Breaking The Stigma of Community Colleges Versus Universities

Written By Colēgia

College is a major turning point for many students. It is viewed as one of the steps towards independence and building up towards the future. Naturally, students want the best possible education they can get and are usually presented with the choice of a local community college or a university. There are many factors that influence this decision but more often than not many feel disappointed when they are only able to pick a community college. We're here to help dispel that stigma and make that choice easier.

“Naturally, students want the best possible education they can get”
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Why Do We Place Community College Lower?

One of the biggest dilemmas facing community colleges are the issues we place upon them. Many of these colleges are cheaper than competing universities which gives people the impression that it comes at the cost of their education, such as worse professors or lower quality courses. It's important to recognize that each college and their curriculum is unique and the metric for “worse” education can be subjective to some degree as everyone learns differently. There are means to get a better glimpse at each professor and school out there for students such as ratemyprofessor.com which can help, but attributing the problem to the college specifically doesn't consider all the moving factors such as location or the economic state of the surrounding area.

“It’s important to recognize that each college and their curriculum is unique”
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Other Misconceptions

There are many other misconceptions when it comes to community colleges such as it being viewed as an extension of high school. This idea stems from students viewing the amount of coursework as being less than a university along with the general tone of community colleges being seen as less serious. The issue with this is that this idea devalues the hard work that all the staff and educators put into local colleges. In some instances, coursework can be higher in community colleges compared to universities depending on the professor. The coursework here is also meant to prepare students for future challenges in their academic journey and when done right it can give them the space to improve without being extremely overwhelmed. The tone for school is as serious as the individual makes it out to be. There are many students who make a conscious effort to push for high grades along with making the most out of their college experience. The biggest key factor that plays into this is that unlike high school, every student needs to maximize their time to a higher degree given that they are usually paying for their education.

“The tone for school is as serious as the individual makes it out to be.”
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The Benefits Are Tangible

The stigma against community or local colleges fails to realize is that the benefits of going to a more affordable or closer school are felt on a daily basis. Many students feel the burden of debt far after they graduate and for some, paying it off can take a long time. It's important to ask yourself, how much do I really value a “prestigious” degree? Given the affordability of community colleges, students will be able to have a buffer for their finances to help prepare them for emergencies. They will also be able to have spare money for textbooks or even transportation. The proximity of local colleges can enable students can stay near their families as a safety net before eventually delving into their careers. These benefits alone can make the journey much easier and accessible to those who would otherwise be burdened by debt.

“The proximity of local colleges can enable students can stay near their families as a safety net before eventually delving into their careers.”
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Education Is Still Education

Many students fear that a degree from a community college holds less weight than one from a university but doing so devalues their degree and personal journey. College is a time about self-discovery and learning about the world around you and regardless of whether you choose to go to a local community college or a university far from home, you're still learning.

“College is a time about self-discovery and learning about the world around you”
Colēgia

Colēgia

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