Being a high school senior means not knowing what you are doing next weekend, but being expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life.
Being a high school senior means not knowing what you are doing next weekend, but being expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life.
Although I graduated two years ago, the decisions I made my senior year still affect me today, but I would not change it. It is an unfortunate truth, choosing not to go straight to a four-year college and many times met with such disdain. Many people assume that community college students are unmotivated and lazy. This could not be farther from the truth. College is about exploring interests and at $46 per unit and the option of fee waivers, there is less of a chance of going into debt while testing the waters at a community college.
Throughout high school I stayed on the four-year university track and kept my grades high. As a first generation college student though, I had no idea what the process was for applying to college and as a result nearly missed the deadline. For those who plan to apply, it is important to know that most applications are due in the fall semester. Despite the odds, I applied on the last possible day.
When spring came, so did the acceptance letters. Countless times, people asked why I chose to go to a community college instead of a four year. It is because neatly tucked into the congratulatory messages was the infamous college price tag. People have said that you cannot put a price on education, but the numbers these colleges provided beg to differ. Even with scholarships and financial aid, universities are extremely costly. Community colleges are a great option for those who want to continue their education, but do not have the funds to do it anywhere else. They are a good option for anybody. Those who start at a community college and then transfer to a four year are often better prepared and having their general education requirements taken care of, they pay half the price. In the end, a bachelor’s degree is still the same degree, no matter how obtained.
Community colleges do have a bad reputation as being educational quickstand. You only get caught if you let yourself. With smaller class sizes and teachers who genuinely care, there is an opportunity to build a solid support group as well as network with professors. My best references have come from professors that I have kept in contact with.
To avoid getting stuck, it is also important to plan semesters out instead of going into them blindly. Too many students never see a counselor to map out what classes they need to take and as a result they find themselves in the same place for a long time. They turn a two year college into a six year stint.
Negative stigmas attached to community colleges need to be eliminated. It does not just have to be a last resort. Nobody should be shamed for their choice to continue their education.
