial issues or students who were accepted to four year colleges, but not ones they felt suited them. She believes students are given a second chance at community college, as community college “opens up every college option again” if transferring becomes a possibility in the future. Although there is no doubt a four year university is a better fit for some students, it is not necessarily for everyone. Kleeman believes that “it is not possible to say [one college] is better than the other without really knowing the student, the student’s goals, and knowing the student’s capabilities and interests.”
Although many students would believe that going to a four year college is part of “the norm,” many brush past the idea of community college, a subject usually thought of as an alternative instead of attending a four year college.Even though many students typically head off to four year colleges after graduating from high school, a fair amount also attend community college before transferring to a four year college. There are currently 1,123 community colleges spanning the United States, and many students who believe a four year college is too large a jump from high school opt for community college instead, spending a few years refining their skills and taking the necessary classes to transfer to a four year college. Out of Menlo-Atherton’s class of 2014 graduates, around 33 percent of students chose to attend community college.
According to the Community College Research Center, 45 percent of high school graduates are enrolled in community college. The reason for such a large number of students is a direct result of the low tuition to attend, costing around $2,200 with grants and up to $4,552 without grants according to U.S. News. Due to this immense gap, many students find community college appealing, as they can pay less money by going to community college and transferring to a four year university instead of immediately going to a four year college. Many students coming from low-income families or other backgrounds find community college a more realistic option. Other students feel community college simply suits them more than a four year university. Senior Ina Franke, who is planning on attending community college this fall, believes that “community college can offer the same education and help someone figure out what they want to do before transferring to a college with a good program for that major.”
The AACC, or American Association of Community Colleges, states that community college is a “vital part of the post-secondary education delivery system” as it “prepares students for transfer to four year institutions, and provides workforce development and skills training.” By choosing to attend community college, students are given a substantial range of programs to choose from along with small class sizes and the ability to take specific classes if transferring to a four year college is a goal for the future. And with Obama’s recent proposal to lower the community college cost for students to zero, many are thinking about community college and the benefits it holds. “[Community college] is more practical, since you can plan time commitment more loosely (if you need to) and it’s cheaper, which allows you to save money for later,” says senior Sophi Bock.
Alice Kleeman, the college and career adviser, hosts a yearly Community College night, where she educates students and families about community college. On this night, she discusses the process of applying, and has visitors from local community colleges participate in a panel. She believes community college is a great option for students involved in financial issues or students who were accepted to four year colleges, but not ones they felt suited them. She believes students are given a second chance at community college, as community college “opens up every college option again” if transferring becomes a possibility in the future. Although there is no doubt a four year university is a better fit for some students, it is not necessarily for everyone. Kleeman believes that “it is not possible to say [one college] is better than the other without really knowing the student, the student’s goals, and knowing the student’s capabilities and interests.”