So we keep hearing about how expensive a college degree has become: it has. The school I went to back in the 60s and 70s cost then about $3500 per year for tuition and fees. Now it is about ten times that amount. If you live on campus there, it's more like $52,000!
I teach at a community college, and I can tell you this is the first, best place to go to school. Not only does a 2-year school cost less, it is often geared for the busy adult. Community colleges typically offer a full range of night classes, weekend classes, and online classes. Online courses are a great way to get official credit for courses that do not require a lab section, such as in a biology course, because you get to arrange when you will do the work: there is no class period you must attend. Of course, this means you will need to be self-motivated.
Second, community colleges are not substantially different from 4-year universities in the quality of courses they offer: they are using the same texts, they require the same level of work, and so on. An exception to this might be in comparison to ultra-high end schools such as Harvard or Cal Tech, where the amount and quality of work required to perform well is higher. But my community college isn't any more or less difficult that any identical courses at any of the regional universities.
If you are interested in a health field - getting a job is your goal - then community colleges are the place to go. You can make $60,000 a year starting as a Respiratory Therapist, $40,000 as a nurse, and $40,000 as a cyber security provider. The list goes on and on. The 2-year degree is quicker and therefore more lucrative than taking courses for the extra two years at a university.
Yet another advantage is generally small class sizes. I have taught a lecture course at a large state school that had 300+ students. At my community college,my classes run less than 30 students. That's very typical. It allows you to learn in a less impersonal, more informal environment.
If you are a high school student who wants to get a jump of college courses, then community colleges are a great start. They usually have special pathways for high school students to take advantage of their system and take courses.
Always check to see which courses will directly transfer to the 4-year school you may be planning to attend later. This information is readily available to you at the 2-year school. If you get a 2-year degree, generally all the courses will transfer, at least in terms of hours and as electives.
Oh well, I've made my point. Community colleges are a great way to get your higher education needs fulfilled. A final point: don't ever take any courses from strictly online schools that are not fully accredited! You will be spending money for nothing. I look first when part of a hiring committee if the applicant is degreed from these types of schools; I suspect most other employers do the same.
I teach at a community college, and I can tell you this is the first, best place to go to school. Not only does a 2-year school cost less, it is often geared for the busy adult. Community colleges typically offer a full range of night classes, weekend classes, and online classes. Online courses are a great way to get official credit for courses that do not require a lab section, such as in a biology course, because you get to arrange when you will do the work: there is no class period you must attend. Of course, this means you will need to be self-motivated.
Second, community colleges are not substantially different from 4-year universities in the quality of courses they offer: they are using the same texts, they require the same level of work, and so on. An exception to this might be in comparison to ultra-high end schools such as Harvard or Cal Tech, where the amount and quality of work required to perform well is higher. But my community college isn't any more or less difficult that any identical courses at any of the regional universities.
If you are interested in a health field - getting a job is your goal - then community colleges are the place to go. You can make $60,000 a year starting as a Respiratory Therapist, $40,000 as a nurse, and $40,000 as a cyber security provider. The list goes on and on. The 2-year degree is quicker and therefore more lucrative than taking courses for the extra two years at a university.
Yet another advantage is generally small class sizes. I have taught a lecture course at a large state school that had 300+ students. At my community college,my classes run less than 30 students. That's very typical. It allows you to learn in a less impersonal, more informal environment.
If you are a high school student who wants to get a jump of college courses, then community colleges are a great start. They usually have special pathways for high school students to take advantage of their system and take courses.
Always check to see which courses will directly transfer to the 4-year school you may be planning to attend later. This information is readily available to you at the 2-year school. If you get a 2-year degree, generally all the courses will transfer, at least in terms of hours and as electives.
Oh well, I've made my point. Community colleges are a great way to get your higher education needs fulfilled. A final point: don't ever take any courses from strictly online schools that are not fully accredited! You will be spending money for nothing. I look first when part of a hiring committee if the applicant is degreed from these types of schools; I suspect most other employers do the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment