<p>Community college can be a poor fit for a student who is advanced in a subject that s/he wants to study (particularly math), since s/he may have already taken everything that the community college offers in the subject by high school graduation.</p>
<p>But it may be a desirable choice for a non-advanced student who is undecided about what subject to major in, since there is more opportunity to “explore” since there is not institutional pressure to decide a major early and extra semesters at the community college are less expensive than extra semesters at a four year college. Also, those who do not like the idea of hundreds of students in lower division courses at big universities can skip those giant lower division courses at big universities by taking them at community college – after transfer to a big university, the student will be mostly in smaller upper division courses.</p>
<p>I agree with those who have said this it is an excellent option for some. Where I live, the local CC is quite excellent. In fact, we have kids from other counties come to the CC in my county because it is better than the one in their county. So, I do feel very fortunate. </p>
<p>All of my children took classes here as high school students (as homeschoolers, this was preferable to attempting to register for AP exams) and this worked out quite well. One of my children ended up getting a degree from this CC. For her, it was an ideal option. Upon completion of her degree, she was able to continue on at another school without any problems. Her degree was the least expensive and her earning potential is quite excellent (she is an RN and is working as an RN while completing her degree). </p>
<p>I think that many of the naysayers would be pleasantly surprised if they’d go look at their local cc with an open mind.</p>
<p>On the off chance that anyone here is interested in evidence, Pascarella and Terenzini (pp. 80-81) report that two independent studies found that first-year gains in reading comprehension and math made by students at two-year and four-year colleges were essentially the same. One of the studies followed students through the second year and found that there were only trivial differences in writing skills and science reasoning. Other less rigorous studies found the same thing.</p>
<p>Around here most kids do not chose to go to a CC before a 4 year school. By the time most collegebound kids here graduate from high school, they have had more advanced classes in high school or through the dual enrollment program then they would get at a CC. For those really wanting to save money, they can go to the flagship university for free junior and senior year in high school, books are also paid for, and graduate from high school with 2 years of college credit under their belt. There is also an option to live on campus if you want, you do have to pay for that. There is no need to go to a CC unless you want specific technical training that they offer.</p>
<p>I think this is purely an “experiential” vs. “cost” comparison. The only item in post #17 that may be relevant is the EC’s and Greek life observation. Although I wouldn’t place that in the top 20 of any overall consideration list.</p>
<p>With costs skyrocketing? and the commoditization of the Bachelor’s degree? I am a huge champion of the CC route.</p>
<p>@SteveMA - not sure I’d recommend skipping out on the H.S. experience (kids need to be kids) to hop on a college fast track, although I can see how that might be attractive to some.</p>
<p>Most HS graduates in this country are not typical CC’ers who have exhausted introductory college curriculum class options before receiving their HS diplomas. </p>
<p>For the average student with limited financial resources, the community college path is a very smart way to lay the ground work for earning an undergarduate degree.</p>
<p>giterdone–I agree, I think high school kids should be high school kids but it’s not for everyone and some kids don’t like high schoo and you CAN still participate in high school activities while doing dual enrollment. Our high school has several University classes taught in our actual high school building, it’s a class on your schedule, etc. Most kids go that route, and along with AP’s, end up having quite a few credits for college, depending on where they go. Our kids, for example and pending outcome of all remaining AP test:D) will have 16-20 actual college class credits on their transcript and equivalent of about 8-10 AP classes (8 for D and 10 for S) just from classes taken at their high school. Now, depending on where they go to school, they may or may not actually get credit for these classes but the same schools would not take CC class credits either.</p>
<p>Cornell, UNC, Berkeley, most everywhere takes CC credits. You may well live in one of the few remaining areas with a pathetic CC system, but most states have begun to invest in them, and most community college teachers have quite a fine education, a mission to teache, and no pressure to publish.</p>
<p>This is just a silly, uninformed piece of balderdash.</p>
