Deciding on where to attend college is a huge decision for students to make. There are a lot of different factors to take into consideration regarding what to study, cost, and place of living. For this reason students should go to a community college first before transferring to a four year university.
For many students, they feel the pressure of their family and peers of getting accepted into the best universities. While the thought of going to a community college is not considered.
However going to a community college first is the best option for most students coming out of high school.
For one, community college is the best time and place for a student to explore their options for different areas of study. They have the flexibility to try different courses to see what each major has to offer without feeling the pressure of having to meet a deadline.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “About one-third of students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs changed majors.” This can often delay a student in a four year university to graduating on time, whereas a student who went to a community college first and explored their options has a clear idea of what they want to pursue.
The majority of college freshmen are 18 years old and still figuring out the world, what they want to study and pursue for a career. It is expected for people to change and mature from who they were in high school. We can’t expect 18 year old students to decide what they want to do as a career for the rest of their lives.
Another factor that can weigh on a student is the cost of the school they are attending.
The average annual cost of tuition alone at a four year university is $25,362 according to Education Data, a research organization, while the tuition at a community college such as Long Beach City College is $1,472.
While many students are eligible for financial aid, they might not get enough to cover their tuition, fees, and living.
By going to a community college for two years before transferring, a student could save on average around $47,780 in tuition fees.
Along with tuition fees that students have to pay, students also have to take into consideration the cost of living and where to live.
The average cost of room and board at a four year university is $10,216 according to Education Data. While if you attend the community college in your hometown and live at home with your family, you will be saving money.
While students may be concerned with having the full ‘college experience’ by living on campus and having freedom that they would not have living with family, there are different ways that students can get that experience in community college.
For one, there are many clubs that students can join and make friends that share similar interests. Students can also attend the many events that the school has to offer.
In the end, with the ongoing pandemic that we are currently living in, students are going to be staying at home and unable to attend school in-person, so attending a community college is the perfect time to experience different fields of study and to save money.