Community College is a Great Start
Many motivated high school seniors have the choice of the right college on top of their to-do list. Their parents are especially concerned about distance and costs. Many high schools pamper their students with a wide range of customized accommodations and involved parents can only hope that the chosen university or college will have similar programs. Parents often fear the negative consequences of the students are numbers – treatment of the bigger universities.
Maybe the solution to this is that we should have our students jump over a creek instead of over a canyon: consider a two-year college. To many, this more personalized form of higher education ranks higher than the anonymity of big universities and their 4-year deals. The first two years are, after all, just college basics. Two year colleges do not offer higher level classes, but that is ok. After all, this is a time of transition and decision making and classes that fulfill that task of preparing are the real need here. Do not expect your student to make jumps they cannot make. Do not push them to jump anyway, because if they are not ready for it they will not make it. Sitting in an auditorium with tons of s tudents creates alienation between them and their professors. Customization to special needs is an unrealistic expectation. Community colleges score much higher when it comes to dealing with special needs students.
Community colleges are also much more affordable and students of all layers of society find their way in. Those who have to work their way through college can have a much more flexible schedule at the community colleges and online classes are gaining popularity.
Not all students feel comfortable with a four year planning to the future. For many, a two year program is a lot more realistic, especially for those who need to make real money soon. Do not make this perspective look like it is a less valuable option. Many great students started their education at a community college, transferred their credits and graduated from notorious universities. Overall, your college education influences all aspects of adult life, including your earnings. Do not take decisions lightly when it comes to the quality of your future.