As much as I enjoyed my experience at a Community College I must admit that there are also a few setbacks. Anyone that has been following Studenomics for any period of time is aware that it is typical of me to analyze both the pros and cons of any argument. Today we will be looking at some of the reasons why a community college may not be the best option for you:
A Diploma from a Community College is less credible
A 2-3 year program at a community college is nowhere close to being as a reputable as holding a degree from a top college. A four year degree carries more credibility and more prestige because you worked long and hard to obtain the credential.
Less career opportunities
Generally speaking there are more career opportunities available for those that have a degree from a prestigious university. Many job postings clearly state that they require you have a degree not a diploma. With everything else being equal it is a sad reality that the name on the piece of paper will get you through the door and into the company. Obviously you could combat this by having spectacular work experience but that is another article for another day.
A Community College may not be challenging enough
Sure when you’re 20 years old you cheer at the top of your lungs when you find out your college program is easy. The problem is that when you finally enter the work force you may not be ready ready for some of the tasks and challenges that come your way. What’s the problem with that? If you are not really good at what you do then you won’t be as successful with your career as you would like to be.
Community Colleges typically do not offer a residence for students
Many young people love the idea of moving away from home after high school to attend college. The problem is that most community colleges will not provide you with a place to stay. Your only options would be to stay at home with your parents or to rent a unit in the area (which is typically more expensive). If you are looking for the full college life experience, you will not get it by attending a community college.
As you can see at the end of the day there are many pros and cons of attending a community college. What it comes down to though is what credentials do you need to get that dream job? If you want to become an Engineer, Doctor, or anything along those lines then a community college won’t have much to offer you. If you want to pursue a career as a trades person, medical assistant, or any other career that requires a mix of hands on experience and education then a community college is suited for you. Just please make sure before you decide on the path you will take with your education that you speak with a unbiased college counselor. Meaning someone that does not for a particular school or industry because you want an honest and unbiased opinion.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I attended community college for two years before transferring to a four-year university and I can say that, in my experience, the education I received at community college was comparable to that of the university–and it cost me much less to get it. I don’t think those who attend community college should be frowned upon. To me, if they have the necessary skills, it doesn’t matter which school they’ve attended.
By the way, just stumbled across your blog and it’s very informative. Will bookmark and check back often. Thanks!
Robert
Here’s a drawback of CC that I see rarely discussed: it might not do a darn thing to save you time OR money, if you’re planning on transferring. This isn’t to knock CC – I have more than a few friends who started there and we able to transfer to (and finish at) four year schools. But the problem comes in when you have a non-standard major.
I was a film student – if I had gone to a community college to knock out my general education requirements, I would have then transferred to a four year school to learn… I still needed to take the full four years in order to a degree in film. The program is set up so that you have to complete a certain number of projects in succession, that add up to four years no matter how you slice. The year or two at CC would have cost me that time, plus been a complete sink of any money I paid to go to the CC.
The kicker is how a lot of people were pushing me to do this – either with CC or with a private school which I had a large scholarship to. The moral of the story is to talk to advisors at the school you’re planning to transfer to… and be sure that going to CC will be a help to you.
I will agree with Robert that CC can be helpful when you transfer, even if you want to be an Engineer or Doctor. You just have to make sure your credits will transfer.
I’m a fan of CC for cost reasons. You could attend a so-so university for four years at the same price as two years at CC and two years at your dream university. In the end, your degree is from the second school, so it doesn’t matter that half your hours came from CC.
Hey guys,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, my turn to jump in. The beauty about career advice is that every single individual is in a unique position to a certain extent. The courses I took at my community college did in fact get transferred (looking past the HOURS of filling out forms and dealing with useless school staff) to my university. So for me the 3 years were excellent because I worked full time and prepared myself for university.
Once I began my university career I was more than reader for the challenge ahead. For me personally it was a logical move because after my high school graduation I wasn’t ready for anything serious. We are all different so please do your own research before making a decision that could impact the rest of your life.