Even though attending a community college has a number of distinct advantages, I would be remiss if I did not mention a few disadvantages. We as a whole prefer to take a gander at the positive side of things and the positive qualities as I would see it of junior colleges, as a springboard for college learning, far offset the terrible. However, you should look at the big picture rather than just the sunshine and flowers if you are considering community college as an option for earning your associate's degree alone or if you intend to advance to the university level after graduation.
The first thing you should know is that you should always check with the college you plan to attend next to make sure that the classes you are taking at the community college level are compatible with the university's core requirements. This is especially important for students who plan to transfer. Although there are some instances in which they are not compatible, it is preferable to find out about these exceptions as soon as possible. If you intend to attend a university that is close to the community college where you are currently enrolled, you should check to see if they have an articulation agreement that will allow graduates with an associate's degree to seamlessly transfer.
In an effort to retain skilled workers in their respective states, numerous states are intervening and passing laws requiring colleges to accept community college credits as transfer credits. In order to give students who live a greater distance from campus access to educational opportunities that would have been denied to them in the past, some universities are even offering distance learning programs to associate's degree graduates. Obviously, if you live in one of these states, a disadvantage that used to be against you might now be in your favor.
There are a lot of community colleges that don't have housing options, and the majority of those that do have commuter campuses rather than residence halls. These colleges usually save their money to help students with their academic pursuits rather than on housing. Housing on campus is significantly more common at rural community colleges than in larger cities. Participation in sports and other activities is a little more difficult at colleges without on-campus housing than at colleges that are mostly residential.
You will be denying yourself a significant amount of earning potential over the course of your lifetime if you decide to make a community college your final educational destination. Consequently, you should seriously consider the advantages of transferring to a university for your educational objectives.
When comparing community colleges to larger universities, the fact that there are fewer opportunities to take particular classes than there are for those classes at a university was my main gripe. At the community college level, you will find that you must stick to your course schedule or face the possibility of needing an additional semester or year to complete the requirements for your associate's degree. Universities typically provide more flexibility, particularly in lower-level courses, which are all required for graduation.
Another major issue I have with community colleges is that their libraries tend to be much smaller than those of universities. Except, in a few exceptional cases, students are severely restricted in their ability to conduct in-depth research as a result. Compared to the typical community college, universities simply have bigger pockets. As a result, they will have larger libraries and significantly more amenities than the typical community college. We can only hope that this will also alter over time. I believe that the advantages of the community college learning environment far outweigh any drawbacks that may be associated with a community college education.
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