While there are many different benefits that can be associated with attending a community college, there are some drawbacks that I would not like to mention. We all like to look on the bright side of things, and in my opinion the good of community colleges, at least as a stepping stone to college learning, far outweighs the bad. However, if you're considering community college as an option, whether it's just for your associate's degree or you plan to move up to the college level upon completion, you need to see the big picture and not just the sunshine and flowers.
The first thing to keep in mind, and this is mostly true for those students with relocation plans, is that you should always check with the college you plan to attend to make sure that the courses you are taking are community college level. . Are compatible with the basic requirements of the university. In many cases they are similar enough to be considered compatible, but there are exceptions and, it is best to inquire as soon as possible. If you plan to attend a university that is close to the community college you attend, you should check and see if they have some sort of joint agreement that allows associate graduates to transfer without issue. Many states are stepping in and passing laws requiring colleges in their specific states to accept community college credit as transfer credit in an effort to keep skilled workers in the state. Some universities even offer distance learning programs to associate graduates to allow students who live a greater distance from campus to access educational opportunities that they would have been denied in the past. Of course, if you live in one of these states, a previous handicap can now work in your favor.
Many community colleges do not offer housing opportunities, and most of those that do remain largely commuter campuses rather than residence campuses. Instead of spending funds on accommodation, these colleges tend to reserve their expenses to help with academic activities. Community colleges in rural areas are much more likely to offer campus housing than those in larger cities. The lack of on-campus housing makes participation in sports and other activities somewhat more difficult than at universities, which are largely residential in nature.
If you decide to make a community college your last stop when it comes to your personal educational experience, you will be denying yourself great earning potential for life. For this reason, you should seriously consider the benefits that transferring to a university will present to your educational goals.
My biggest complaint when it comes to community colleges versus larger universities has been that there are so limited opportunities to take specific courses compared to those at the college level. You'll find that you must stay within your sequence of community college-level courses or risk needing an additional semester or year to complete the requirements for your associate's degree. Universities tend to offer more flexibility, especially in the lower-level courses that everyone requires to graduate. My other big gripe when it comes to community colleges is the fact that they often have much smaller libraries than universities. This severely limits students' ability to do in-depth research, except in rare cases. Colleges simply have deeper pockets than the average community college. Because of this, they will have bigger libraries and far more bells and whistles than the average community college. We hope to see this change over time as well. Despite the disadvantages that may be associated with a community college education, I believe they are outweighed by the benefits offered by the community college learning environment.
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