How do you feel about community colleges?

27 comments

1. I went to a community college. I teach in the community college system. They’re a fantastic way to save money before transferring to a 4 year school, especially since here in California students get the first two years free if they qualify. I also have a lot of older “non-traditional” students who might be returning to school for whatever reason. There’s also specific programs at different schools such as nursing, karaoke, and fire or police training.

   I’m slightly biased, but they are absolutely a great thing.

2. I took a couple summer classes at my local one (which a few years prior was voted the best community college in the country) while I was still in high school to get some early college credits. It was fine, nothing mind blowing but a good use of time I would’ve otherwise spent wasting time.

3. I think they’re great

4. I went to a tiny high school that didn’t have a ton of AP classes so instead I took a number of CC classes that then counted towards my gen ed credits.

5. I think they’re great for people who are looking for that. Not everyone wants the same kind of education, I’m for more choices.

6. Education is good. I had a great experience at the one I attended.

7. Absolutely wonderful resource.

   They provide an education that is accessible to many more, with far less expense and competition than the private university systems or even the state colleges.

8. They’re a great resource for many students.

9. I went to both community college and a state university in a different county. I was concerned that the work I had done in Spanish at community was going to be subpar, so I retook the second semester class. Not only did both classes use the same book, but the tests were exactly the same.

   I was disappointed when I got to university and saw the massive size of the classes. I really struggled because I wasn’t able to ask questions directly to the professor during class. By the time I could get an explanation, even at the end of class if they weren’t busy, I had already fallen behind on that day’s lecture. The larger classes (mainly the core classes) did have mandatory study sessions with a TA, but that’s just a grad student who isn’t necessarily learning how to teach the subject.

   So yeah, for me personally, I think if I had been able to stay at community for the whole of my degree, I probably would have finished it.

10. They are a good jumping off point for those who either didn’t graduate high school with the requirements of their program of choice, students who are looking to save some money, or obtain certifications that don’t require at least a four year degree. Some community colleges even have dual credit programs with high schools, which allow them to complete some of their college education before they graduate.

11. I went to culinary school at a community college and received an associate degree. I never followed up with a career in the field but I don’t regret doing it.

    I think they are good for people who are looking to get into blue collar trades and for people looking to save money and eventually transfer to a university.

    The only downside is that they feel more like High school than college.

12. The math taught at fancy schools is basically the same math as you are learning at a cheap school. Geography will be the same within a year or two if the cheap school takes a little longer to update their curriculum after somebody has a civil war or something.

    The big difference is the people. You won’t have to deal with as many entitled rich douchebags at a community college. Unfortunately, having some entitled rich douchebags as friends from college can be super useful for getting a foot in the door when starting your career at their dad’s company.

13. 10/10 huge fan.

14. I went to one.

    Honestly, it’s a good place to start if you’re not exactly sure what you want to get into after high school.

    The first 2 years of college are usually just packed with bs general education requirements anyway.

    It’s a lot cheaper too. I was out of debt a lot faster than my peers who went straight to four year schools.

15. >I see them as a great way for older people to reenter school, people to save money on tuition (usually cheaper), or people who did poorly in hs to have a new start.

    It’s great for people of all ages regardless of how well you did in HS.

    Community college isn’t just for extraordinary circumstances.

16. I haven’t heard of anything bad about community colleges. It just wasn’t anyone’s aspiration to go to after high school.

    I went to a community college to graduate high school earlier. I ended up getting an associate and transferring over to a 4 year school. They offered a program where transferring to a particular school would allow me to cleanly starts as a junior, get some kind of guaranteed scholarships, some of kids of financial assistance, and I think some other stuff.. I didn’t do that, but it was an option.

17. I think “Community College, Bad” is an outdated movie trope.

    The reality is that Community Colleges are very beneficial.

    They offer lots of career courses. And lots of general education courses that lead people to enroll in university

18. I had a wonderful experience at a Community College. I didn’t want to go at all, but I got a full scholarship, so it was a financial decision. I was surprised when I loved it there. I actually enjoyed it much better than the University.

19. I have worked at a major 4 year university, the k-12s, and a CC. CCs are by far my favorite. I love their mission to students and the community, and I love the culture. Academic, but also tied into the local business and industry that makes us more nimble and innovative.

20. They’re great for people who need to save money or who aren’t sure if a four year university is a good idea for them. It might not be as prestigious, but for a lot of jobs that doesn’t really matter. Plus you can always get the first two years cheap at a CC and then transfer to a university to get the best of both.

    They’re also great for continuing education and for working adults who want to get a degree without quoting their jobs.

21. Went to one. It was much cheaper with smaller class sizes and nicer facilities than the 4 year university I eventually moved onto

22. They are great! I got an academic scholarship to finish my four yr and then went on to a top grad school

23. It’s great because you can usually transfer to your 1st choice 4 yr college as a junior.

24. I graduated high school in 2009 and was confident that the four year colleges I was accepted into may cut financial aid because of the recession. I went to community college instead because it was basically free after the grants and scholarships I had. Overall, it was a great experience.

    A good deal of my professors also taught at some of the state universities in the area, so I felt like I was getting a good deal. Some of the professors I had were actively working in the field they were teaching. For example, my business law professor was a practicing attorney with more than 20 years of experience. My accounting professor was a CPA who owned her own business. Their real world experience was something I was thankful for.

    I easily transferred to a private university after earning my associates. All of my credits transferred and I essentially didn’t pay anything for the first two years of college. I’d like to think it was a decent decision.

25. The smart way to go to college if you don’t receive scholarships to go to a university out of high school. The NC Community College system and UNC system work together to insure the classes you’re taking are conducive to the school you want to transfer to curriculum.

26. I went to community college. It was great.

27. Community colleges are a fantastic way to save money on a 4-year degree and allow people who did poorly in high school to get into prestigious universities. You just have to make sure that you do your research on articulation agreements and make sure the classes you take actually transfer to the college(s) you plan to attend or else you’ll be wasting your time taking classes that don’t count for anything.