Community College vs 4 year University

[Cindy B]

Another believer that CC is not any easier.

My Trends in Education course taught by the department head at my CC in considered a high level junior year course at a very respectable teaching college.

My History course was taught by a university professor at a local PHiladelphia college. It was the same course as the highly respectable Philadelphia college and I paid a 1/4 of the cost! It was one of my hardest classes ever-it was 5-15 page papers in the course of a seven week course!

In my opinion, CC is not "13th grade".

My DH has never really gone to college. He found himself in a great career without a degree--but lots of experience. He has just enrolled in CC and it has been wonderful for him. He has a 4.0 and is doing wonderfully.

 

[Chicago526]

I think it depends on the CC. I've been to two, both I would consider very good. One wants to become a 4 year college on it's own (the state won't approve it, not because it isn't a good school but because the need for a CC in the area is too great) and the other offers 4 year degrees through a co-op with one of the state universities.

I think if you find a good CC, it's a great way to get the Freshman and Sophomore level classes out of the way for a lot less money than state or private 4 year universities. They are also a wonderful resourse for those people who just aren't "college" types, but need more education than HS to get a decent job.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I agree with those that say it really depends on the CC. I graduated from college, attended two universities and graduated with a bachelor's. Later I toyed with going back for another degree.... I started by picking up a course at a local CC. It was like going back to my sophomore year in high school. The atmosphere and coursework was NOTHING like I was used to in college.

To each their own, but my kids will be strongly discouraged from taking the CC route. I also think it is very important to "get away"... and a local CC does not accomplish that.

Good luck with your child's decision!

 

[malibuconlee]

There is an EXCELLENT community college here in town with a few branches of the same institution in other communities in the area. There is NOTHING wrong with going to a community college for a couple of years before transferring to a 4 year university.

My husband did that as did my best friend. He went to a State school and she transferred to a private school. It's a great way to get the core classes out of the way, and usually in a smaller class instead of a huge lecture class. More chance to get individual help if needed.

She'll need to sit down with an enrollment specialist and go over her plans to transfer to another university. If it's a state school they'll already know which classes will transfer and which ones won't. Or they'll research and tell her which classes to take.

I know a lot of people who just weren't ready for a 4 year school and flunked out. It's a heck of a lot cheaper to go to a community college as well, especially if they can continue to live at home.

40% of graduating seniors going on to college in this area choose to start at our comm college. There is also a wonderful nursing program here that I've heard students from out of state come to take part in. There's a waiting list for that program.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I have been thinking about it and it apears the father's biggest issue is DD's career choice.

If resturant management is really what this young women wants to do why should she waste her time taking other classes? What is wrong with resturanant managment? I have a masters degree in Social work and 2 bachelors degree in social work and Sign Language studies. I have a feeling she could make more money with a 2 year degree then I can. It is makes her happy great.

If she gets this degree and find she doesn't like it, she can still go to school later for what ever she wants (or maybe she will want to be a SAHM )

I think that her carrer path won't be as much FUN right now as going to a 4 year college. That is something she might find out on her own. (or maybe really isn't that important to her.)

Sometimes a parents carrer can be hard for a child to "live down" a college professer is on of those (keep in mind that is my DH job, and mine is a therapist, another hard thing for kids to live down.)

 

[Ronda93]

If the CC is accredited then academic credits will transfer. Math, English, Sciences. Accounting, not so much.

It depends on what she takes, not where she goes. Math is a good example. You can take two or three math classes in our local CC system, but only Math 120, College Algebra is accepted in the math department at nearby universities. College Algebra is usually required for any BS/BA. If you take a ramp up math class at the university it would be considered an elective, too.

This sounds like a family power issue and not really about school choice.

Used wisely, community colleges can lop thousands off educational expenses and launch a successful academic career. Done poorly, a community college experience consists of Excel in the Workplace, Document Processing II and MIDI Music Production on the Computer. It will chew through thousands of dollars and an unfocused student will leave with little but debt.

 

[NMAmy]

I work at a community college and the majority of our students transfer to a 4 year institution. We have articulation agreements with most of the major Michigan colleges--students can work with a counselor and take exactly what they need to transfer. Many students from Michigan State take classes such as economics at the community college because it transfers directly and they save money by taking it at the cc. A lot of our teachers also teach at Michigan State or at Central Michigan. So basically, students are getting exactly the same class taught and developed by the same instructors at a greatly reduced price, with a smaller class size, and more individual attention from the instructor.

DD will be taking her first two years at the community college unless she gets a full scholarship to a 4 year. Her tuition is totally free while I'm working there--it's one of our best benefits and I plan to take advantage of it for her.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I work at a community college and the majority of our students transfer to a 4 year institution. We have articulation agreements with most of the major Michigan colleges--students can work with a counselor and take exactly what they need to transfer. Many students from Michigan State take classes such as economics at the community college because it transfers directly and they save money by taking it at the cc. A lot of our teachers also teach at Michigan State or at Central Michigan. So basically, students are getting exactly the same class taught and developed by the same instructors at a greatly reduced price, with a smaller class size, and more individual attention from the instructor.

DD will be taking her first two years at the community college unless she gets a full scholarship to a 4 year. Her tuition is totally free while I'm working there--it's one of our best benefits and I plan to take advantage of it for her.

Do you work at Lansing communty college? My Dh taught at MSU for 2 years, then moved to Schoolcraft community college (and belive it or not makes more now!) anyway alot of the students he has over the summer attened MSU, but are very happy to take him at SCC and save lots of money, and get more attention and time from your prof. He had 400 students in his classes at state. (also Schollcraft is much closer to our home and familes, unlike MSU.)