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Myth vs. Reality: Community Colleges

by Jonathan Lopes, Adjunct Faculty, College Success


I have been an alumnus volunteer and employed as a college recruiter. This is both at the two year and four-year college level. Teens often consider community colleges to be undesirable and inferior, but the two-year institutions can be a great option for recent high school graduates. Some prospective students don’t know. Some don’t care. The myth, possibly reinforced by guidance counselors, families and/or peers could be the influential factor for not even considering it. The financial benefits are a draw for many students, semester tuition is way less than that of a public or private four year school. There are other reasons for teens unable to attend a four-year institution to consider community college as a viable option after high school. Students can move at their own pace. Taking a full course load and graduating in four years isn’t an option for all. Prospective college students who need to work a full-time job, have important and personal family obligations or tend to their own learning and physical disabilities can benefit from the flexibility that community colleges provides. Speaking of flexibility, class schedules could be more diverse, including weekend and night classes to accommodate those in need. Students who struggled academically in high school and have difficulty balancing the demands can benefit from the more focused attention that community college can provide. They are smaller in size. So, the great thing is that your professors will know you. The bad part is that your professors will know you. It is the best kind of “problem”. Additionally, because of its intimate sense of community, the services for tutoring, advisement, student life and counseling are readily available. I speak from direct experience. I am first-generation citizen and college graduate in my family. I attended community college because my mother told me. I was naïve and didn’t know about the negative perception. I just knew some sort of college was next. My mother knew it was one of the best in the state and the one I attended was only 35mins from home. It had all the leadership opportunities open, if you’re like me and want bang for your buck as well as the helpful transfer advisers. Myths of these schools are that there is nothing to do, it is 13th and 14th grade, you’re a loser because you didn’t go to a “real” school, etc. That is all uneducated, ignorant nonsense. Yes, community colleges are commuter in nature since they designed for those within their county. However, most if not all have some kind of multicultural or campus life and volunteer programs. I’ve traveled a lot just throughout the state of New Jersey and each two year school I visited had all of that and more. Nationally, 40% percent of all traditional-age college students start out at community college, according to the U.S. Department of Education. If community college is only for “losers”, so do so many start off there and progress? Why are they still in business and popular if these perceptions are real? A degree from a community college is not as good as a university degree is another myth. A community college AA or AS degree can take you into the workforce or to a four-year university. Community colleges educate 62% percent of allied health professionals and over 80% of law enforcement officers and firefighters. This is all according to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Don’t listen to myths or the opinions of others. Educate yourself, take pride in that you are good enough and make active steps into pursuing your collegiate dreams. I am a proud member of the community college system and am not the only one.

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