<p>I have been to community college in California and my son is attending now as a high school senior. I think some of the courses are rigorous, but many are not. One advantage is that the classes are a bit smaller than the UC’s. Also, some of the students are very bright, others not so bright; it’s a mixed bag. Certainly, most of the students are motivated to learn because they are paying for their own education. There is not a big culture of drinking and goofing off. In California the students can be a fascinating mix. I had students in my classes from Russia, Somalia, Croatia, Norway, Eritrea, mainland China, India and many other countries. One of the best friends I made is from Nicaragua. Also, I had fellow students who had graduated from Stanford, Cornell, and UC Berkeley among other top schools. Still, I think there’s something to be gained from the bonding that happens when you attend a school for 4 years with the same people.</p>