Community colleges can be a wonderful choice for students who are looking for a more affordable option for their education. The lower tuition and fees can help students save money and reduce their student loan debt. The flexibility of community college schedules can also be beneficial for students who need to work part-time or have other commitments. Additionally, community colleges frequently offer a broad range of programs and courses that can give students who intend to transfer to a four-year university a solid foundation. Several community colleges and universities have transfer agreements, which make it easier for students to transfer credits and advance in their studies. This can be a cost-effective way to complete general education …show more content…
According to Liz Addison, "The community college system is America’s hidden gem. If I were a candidate for office, I would run from every campus. Not to score political points, but simply to make sure that anyone who is looking to go to college in this country knows where to find one (423). Addison also addresses the misconceptions and stigma associated with attending a community college. She argues that community colleges are often unfairly viewed as "lesser" institutions compared to four-year universities, and students who attend them may face social and cultural barriers. However, she challenges this notion and highlights the diverse and talented student body that community colleges attract. She argues that community colleges can provide an inclusive and supportive environment for students who may not thrive in traditional high school settings or who are looking for a more flexible and affordable educational option. In an article by Hawang, it says, "Community colleges often provide major pathways to a higher education degree for traditionally underrepresented groups and set their strategy to improve their retention and outcomes on campus." He talks about how community college provides those who are looking for a better opportunity to gain education and skills at an affordable cost, something a …show more content…
It's also important to research both options carefully and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. But there are three main reasons why students should think about a two-year college rather than a four-year university: it makes college accessible and inexpensive for everyone, there are transfer agreements, and you can find a job straight after graduation. Of all those three reasons the best of them all is that it is affordable, and everyone can get in it doesn’t discriminate against anybody. Community Colleges offer more opportunities giving everyone the chance to succeed in life with everyone being able to get in and transfer for when they want to go to a four-year university to being able to get a job right upon graduation. Overall, these factors make two-year institutions an appealing choice for students looking for a more convenient and cost-effective approach to complete their undergraduate degrees as well as those who wish to enter the job as soon as
He also states that there are benefits of open enrollment policies and flexible scheduling. In addition, the point given is that “Attending community college can be an affordable way to dip your toes into higher education before transferring to a four-year program.”
This trend is beginning because community colleges provide a place to begin at an affordable cost in comparison to four-year universities, while still offering the same experience. In Liz Addison’s essay “Two Years Are Better than Four,” Addison’s main purpose
After listening to the wisdom of Husky, one can recognize that he offers valuable insights, but also provides some inaccurate information regarding academic affairs in community college. Beginning with the valuable information, he is correct when he states that the cost of community college, in both tuition and price-per-credit, is significantly lower than a four-year institution. He is also partly correct about the curriculum. For students enrolled with the intention of transferring to a four-year institution, general education courses in the liberal arts are offered that will transfer to their desired school. He explains that these liberal arts courses are generally smaller than those offered at larger schools, and provide for more interaction with the instructor – both claims are true.
Addison’s tone is also optimistic when she adds that “the community college system is America’s hidden public gem,” and that “they offer a network of affordable future, of accessible hope, and an option to dream.” Through this remark, Addison not only exhibits a hopeful tone but, also makes others optimistic that community college is an option for them. She does such by listing that it is “affordable,” meaning achievable for those that don’t have much, as well as, being a place to “dream.” This shows that in and after community college, there are opportunities
She attended two of them and has a major in biology from the Southern Maine Community College, which makes it easier for her to connect with her audience because she knows what the experience is like. She understands that some people may rule out going to college because of the price, so it’s important for her to inform them that there are cheaper alternatives with community colleges. “ ‘College is the key,’ a young African American student writes for the umpteenth torturous revision of his college essay, ‘as well as hope.’ Oh, I wanted desperately to say, please tell him about community college. Please tell him that help can begin with just one placement test,” she pleads (Addison, 213).
In conclusion, society doesn’t have an accurate representation of community colleges and four-year universities. Community colleges don’t get talked about as much as some people think they should because of what they have to offer many students. There are many other assumptions about community colleges that society believes. In the end, society’s representation of community colleges and four-year universities is not
In the article “Two Years are Better than Four,” Liz Addison argues that community college is better than four year universities, such as the one Rick Perlstein attended. Where Perlstein reminisces about his days in college and claims that the greatness of American colleges is gone. Addison makes it apparent to the reader that she not only disagrees with Perlstein, but makes remarks suggesting that she believes that Perlstein’s college days were less for studying and more for partying and enjoying the fact that he went to a fancy private college. Addison continues by detailing some of the opportunities for people that attend community college such as being affordable, a place for the student to begin, and possibly a better match for students’ lives. She claims that this is the way college is intended to be and by no means is college as we knew it coming to an end.
When it came to these large universities, “many were far from the small towns and urban neighborhoods that anchored turn-of-the-century life, and the majority were incredibly expensive” (Trainor 1). Supporters of community colleges at this time used this as a promotion technique to try and persuade people to attend a community college. The community colleges of this time were publically funded and they were open to many more Americans than the four year universities. Even though they were more open, they were still not fully inclusive because still mainly white males attended these colleges.
Furthermore, students attending a four-year institution are basically used as a bank for that university. College is very expensive, students must pay for tuition, books, parking passes, and food. Four-year colleges may look good when a degree is obtained, but some graduates are unable to find employment after all the hard work done over four long years. This is why students are committing suicide and being mentally and physically drained which cause them to drop out or even give up (Woods). By going to a two-year college, a student will have a shorter amount of time than a four-year college to start a career or get a head start in a
In this essay Addison made some very strong points in the defense of community colleges of America, but there is one point that Addison didn’t emphasize on, and that is the price point. Addison mentioned price very briefly by stating that community colleges offer “a network of affordable future” (213). I believe if she had made the price of college a pillar of her essay it would have not only made community college a better college experience alternative but also a more affordable one. Community college is sometimes so cheap it is free!
“I owe it all to community College” Summary and Response In Tom’s Hanks article “I owe it all to community college”, he tells us a little bit of his own personal life experience and how attending to a community college changed his life. Tom Hanks starts off with addressing to us that he was an underachieving student that had lousy SAT scores. He then mentions that he apply to two well known colleges, but never got accepted it to any of them and then goes off with telling us that the last application he send was to Chabot (a community college) in Hayward, California. Hanks then describes all the courses that Chabot offers and as well all the various programs that they give, he tells us how there are different genders
However, it is still an issue for students to cough up that money. The idea of making community college free to any student in America has been a dream for low income students for a while. President Obama’s desire to make the tuition of community college to everyone in the nation would only make it difficult for students to get a free education, limit them to essential resources, and discourage students from applying to four year universities. Granting free community college tuition to incoming freshmen will draw “more students to already crowded community colleges”. Along with the overcrowded campuses, a very long waiting list will soon form making it just as competitive to get into a four year university.
Liz Addison, who graduated from Piedmont Virginia Community College and Southern Maine Community College agreed that community college was better than a university. Addison believed that a four-year college was for the “privileged class”. Addison viewed universities as the “privileged class” due to students applying at their curriculum vitae. In addition, Liz Addison tells the importance of community college. Addison then goes on to tell how high school graduates have a hard time getting into universities; the odds of entering would be low.
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 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.