College is not only something which can have a major impact on your future, but it also is something that is recognized as a life changing experience for many of us. Although we would all love to start out at a college or university to take full advantage of this experience, there is no doubt that there are so many benefits which are associated with attending a community college first. Read on to learn more about some of the many benefits that you may want to take advantage of by attending a community college prior to a larger college or university.
You Will Be Able to Save a Great Deal of Money
Community colleges are often half the cost, or even less, than most colleges or universities. What this means is that you will be able to save a great deal of money by attending a community college before a larger college or university. Although you may want to take student loans for the college that you want to attend which costs $30,000 a year, it is important to keep in mind that after four years, you will have borrowed $120,000. This does not even include the interest which you have to pay on the loan. If you can attend a community college for only $5,000 a year, you will only owe $10,000 plus interested after two years. Two more years at the $30,000 university will cost you $60,000 plus interest. Overall, you will owe $70,000 plus interest – rather than $120,000 plus interest. While it may not seem like a huge difference to you right now, there is no doubt that you will find the money-saving benefit of community college to be very advantageous in the long run.
Your Chances of Getting Accepted are High – Or Even Guaranteed
Many colleges and universities have high expectations for admittance, including high scores on SAT exams, high GPA’s, and students who are well-rounded with extra-curricular activities. You may find that you do not meet the expectations of the college or university which you are interested in attending. This does not mean that you should give up hope. Many community colleges will not only accept you easier than a larger college or university, but many also have open admission policies – which means that just about anybody can attend. Most of community colleges even offer you the ability to register as late as a week before classes start. What this means is that if you have not gotten accepted to any of the colleges or university that you applied to and you have no other options left, chances are that community college will still accept you. Once you have graduated with an associate’s degree or if you just want to transfer, as long as your grades are good, you will be more likely to get accepted to the school which you are interested in.
You Will Find a Smooth Transition From High School
While many large colleges and universities have very large classes, community colleges often offer much smaller classes. This is great for just about anyone when they are going through the transition between high school and college. If you do not yet feel as though you are ready to deal with the changes that come with leaving high school and entering a university or larger college. Many community colleges often have a staff which works closely with its students. Some colleges even have curriculums which may be more demanding than those at larger colleges or universities, in order to make sure that their students are prepared for attending these educational institutions once they have decided to transfer.
You Will Get a Taste of the College Experience
Although we do not like to admit it, the truth is that college is not for everyone. Community college will provide you with a taste of the overall college experience, which is great if you are unsure as to whether or not you will like it. It is also great for anyone who is afraid that they might end up changing their major, which is more common than you probably think. In fact, studies have shown that around 75% of all college students will change their major. If you decide to switch majors, you could end up saving more money at a community college. When you decide to switch your major, you will often find that some of the courses which you have taken may not count towards your major. You will find yourself saving more money at a community college than you would at a more expensive school. If you decide to drop out of college, you will also save a lot more money at a community college. Overall, this is a great place to learn whether or not the college experience is something which you want to continue with – or if you are headed in the right career pathway.
You May Not Need Any Further Schooling After All
With some majors, there is no need for you to continue your schooling in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Whether you decide to earn an associate’s degree or just a certificate, there are many job opportunities available out there without going the whole four years. Some of the most common, highest paying majors that do not require further schooling include dental hygiene, real estate, and medical transcription. Most universities do not offer associate’s degrees, which makes community college a great option for these types of jobs.
You May Find it Beneficial If You Have Not Just Graduated From High School
Many people are deciding to attend college later in life nowadays. Some colleges and universities are often not as accepting of these students as community colleges are. In fact, you might find yourself getting rejected from colleges and universities for the simple fact that you have not done any type of schooling since high school. If this is the case, you might want to consider community college as an option. You will get the opportunity to prove that you can still do what it takes to pull good grades, so that your chances of getting accepted into a large college or university will be higher.
As you can see, there are a number of different benefits which are associated with attending a community college. If you have not yet thought about this as an option for yourself and your schooling, then you may want to consider doing so.
