Choosing the right college is one of the biggest decisions you can make; it shapes your future career and has the ability to set you up for success as an adult. The college application process is notorious for being stressful, time consuming and expensive. Most often, you will see droves of high school seniors applying to multiple state universities or private colleges, but there is one option that is often left completely overlooked: community college.
When polled, 23 RM students said that they perceived community college as a ‘bad start for their future’, while 48 said that they believe community college has the capacity to benefit students. At first glance, this might make it seem like most students view community college as a good choice, but if we’re being honest, would participants have answered the same way if asked face-to-face? One cannot help but wonder how truthful those answers would be.
Many students admit that when it comes to the college conversation, there is pressure to sound open-minded. Saying “community college is good” might feel like the acceptable answer, yet the heavy stigma around choosing to actually attend these institutions still lingers.
Before we continue, we need to understand the reasons behind this stigma around community college and what it is. The conversation around community college is a sensitive one. Research by the Community College Research Center at Columbia University defines the stereotype as “community college students are frequently deemed unmotivated or academically inferior.” We often undermine the students at community college even though three quarters of students from public school work while taking classes. 46 percent of them work full time and nearly 60 percent of them are fully financially independent adults.
Too often is community college viewed in a negative light. “A lot of people think that most students that didn’t do well in school go to community college,” freshman Ashley Savarn said. “People might even think of it as the easy way out,” sophomore Wendi Lee said.
Many students believe that community colleges present a more informal way of learning, but this notion is not at all true to the reality of the community college experience. Community college provides students with a sense of direction. For many, it is a place to explore different career paths before committing to a major at a four-year school. It gives students time to adjust to college level work, learn responsibility and build confidence. These are the same skills students would gain at any other university, just at a significantly more affordable price.
Many professors who have worked in a state institution have worked in a community college setting before. The reason? Professors need ways to earn experience before stepping into roles at large universities. So, while the professors in community colleges might not have the same experience as those teaching at state or private universities, it does not make them ‘less than’.
Everyone knows that college is one of the most expensive investments to make. A lot of students are still in debt after graduating, and continue to pay off college loans well into their adult years. But, you know who is not in debt? Community college students. By spending their first two years at community college they save thousands of dollars, and after finishing their two years, they can transfer to a more traditional college for a much lower cost than attending a four-year state or private university.
Another important thing to remember is that success is not defined by where you start, but instead by what you do with the opportunities that you are given. Community college students often work hard to balance classes, jobs and personal responsibilities. Their determination and effort deserve the same level of respect as any other college student’s.
Just like any other option, community college has both advantages and disadvantages. While it is not perfect, it is a solid plan that deserves serious consideration. It is time we stop treating it like a lesser path and start recognizing that it can be helpful for many. It offers opportunities, affordability, and a chance to grow, just like any other school.
