Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
1–10 of 25 posts
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#2This is something I wish I had considered before going to an engineering school. Not only could I have gotten practically the same education at the local community college for much less, I may have avoided the 100+ student lecture classes my freshman and sophomore years. This was probably the most difficult adjustment for me when starting college (along with the lopsided gender ratio in engineering).
Unfortunately, as a senior at an expensive college-prep school, choosing community college would have been a huge blow to my ego. It also would have ashamed my parents, who are immigrants and place much emphasis on having the best (read: most prestigious) education possible for their children.
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#3Definitely an option, and for some it may be the only practical way to afford college. Certainly you'll come out of college with less debt.
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#4[deleted]
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#5"you will receive just as good of an education."
Pretty bold statement. In my personal experience, having good professors, and smart hard working students in a class with me makes all the difference in terms of how much I learn. While its true, just because a professor or student is at a university doesn't mean he/she is good (just like community college doesn't automatically equal bad) a university (particularly a good university), because of its admissions policies and hiring practices is going to weed out a lot of the bad. A community college will weed out hardly anyone. Not saying a community college isn't the right choice for a lot of people, just saying that there's a lot more of a difference than this top 10 list admits.
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#6I don't agree with many of the assertions made in this post.
> and you will receive just as good of an education
It depends on what you're being educated on. For the cookie-cutter classes every first- and second-year undergrad has to take, yes, I agree. For courses dealing in something you're deeply interested in or which involve advanced theory, it's more of a mixed bag.
> No crowded dorms, no roommate issues, know more people
For me, learning to deal with situations where I'm just a face in a crowd, having to deal with roommates I didn't always get along with, and having to make new friends because I didn't know anybody were all valuable parts of my education.
> You don’t need to take the ACT or SAT
Depends on the school.
> Employers don’t care what college you got your degree from
Depends on the employer. In an ideal world, each candidate would be judged entirely on merit and accomplishments rather than on things like schooling. However, even then going to a university will provide more opportunities to get involved with cool projects or to experiment with emergent technologies.
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#7"you will receive just as good of an education." Pretty bold statement. In my personal experience, having good professors, and smart hard working students in a class with me makes all the difference in terms of how much I learn. While its true, just because a professor or student is at a university doesn't mean he/she is good (just like community college doesn't automatically equal bad) a university (particularly a g…
I'm wondering if professors at community colleges are in fact better at teaching, since they aren't under the pressure to "publish or perish". And at the freshman-sophomore level, isn't that more valuable?
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#8> you will receive just as good of an education
Not if one wants to get involved in academia or research. Frankly, I have gotten far more from working/talking with various professors and grad students then from actual class (in CS). Networking, I think, is another reason one might attend a better university. Otherwise, I would argue that most skills can be self-taught (or self-refined), and I agree that the author has some valid points.
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#9"you will receive just as good of an education." Pretty bold statement. In my personal experience, having good professors, and smart hard working students in a class with me makes all the difference in terms of how much I learn. While its true, just because a professor or student is at a university doesn't mean he/she is good (just like community college doesn't automatically equal bad) a university (particularly a g…
I'm wondering if professors at community colleges are in fact better at teaching, since they aren't under the pressure to "publish or perish". And at the freshman-sophomore level, isn't that more valuable?
This has been my experience.
Re: Reasons to Choose Community College Over University
#10Interesting article that brings up some valid points but did this author attend a community college? Whenever I see a generic "Top 10" post on a blog I get really suspicious.
This is going to sound condescending, but remember those kids who had no inclination to try in school and go to a good 4 year college? That's going to be at least 75% of the students there. My brother took some summer classes there and he said they were a joke.
I've heard that teaching at one sucks, and the one or two students that are truly motivated really make the job worthwhile.
I would expect to find this especially true for a math-oriented subject like programming or engineering.