College Vs Community College

In the United States a community college is defined as a nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area. They are post secondary schools and are also referred to as junior colleges, vocational or technical schools because generally the course of study is for two years. The student can earn an associates degree or certification and/or continue their education by transfering to a four year college to complete their educational pursuits and earn a Bachelor 's degree. Community colleges started in the late 1800’s and have grown and evolved over the years. Today many four year colleges and universities have become so expensive to attend that many prospective students are opting for the more affordable alternative of a community college for their first two years of study where they can save money by living at home and taking classes that will transfer to a four year institution, however, there are students that cannot afford the lower cost of community colleges.

As the month of November comes along annually, every single high school senior is forced to decide which path they are going to take after graduating. For some, it is easy to choose which college to attend and how to pay for it. But, for many, it is extremely difficult to figure out a way to get the funds for college. So, they choose the community college route. Community college is drastically cheaper than tuition at a four year university.

Many people would like to experience the college life from either a four-year university or a community college. Many students are eligible for attend a four-year university and attend the university with scholarships. Some students attend community college from not being to afford a four-year university. Everyone should have some college experience and many feel that community college should be free for those that are responsible enough to attend college. Many say that the government should pay for student’s tuition for community colleges. The government should pay for responsible student’s tuition. The government should provide free tuition for responsible students because many students struggle to pay for college and there are students that are responsible enough to receive free tuition.

Can Two Be Greater Than Four? Does college really matter? Has college lost its rite to passage appeal? Can one still go to college and be successful in the pursuit of self-discovery? These are the types of questions that Liz Addison challenges in her short essay “Two Years Are Better Than Four”. By taking into account my own experience as a current community college student and advocate, in this response to Addison’s essay I choose to elaborate on her views of community college being better than a four year university in the sense of offering a better college experience.

The purpose of her essay is to prove to her audience, mainly soon-to-be college students or parents of future students, that college is still a vital part of planning your future. She effectively advertises community college as a cheaper alternative to four-year universities and their skyrocketing tuition prices; and tries to persuade her readers that attending Community College can be just as important as going to a traditional four-year university because they allow you to begin your college education at

The purpose of her essay is to prove to her audience, mainly soon-to-be college students or parents of future students, that college is still a vital part of planning your future. She effectively advertises community college as a cheaper alternative to four-year universities and their skyrocketing tuition prices; and tries to persuade her readers that attending Community College can be just as important as going to a traditional four-year university because they allow you to begin your college education at a

The idea of community colleges to me is a place to get a good education and explore different options, and meet some great people. On the web site of the American Association of Community Colleges it says, “The mission of the community college is to provide education for individuals, many of whom are adults, in its service region”. This means that

In the article, “Bridges or Barriers”, the writer tells the readers that “Community colleges have a critical role to play in providing access to the American dream.” Community colleges do have a critical role in achieving the American dream, but in order to achieve success you’re going to have to want it. Money is probably the main reason people attend community based colleges. The writer of “Bridges or Barriers,” mentions that “More than 6.5 million students attend the nearly 1,200 two-year colleges, located in all 50 states. Sixty-five percent of students from families with incomes of less than $20,000 attend community colleges”, that’s a high percentage of families receiving a very low income.

Even in Liz Addison’s text, “Two Years are Better than Four”, she argues that “The community college system is America’s hidden public service gem” (Addison, 257). There are so many Dixon 2 community colleges across the country that offer the two-year degree path, but not many people know about them, so you can go to a two-year community college and still get a degree. Not to mention, this opens a new door for opportunity for people that don’t want to spend four-years earning a degree either because of time or money issues. If you look back at Murray’s text, it goes on to talk about how some careers dont even require four years of education to get some jobs, although it does require that you get at least a bachelor's’ degree to be considered good at those jobs. Community college introduces those students who would never even dream of having the college experience, in an easier way.

For those who have graduated from high school and will continue with their higher education, many if not all of these students will have to pay out of pocket for college. Most of students think that if they graduate from college or a four-year university they will have a chance to work in the professional field rather than work for minimum wage. It is an opportunity for anyone, particularly those who have low wages, to earn a degree and make more money. In the article “Expanding Community College Access” from The New York Times, President Obama states that tuition for community college should be free, because the American workforce is not educated enough for the global and national workplace. The presiding evidence and statements from experts

It has taken many years for people in society to break out of the norms and expectations of how to grow up and live in the world. A huge factor in this “revolution”: attending college. Whether it is taking a gap year to discover the world and the waiting opportunities, or simply running with it all after high school to work, attending college isn’t considered a given anymore. Now not all cases are the same for every person, therefore they can only decide what is the best path for them after high school. Still, the benefits of a being a college graduate will never be diminished. Because in fact, that “gap year” could turn into two or even three years of sitting and deciding what to do in life. Or jumping right into working right after high school, leads to realizing there aren’t many jobs to provide and support oneself. Although many may continue to believe that attending college right after high school isn’t the right path for success, taking advantage of gaining a college education right away is essential for success in life because college broadens job and career opportunities and provides necessary experiences to thrive in the real world after school.

In his article, “Are Too Many People Going to College?” Charles Murray argues that too many people are going to college universities when they should be focusing on other lifestyle options. In his opinion, whether or not to attend college is a personal decision that should be thoroughly thought through. When weighed with the unrealistic prerequisites, the financial expenses, and the time needed to obtain a degree, many people will find that attending college will not be beneficial to them. Speaking of this Murray attests, “The question here is not whether the traditional four-year residential college is fun or valuable as a place to grow up, but when it makes sense as a place to learn how to make a living.

Most community college students have a life outside their school life. Some may have more priorities than others, but they still have to pay for things, manage time, and most work at least a minimum of ten hours . There are many students that don 't return for the second year at a community college for many reasons, but the main reason is that many community college students have experienced debt. Which leads to why many first time Community College students don 't return for the second year due to money issues. First, many community college students have to work several hours while going to school.

A rising issue in today’s society is deciding whether or not college is worth the cost. There is an extreme amount of pressure that is forced upon high school students by parents, teachers, and peers to further their education and attend college. However, there is research that challenges the thought that college is the best possible path for a person to take. College may be a great investment for some people, but it is not meant for everyone. This is supported by the arguments that colleges are expensive, jobs do not always require a college degree, and students are forced to choose a lifestyle before being exposed to the real world.

All around the United States, there are people who probably never got the chance to go to college, not because they didn’t want to or weren’t motivated enough, but instead they couldn’t afford to go. In his book, The World Is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman talks about globalization, which means that the world is being flattened. What this means is countries are now able to compete with each other. One solution that would help people in a flattening world is free community college for two years. A majority of people have given up on the idea of college simply because it’s too expensive.