Whats the problem with Community colleges

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by vinodgopal, Mar 5, 2009.

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  1. vinodgopal

    vinodgopal New Member

    Now since most people have been saying a few credits can be knocked down at a community college for less than $150 per credit hour instead of a regionally accredited university based class that would cost about $300+ per credit.

    Why are then community colleges not the preferred choice? Just because they mostly are only nationally accredited and offer only courses at Associate levels?
     
  2. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    I don't know of any community college that is nationally accredited. Every community college I have ever seen has regional accreditation. I think many people are choosing online courses vs. community colleges for the convenience of being able to do the work when you want and where you want. Also, online learning opens up all kinds of choices with regard to majors and tuition rates.

    Pug
     
  3. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>

    Community colleges are regionally accredited- but there are plenty of junior colleges, specialty schools, and trade schools that may or may not be accredited.

    Community colleges are all jumping on the "online bandwagon" so both options are probably available to you locally.

    I think the reason people don't enroll is ignorance, fear of transfer issues, and stigma. Clearly, if you do 5 minutes worth of research you can see that you will save a bundle of money doing your first 2 years at a community college with guaranteed transfer to your state college....but it's just not as cool as living in a dorm and doing beer bongs away from Mommy. I think there is a romantic notion of being 18 and going "away" to college. <shrug>

    I wonder if you add up all the children of the forum members here, how many children will go into their educational choices with their eyes wide open!?! Thousands!
     
  4. David H

    David H Member

    I attended a Junior College (community college). The choice was easy as I wanted to get done and the classes were available.

    My son is not attending a community college however because of his major. He is doing musical theater. To be successful in the program, Freshman and Sophomore need to participate in the shows, etc. So the first two years are vital.

    Taking summer classes for basics is a great thing although he has not done that yet. We have looked at it however.

    Sometimes the program has something to do with the selection to forego the community college route -- not just transfer issues, sigma or ignorance.
     
  5. David H

    David H Member

    Sorry that was "stigma"
     
  6. mbaonline

    mbaonline New Member

    My experience...

    It's funny... when I was in high school my Dad threatened me..."If you don't get better grades you'll have to go to Bellevue Community College!" After putting myself through the UW (I paid 100% of my tuition, room, board and books - everything- by working) I WISHED that I had gone to Bellevue Community College because of the cost savings and the smaller classes, more class availability etc. And now I teach there.

    My CC has direct transfer agreements with UW, WSU and even has a four-year program on campus for Eastern Washington Uni. WSU has an online degree completion program that flows smoothly from the AA or AS degree program.

    A lot of community colleges have excellent online programs and excellent transfer options. I think everyone who needs to complete the first two years of college should investigate the community colleges in their area along with some of the lower-cost options like Clovis CC. They won't work for everyone but they are very useful.

    My daughter is a high school senior and her friends were over last weekend. They were very excited to think that they could get through their degrees with very little debt and save the $ for grad school.
     
  7. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I saved a fortune by attending a two-year college for my Associate's degree, and all my credits (more than the 60 required for graduation) transferred with no problem to my Bachelor's program.
     
  8. KF@UNA

    KF@UNA New Member

    I did my first two years at the local junior college. I even took my first distance education classes by watching the videos on PBS and going to the campus for tests. Back in 1982, that was pretty cool.

    I convinced my younger daughter that the local community college is her best option for two years, especially since that is all I am willing to pay for.

    My older one was a different story. She chose to go off and had to work to cover the difference. It turned out to not be nearly as much fun as she anticipated....

    In interviewing and hiring people over the years, I have never considered where the first two years of college were completed as relevant.

    Kevin
     
  9. Ruble

    Ruble New Member

    I agree 100% Kevin. Imho that would be like checking where a high school graduate went to elementary school, it's nearly irrelevant.
     
  10. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I don't think that there's anything wrong with community colleges.

    It's not like students aren't enrolling in them. There was a story on local TV the other day about how enrollments at community colleges is surging due to the economic downturn. People want to upgrade their skills and increase their employability. Unhappily, that surge is coming along with budget cuts as funding sources wither, so the colleges find themselves in a bind.

