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What are Community Colleges?

18 April, 2023 | Madescholarships news

community colleges pros and cons

According to National Center for Education Statistics, a little over 4000-degree colleges in the United States. These include universities and colleges, but over 1000 institutions are also community colleges. Below, we will describe what a community college is and why it might be something to consider.

What is a community college?
Community colleges, also known as junior colleges, are defined as “two-year schools that provide affordable post-secondary education as a pathway to a four-year degree” according to The Department of Homeland Security.  So after two years, there is an option to transfer to a regular university where you can earn a bachelor’s degree. You won’t encounter any delay in your education since you will still earn a bachelor’s degree in four years.

Why attend a Community College?

  • Cost: On average, attending a community college will be less expensive than attending a four-year college. Some students will elect to do the first two years at a community college in order to save a lot of money.
  • When don’t know what to study: If the student does not know what he or she wants to do or has not picked a major yet, going to a community college can help them do their general underclass work. They can finish their undergraduate level work without committing themselves to a four-year college that may end up not being the best choice given what they do and end up majoring in.
  • When your grades from high school are poor: Private and public four-year schools can have high admission requirements and can reject your application due to bad grades and/or test scores.  A community college can help build up your GPA and then reapply as a transfer student to a four-year school with a better grade record.
  • Sport: When your ranking or level of competition is lower than it should be, a community college can be an excellent way to prove yourself at the collegiate level. Many international students take the community college route to complete the first 2 years of their bachelor’s degree while developing themselves in the NJCAA before transferring to the NCAA or NAIA.

Cons of Attending Community Colleges

  • Transfer requirment
    In the event that you anticipate getting a 4-year degree, you have to transfer to another college eventually.
  • Campus housing
    A little less than 50% of community colleges in the United States offer their students on-campus housing. While there are pros and cons to living on-campus we do recommend to most international students to start their college career on campus. It is easier to build more and quicker connections with other students, faculty and staff when you live on campus and this will make your transition easier.
  • Lower admission requirements
    Most community colleges have open admissions policies and this means that students typically do not have to fulfill any academic requirements or submit SAT or ACT. The academic level of your surrounding students will most likely be of lower level than at a university with a strict admission policy. Please bear in mind that you are still completing the first two years of a bachelor’s degree so the education level is not lower.

Curious to see what type of university is best for you? Feel free to reach out and we are happy to assist.

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