Most of us follow a similiar path in our early years of education. It’s not until the end of high school that we get to start planning our next step, and paving our own path. While there are many forms of higher education, each honorable in their own right, it seems as though our society has developed a stigma against certain avenues of higher learning. Community college is commonly looked down upon and labeled “easy” and “cheap.” Well, I’m here to tear down the stereotype and inform you on some of the major benefits of community college.
When I graduated from high school in 2013 I made the decision to attend community college instead of moving away to attend a “traditional” 4-year institution like many of my friends. Nobody forced me- it wasn’t a consequence, or a last resort. I mindfully, and willingly, chose to attend community college for the numerous benefits and appealing qualities.
I absolutely despise the way our society looks down upon community college and the people who choose that path. There are so many misinformed and judgemental ideas floating around and they apply such a negative undertone to community colleges. I wish more people saw the positive, beneficial, and supportive elements. The year and a half I spent as a full-time community college student was absolutely incredible and it granted me so many opportunities for my future.
You Can Take Your Credits With You Anywhere!
Community College classes are designed to be transferrable, so if you choose to transfer to a 4-year school then you will be able to apply those credits towards your degree. Many people don’t know this, but not all college credits are equal or transferable. In fact, MOST credits at a traditional 4-year institution are specialized and specific to that school’s cirriculum, so if you try to transfer, other instiutions will likely not accept those credits. For example, I took a class called Research Writing at a 4-year institution while I was studying to become a Psychologist. The following year I transferred to film school, and they made me retake Research Writing at their institution. My old school had a strong focus in childhood development and psychology, so the curriculum for my Research Writing class was geared towards this specialty. If the material in the class had been more general, and less focused in a specific theme, then it would be considered “transferable” and likely accepted at my school.
I lost quite a few credits through that second college transfer process (from psychology to film), but every single credit I earned in community college was accepted at both institutions- without question. If you take classes at a community college, you never have to worry about your time or money going to waste because those credits will follow you anywhere.
More Time for a Side Gig
This was easily one of the greatest advantages of community college for me. I found it very natural having a job on my “off-days” where I wasn’t attending classes- because your advisors help you to design your class schedule around your work commitments- instead of the other way around. When you are living on a campus at a 4-year institution, you are surrounded by pressure to join a dozen clubs, try out for an intramural sports team, or attend some campus social. It’s easy to fill your time and get absorbed by the campus lifestyle. This makes it harder to find time, and motivation, to maintain a part-time job during your free time. Sure, it’s absolutely possible to live on a campus and still clock into a part-time job after class- my point is that it’s just more difficult. At a 4-year school you’ll likely be surrounded by students who DON’T have part-time jobs and won’t understand or be mindful of your schedule.
In community college, most people operate under the mindset “get in, get out.” You attend your classes, and then you get back to your responsibilities off campus. Your life is not centralized around the campus community, and everyone has their own routine that is totally independent of the college itself. It felt good to have an income while attending classes so I wasn’t stressing about money as much- and also it kept me on track. I did better in my classes when I had a part-time job on the side because my life was much more structured and organized, in order to maintain both schedules. Procrastination wasn’t really an option anymore because I had less free-time to ponder those long-term projects.
Give Yourself A Second Chance
If you had your sights set on a specific college but you didn’t get accepted, you don’t have to give up on that dream for yourself. High School is a difficult time and we aren’t always the best versions of ourselves, academically. Sometimes your high school GPA doesn’t accurately reflect the kind of student you are in present day- and colleges just need proof that you’ve improved. Community college is a great options for students that want to spend a year, or two, boosting their GPA so that they can reapply and get into their dream school. I personally made a few mistakes in High School that I needed to correct, and Community College gave me a place to improve and better myself. (Check out my blog post The 5 Best Mistakes I Made In High School)
(Quick Clarification: Community college classes are NOT easy- so I am not recommending community college as a “simple” grade boost- If you chose this route you would need to apply the necessary effort and energy into your school work. You can’t just glide through community college- the courses do require work! I just felt the need to clarify that.)
Figure Yourself Out- In An Affordable Way!
This was one of the main reasons I chose to go to community college right after high school. At that time in my life, I had no interest in attending college at all, but it was important to my parents. I knew I wasn’t going to attend an expensive 4 year institution and waste my parents money while I “figured things out.” That seemed selfish and counterproductive to me, so I made the decision to attend community college while I pursued other passions of mine on the side. After about a year and half, I did eventually choose to transfer to a traditional 4-year school, I was glad that I had plenty of transferable credits to take with me- without the suffocating debt!
Get The Basics Down, Without The Debt
Let’s be honest, you’re not learning anything particularly interesting during your Freshmen year of college. Every college freshmen has to check off their “Gen-Ed” (general education) requirements, before they can take classes specific to their major. If you know you have to get those credits out of the way first, wouldn’t it make sense to take the more affordable option? Your community college tuition would be a fraction of the amount you’d pay at a 4-year institution. Student debt can loom over you many years after your college education is complete- so do yourself a favor and consider some more affordable options, even if it’s only temporary.
Get an Associate Degree or Certification
Not every career calls for a tradition 4-year college education and a Bachelor’s degree. Community colleges offer 2 year associate degree programs, as well as certification courses and workforce development. Education is not “one-size-fits-all” so take some time to explore all of your options. Success, intelligence, and self worth are not determined a college degree so don’t buy into harmful stigmas that degrade alternative degree options.
Don’t just take my word for it- Check out these great articles explaining the benefits of Community College…
Helpful Resources
- Money Crashers: Attending Community College for 2 Years To Save Money
- US News: 10 Reasons to Attend A Community College
- Big Future: Community College FAQ
- The Princeton Review: 4 Reasons to Consider Community College
- Forbes: Drop The Shame
- Texas Southmost College; Advantages of Attending a Community College