<p>poetgirl, based on what SteveMA was saying, my DS school would not have accepted those CC credits since the classes were taught in the high school and were attended by high school students rather than a mix of students on a CC campus. Of course, you also can’t get AP credit until you pass a higher-level course in the same subject. We have a big push for dual-enrollment happening in my state and, while it means ther are other options besides AP, it would have been a disadvantage for my DS and his list of private school choices.</p>
<p>Choosing a CC path doesn’t excuse you from doing your research. It there is a credit acceptance conundrum? you would certainly factor that in beforehand. But as I’ve mentioned before, our state has eliminated that hurdle by guarantying acceptance and transfer of all CC credits into the state college and university system. And most privates are now following suit to remain competitive.</p>
<p>On the other hand, AP credits don’t receive the same treatment. Our DD will have many, but few will be fully recognized by her chosen private university. We recommended them for the challenge and presentation on her H.S. transcript, more than we considered they would offset actual college costs through recognition.</p>
<p>She said that colleges would not take community college credits. It is what it is.</p>
<p>I will look for the NYTimes article on this subject. More and more states are turning to the community colleges as a way to get their kids educated, some vocationally, but an increasingly large number, as a way to get the core requirements taken care of at a less expensive school.</p>
<p>Colleges take these credits, and are offering increasingly advanced options.</p>
<p>It is cost driven, as giterdone pointed out so well, when you consider that many, even in the middle class, can no longer afford a debtless flagship education.</p>
<p>Poetgirl–then you need to tell the adcomms at the schools we have looked at that they should start accepting CC credits then. They also don’t take AP credits (but give placement). Most everywhere does NOT take CC credits and if they do, it’s limited. You are right, we don’t have a good CC system because we don’t need one. We have a fantastic university system with an amazing dual enrollment program that works much better than a CC system.</p>
<p>MizzBee–the classes are not CC classes, they are classes taught by Flagship University professors. </p>
<p>Poetgrl–again, our kids are PAST the CC level by the time they graduate from high school (college bound kids). Again, why would they go the CC route when they can graduate from high school with 2 full years of University credit on their transcript–that was FREE-a lot less than paying for a CC. They would pay MORE to go to CC for 2 years and then transfer back to the University for another 2 years?? Makes zero sense. In states like California and Michigan that have systems in place for high school kids to take CC classes then move into the colleges, sure, the program works but our state was doing dual enrollment before any other state and had this process set up long before other states(except CA) were using CC to enhance high school coursework.</p>
<p>Steve, I’m sure you are in a state with a pathetic CC system, and that is really just too bad for the kids. </p>
<p>But, nobody on the planet would argue that North Carolina has a “poor” state university system and they have such a strong articulation agreement with all the state CCs that even the North Carolina private unersities now have an articulation agreement with the state CC’s</p>
<p>We have dual enrollment as an option as well. But because of previously mentioned reasons, it it under used.</p>
<p>I don’t recommend being a 20 year old college grad… I think that puts the student in a marketplace disadvantage. No reason to race through the process - </p>
<p>CC have limited resources. Are there any Merit awards offerred at CCs? The cheapest is to attend 4 year college on full tuition Merit award (or full ride, better yet) and never take summer classes because they are not covered by Merit awards.</p>
<p>Merit money conversations don’t apply here. With the state tightening up funding to the bare essentials? there is only “need based” aid of any consequence… and that is paltry. The State believes the instate tuition advantage is enough.</p>
<p>poetgrl—again, you are missing the point–the University system in our state is taking the place of the CC roll that is in other states. Why would we NEED to enhance the CC system? The kids would have to PAY for those classes where they are getting the University classes for FREE. Our kids are taking a University level Spanish class and a University level English class next year, for free–textbooks included. They could also take some math and science classes but since the schools they are considering won’t take credits in their major from other schools, they opted not to take those too. The classes are taught at our high school with other high school kids. The Spanish class alone will give them 10 credits. Why would they take that class (which isn’t even offered at the CC), PAY for that class, and not get any credit for it at all??</p>
</p>
and that is paltry. The State believes the instate tuition advantage is enough.</p>