Since I have attended a community college as well as worked and taught there, I thought I would comment on this article from msn: Five Myths About Community Colleges. It’s true that many people make assumptions about community colleges and the quality of the education that can be received there. Some of these assumptions are wrong and some are have some truth to them.
Myth: Students only attend community college because they can’t get in to a four-year university.
The article cites this myth as being false and I generally agree. It’s really not that hard to get into either a four year college or a two year college. There are programs available at each, though, that can be very competitive. At the community college where I work, there are programs with waiting lists of two years just to be admitted. At both types of school it’s also generally possible to be admitted without declaring a major at all.
Myth: A degree from a community college is not as good as a university degree.
This comparison is really one of apples to oranges. Different demographics are served at each type of school. Community colleges are generally geared toward getting people out into the workforce and also toward offering educational opportunities to traditionally underserved communities. Universities tend to have a much broader general purpose and students would choose to go there for different reasons.
If I were advising a student on where to attend college, I would first ask what he or she wanted to get out of it. If he or she is looking for a good, traditional, liberal arts education, then by all means I would suggest that they apply to a four year college. If the what the student is seeking is a relatively quick path to a job that earns a reasonably good income, then I would send them to the community college.
Myth: Community colleges are inexpensive, so the education is not high quality.
This is the myth and I have to admit that, in my experience, there is a grain of truth in it. Before anyone freaks out: Yes, I agree that community colleges often provide very good educational instruction. However, there is sometimes a difference in the level of challenge and expectation of students in a community college.
Two year colleges are generally much less expensive than four year schools and sometimes the curricula aren’t the most rigorous. If a student really wants to get a four year degree, I would advise them to go to the four year school from the beginning and follow the program all the way through. It will be much easier on the student in the long run and the difference in cost, at least between a community college and a public, state-funded university, won’t be enough to make it worthwhile.
Myth: Community college credits do not transfer to four-year universities.
I agree with the article that this is generally false. I’ve transferred credits back and forth between two and four year schools and rarely had much of a problem. The key is making sure that both schools are properly accredited by a regional academic accrediting organization recognized by the Department of Education.
Myth: Community colleges have low academic standards.
I’ve already mentioned that sometimes community colleges do have less rigorous courses than those offered at a four year college. This isn’t the rule, though. There are many courses offered at community colleges that are very challenging and well worth the effort.
I generally agree with the contents of the article in saying that community colleges can offer a decent education at a substantially lower cost than that of a university. At the same time, they tend to serve different community needs and each option has its advantages and disadvantages that need to be weighed on an individual basis.
