So, you have decided to go to college. Whether you are continuing your education or returning to school, I think that asking yourself if you should attend community college or university is an important question. I have attended both systems and find benefits to each. Of course, if your goals are more suited to one or the other then it might be a rather simple decision, but for those of you who aren't sure, here are some things to consider.
Community College:
- less expensive, even less if you live within the community in which the college is located
- scholarships and grants available and sometimes there is less competition for them, and they are easier to apply for
- more emphasis on teaching from your professors
- more flexibility in scheduling, more classes offered in the evenings
- less of the "college feel" not as much emphasis on social factors like clubs, but they do exist
- smaller classes, more personalized assistance from professors
- no housing on campus
- no research opportunities with professors in most cases
- excellent job placement services and opportunities
You might consider community college a good option for the long or short term if you fall into one of the following categories. If you had difficulty in high school, or haven't attended school in many years, and even if you found it so easy that you never studied and still passed your classes. The bottom line in these situations is....how are your study skills? The community college environment offers a college level education with more assistance from your professors, sort of like an advanced high school class. It can be a real shock to some students entering college that so much is expected of them, and often if you are unprepared for this it can be discouraging to the point of giving up. There is no shame, nor any harm to your academic record for attending community college, no matter what your long term goals may be.
If you are unsure of your degree path, this can also be a great way to experiment with different subjects of interest at lower costs and with less risk of academic failure should you get in over your head. In addition, this can also be a way to take required classes (check to make sure they are transfer equivalents first) that are often twice as difficult at the university level (natural sciences, foreign languages, etc), maybe you did alright in these topics in high school, but don't be overconfident. Many students find the foreign language requirements at the university level to be overwhelming, even if they have had 2 or 3 years of that same language in high school. This can really compromise your GPA, so consider the alternative of community college for these classes if you are at all unsure.
On the other hand, you may know exactly where you want to go and what you want to do, but may not get into the program of your dreams. Community college is an excellent way to create a new opportunity for successful application to such a program.
Finally, there might be financial constraints that prevent you from attending university right away. I would encourage application to both systems though, you might find unexpected financial aid at the university of your choice that makes this possible. If not, then community college is a great way to make yourself more appealing to a university and eligible for transfer scholarships or other funds which vary from school to school. The key is to determine what you need to do to qualify and then accomplish that during your semester or year of community college.
There are many other situations, to be sure, but these are some thoughts from my own experiences for your consideration. Make no mistake, I am not trying to discourage attending university, rather I am encouraging you to be successful and make a thoughtful choice. College is a long term commitment that doesn't just last four (or more) years that it takes to complete, but for most it is a set of choices that lasts a lifetime.
