Affordable University Alternatives & Strategies
Starting with the Community College Offers Benefits and Saves Money
Apr 17, 2009
High school students considering higher education should evaluate affordable strategies that ultimately achieve the same goals as the traditional transition from high school to a four-year undergraduate program. This should be of particular concern given cuts in student financial aid, tuition cost surcharges and percentage increases, and changes on many college campuses that result in larger class sizes due to faculty reduction, notably in the core courses taught in freshman and sophomore year.
Beginning Higher Education with the Community College
Not too long ago, Community Colleges were often viewed as the higher education “step-child” that catered to marginal high school students or offered college students at senior institutions on academic probation a way to rehabilitate grade point averages. Community Colleges were the “tech” schools that taught skills like auto mechanics and plumbing.
While many Community Colleges still offer excellent trade skills programs, they are turning from being a step-child to the work-horse of the higher education community. Technology, business education, criminology, and health care often form the backbone of successful programs, many leading to careers far more lucrative than those associated with some four-year BA programs at senior institutions.
Community Colleges also promote two-year “college transfer” programs that enable students bound for a senior institution to amass enough college credit hours to then transfer as a first semester junior. In essence, these students take the same core courses, like Psychology 101 or Western Civilization, as at the four-year senior institution, but reap other benefits that might be highly appealing.
Community College tuition is usually substantially lower than at four-year senior institutions. Students still benefit from living at home, if they come right out of high school, and save on lodging and meal costs. Class sizes might actually be smaller and the opportunities for part-time employment could be higher than if living in a “college town.”
Students following such programs should follow certain cautions when enrolling in a program:
- Work closely and regularly with an advisor
- Determine exactly which courses will transfer
- Cross-check four-year institutions to ensure they will accept the credits
- Research grade thresholds for transferring courses or GPA guidelines
- Revisit all steps each semester to ensure no policy changes were made
Checking the grade threshold is very important. Some four-year institutions may not accept transfer credit if the course was taught on-line. Similarly, senior institutions may specify a certain grade attainment to be eligible for transfer.
Additionally, students should be aware that Community College credit is accepted by both public universities and private institutions. So-called “elite” private institutions may categorize what courses they will accept for credit as well as the grade given, generally an “A.” Requirements at public institutions may be less stringent. Nonetheless, students should contact admissions departments before beginning the Community College program.
Starting at Community College and Ending at Law or Medical School
Countless examples exist of students that took advantage of the Community College transfer program, finished undergraduate studies at a four-year institution, and moved on to graduate MBA, Law, or Medical programs. For high school students participating in Community College “early college” programs, the benefits are even greater.
High school students taking bona fide college transfer courses through these early colleges ultimately reduce the undergraduate experience by arriving at the college-level with dozens of credit hours. This might enable such students to double-major, begin graduate studies earlier, or concentrate earlier on courses related to stated majors.
Benefits May Outweigh the Negatives
Although students may “miss out” on the so-called dorm life and college socialization, at a time of deepening recession, it might be worthwhile to objectively balance the options. Community Colleges offer an attractive academic alternative that could affect higher education strategies among students and parents unwilling or unable to cope with college costs.
 |