    My local College of San Mateo just personally sent me (my name really is "Residential Customer Local") a summer class schedule. Fees have risen to an obscenely high $20/unit. (I used to attend City College of San Francisco for free.)

    A striking new feature that caught my attention was that CSM now has articulation agreements that guarantee transfer to some high-powered universities provided that prescribed community college classes are passed with specified grades. The universities include seven of the ten University of California campuses and the highly regarded Santa Clara University.

    It looks like some of these four year schools might be trying to save themselves money by essentially outsourcing freshman and sophomore teaching to at least some of the state's community colleges.
     
  11. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Students can attend a CC and live away from home; my stepson and several of his friends moved from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to attend CC, lived in a dorm, then a rented house, formed a band, partied, surfed surfed surfed, and had part time jobs. Oh yes - they earned enough credits to subsequently transfer into, and graduate from, good universities (such as UC Santa Barbara).
     
  12. lawrenceq

    lawrenceq Member

    The main reason people I know go to community colleges are:

    1. Cost
    2. They are easier to get into
    3. Most people are intimidated by big four-year colleges, and go to community colleges as a start; a little confidience builder.

    Most athletes I know that don't qualify go to community colleges to qualify.
     
  13. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Well, easily we are all sold on the value of a community college. The issues I hear are really all non-issues.
     
  14. lawrenceq

    lawrenceq Member


    I agree!

    My only beef with community colleges is that you can only do 100-200 level classes with them. I wish they offered 300 level classes, and four-year schools would take up to 90 community college credits. lol

    I would be on it!
     
  15. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    I don't think this is very common, however. I would say a large percentage of CC students live at home or at least in the same town/area as they went to HS.

    Cookderosa made a good point about the thought of going away to college as something romantic. I had the option of going to a Penn State branch campus in the area I went to HS. (They are sort of like a CC but run by Penn State but just as expensive as the "big school".) I couldn't wait to transfer to the main campus. I had some of the best times of my life at the main campus. I loved my away from home college experience.

    I also had the worst GPA of my life there and that ultimately lead to me leaving the university without a degree and eventually finding my way to this forum. I had too much fun exploring my new found freedom. My parents were paying my tuition so I didn't care much about saving on tuition etc.

    I think for an 18 yr old that is itching to get out on their own, living at home for 2 more years isn't the most optimal of solutions. Of course, there are other options such as finding a roommate somewhere etc. Maybe it'll start to become more and more common for high schoolers to enroll in CC programs before transferring to the bigger schools.
     
  16. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Here in Maryland we have what is called the Maryland Prepaid College Trust. It's essentially a state program that allows a parent to prepay a certain sum of money into the trust, and in return for that sum of money, the state guarantees to pay out the weighted average of Maryland in-state tuition for the student when it comes time for school, even if the school is not in Maryland. Anyway, I prepaid for two years at a 4-year university for my two oldest sons. The deal I have with each of them is this: Go to community college for 2 years. If you get good grades I will help you pay for the classes. When you graduate from community college, the prepaid trust money is yours to attend the university of your choice to complete your BA/BS.

    Pug
     
  17. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I agree - My point was that going away to attend a CC is an option.

    Conversely in Southern California I have met lots of people who attended 4 year schools (usually for 5 or more years) while living at home. California residents who are full time students at California state universities get a great deal on tuition.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 5, 2009
  18. MISin08

    MISin08 New Member

    Community colleges are a comparatively new phenomenon, sometimes set up as adjuncts to high school districts (my grandparents help start one), and while they can be great schools they lack the cachet of the 4-year institutions. Some reasons, rational or otherwise:
    • Fewer Phds in the faculty (some faculty may have only -- gasp -- a bachelor's)
    • Focus on vocational education
    • Often publicly funded & so somehow lacking: 'not real college'
    • Less prestigious sports leagues
    • You want to get away from your parents
     
  19. jaer57

    jaer57 New Member

    I've never heard of that program before, although I've only lived here for 2 years. Good to know! Thanks!
     
  20. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    I think there's a lot of validity to the notion of going away to college. Like actually being allowed to grow up and not being totally suffocated by one's parents.
     

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