Community colleges are typically generalized into being less academically serious than established four-year universities. Although four-year universities get all of the hype from current students and alumni, many high school graduates opt to attend two-year institutions. Community colleges are often used as a launching point for students to start earning their bachelor’s degree. In choosing this path, a student would benefit in many ways, including cheaper tuition, and a faster, highly vocational education plan.
Four year universities typically require three times the amount of tuition that a community college does. Though it necessitates students to make quite an investment, these universities do allow students to experience learning opportunities on and off campus unlike any other. One aspect that community colleges will never stand a chance against is the campus life and student culture. Most community colleges do not invest much in extra-curricular events in order to make tuition more affordable. On the other hand, established four-year universities want their students to
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However, students attending a university would have to attend crowded lectures of up to 150 students. General classes are frequently less intimate and engaging because of this. There are exceptions to this, but are definitely a trend in major universities. Class sizes do tend to get smaller when a student enters their major. On the other hand, community college classrooms typically consist of twenty to thirty students each. This offers a more conversation based classroom in which students are encouraged to ask questions and engage in the discussion. Having said that, this increases the academic quality offered at a community college. Students feel like their professors have more time to help them and talk to them rather than a university professor who has more students than they can keep up
In a recent article by Andrew Warner titled “5 Reasons to Consider Community College” Warner addresses the topic of why community college might be better and states reasons. One main point from the article is 30% of U.S. undergraduates are enrolled at public, two-year colleges. They also offer benefits like open-enrollment policies and flexible scheduling Warner. Warner gives a pretty good statistic that nearly half of the U.S undergrads are attending a public two year college.
The trend of going to community colleges is beginning. Community colleges used to be known as the place where all the rejected applicants went. Now, people are realizing that community colleges are just as great as a university. Liz Addison wrote “Two Years Are Better than Four” to help her readers understand the importance of community colleges. The educational path for a student is changing from going straight to a big university to going to a community college and then transferring.
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.
First, community colleges like Northeast Alabama Community College are fairly easy on the pocketbook .However, unlike community colleges, the fees at an accredited four-year college are often very expensive . Community colleges also seem to be the popular choice because of the convenience they offer students. Contradicting to the convenience of a community college, a four-year college presents many inconveniences to students. Instructors at a community college teach students on a more personal level. Unlike community colleges, students at a four-year college are normally taught by a teaching assistant who has no personal connection with the students.
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.
Community colleges have provided people with a way for a quality education at a cheaper cost, a diverse community, and the learning of more practical
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.
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.
The word debt might be intimidating to most people, but it is not as bad as it is thought to be. Being able to take out loans to afford certain things can benefit us. Some high school graduates might want to attend a college of their choosing, but can't afford it. Loans sometimes are benefitial and can help pay for a student to continue following the trail of success to their dream job. Some students might want to attend college, but they do not want to spend four years of their life in class.
Community college is accessible to everyone who wants to go to college for a better price than what a 4-year university might cost. Addison corroborates this idea by saying, “The community colleges of America cover this country college by college and community by community. They offer a network of affordable future, of accessible hope, and an option to dream.” The essence of Addison’s argument is that students don’t have to spend a small fortune to have a future, it can be affordable, and it is within reach. Community college can be a good choice for those who are afraid to spend a lot of money just to have an education.
Success is a key that most people try to pursue throughout their lifetime. It is also undoubtfully certain that the level of ones education will have its advantages when pursuing a career. The peak of a persons education can sometimes portray what kind of life one will have towards one 's self and where they will land in society. Unfortunately, not everyone is gifted with enough money to afford community college, let alone Universities. Therefore, bringing up the question "Should Community College Be Tuition Free?"
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
Community College Today In the essay “Two Years Are Better Than Four,” Liz Addison, gives her viewpoint on higher education and why community college is important. She compares the learning experience at two-year community colleges to that of 4-year universities. Throughout her essay, Addison expresses her opinions on why community colleges are in many ways a better choice for many students.
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.
Community colleges are important because they provide an affordable alternative to postsecondary education. They offer open admission, flexible schedules, and convenient locations. Community colleges make up a large part of the higher education system, enrolling more than six million students and growing rapidly. They help students become prepared to enter the workforce or transition into a four-year school. But even with all the steps taken to make community colleges accessible to all, there are still thousands of students who cannot afford to attend.