I Am A Community College Student Summary

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. 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.

Liz Addison’s essay, “Two Years Better Than Four,” was first published in the New York Times Magazine back in September of 2007. Addison went to two community colleges and majored in biology; earning her degree in 2008. In her essay, she is responding to Rick Perlstein's article “What’s the Matter with College?” in which he claims, “College as America used to understand it is coming to an end” (211). Addison refutes Perlstein’s claims by saying, “My guess, reading between the lines, is that Mr. Perlstein has never set foot in an American community college” (212). 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

At (blog.uncollege.org) it says, “The cost of college has skyrocketed in recent years. Attending a decently ranked university can easily cost upwards of $100,000.” Some People thought of not spending money on college but to go skip and go straight forward into life. But what I’ve seen in the success of college, are things that you earn and get rewarded for and you live life way easier. There is more to it than just getting a great job and getting more money after you graduate from college. You could also meet many new people and you get to learn a lot, or learning things you love. From (www.moneycrashers.com), from a decent college student it says, “I met many of my best friends while I was at college, and I even met my spouse while working at summer internship for college students. These people have shaped my life tremendously and have helped me grow as a person.” So, college students have made relationships with other people that affect each other’s lives in a great decent

In the article “Two Year Are Better Than Four,” written by Liz Addison. She expressed her view that the community college also has significant importance in comparison with the university. Also she mentioned that community colleges do not receive the attention and admission from the education system and that community college do not receive the acknowledgment and appreciation that they deserve “College as America used to understand it is coming to an end” (Addison 211). Many argue that education really isn’t worth it at all. That intellectualism comes from somewhere other than colleges and schools. They believe that there are more important things than the degree you earn. They insist that learning basic principles through daily life

When I read the essay of Caroline Bird, "College is a Waste of Time and Money," I feel that she argues many students do not want to go to college because they do not want to be or they do not want to learn. Besides that, she interviews many people from college student, professors and administrators.

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

Liz Addison’s essay, “Two Years Better Than Four,” was first published in the New York Times Magazine back in September of 2007. Addison went to two community colleges and majored in biology; earning her degree in 2008. In her essay, she is responding to Rick Perlstein's article “What’s the Matter with College?” in which he claims, “College as America used to understand it is coming to an end” (211). Addison refutes Perlstein’s claims by saying, “My guess, reading between the lines, is that Mr. Perlstein has never set foot in an American community college” (212). 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

Some students choose to get a full-time job after graduation to begin earning money instead of

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. Though community college tuition is not paid for through taxes or by some other means, if it was it would allow for all students wanting to

Picking to attend a Community college for me is the best choice that I picked for my education. Community colleges provide a great service to students in many more ways other than just education. They help students who are unsure what they want to do or are unable to attend a four year university. Community Colleges also provide continuing education even after they have gotten a degree and a job.

Every student, after he or she graduates from high school will have the choice of attending to a University or a two year Community College. I remember Lee, my friend Joe’s brother, asking me after I finished high school and whether or not I wanted to join to a University or a two year Community College. At the time, it took me a week to answer his question. Similarly, if I was to ask any student where he or she wants to go after they finish high school, one might find that they’ll receive different answers, and for different reasons. For some students it is best to go to community college and focus on getting an Associate’s Degree or taking transferable courses. During the same period, I know of my friends that decide to continue their education by enrolling in a university and work to complete a Bachelor’s Degree to obtain a job in their specific field. From my experience and perspective, attending a two year college surpass to a university due to tuition and class size.

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.

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.

Although this plan is great for the economy, some might argue that there are certain repercussions that should be taken into consideration. For example, by making community college free, the program would cost $60 billion in the course of 10 years in a cost-sharing program with the states (Butler 1). Although this sounds like it’s a substantial amount of money, it is manageable. In regards to the benefits of the proposal, this is a small price to pay. In the long run it is better for the economy. As stated before, the proposal creates more job opportunities which encourage economic growth.

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.