Reasons to Start at a Community College

As a recent high school graduate, I have seriously been thinking about my future. And when I talk about my future, I definitely mean school.

I was not valedictorian or even salutatorian at my graduation, but I must admit, I did pretty well. I had a good GPA, did many hours of community service, had perfect attendance, and took various AP (Advanced Placement) classes. So that is why it was a big shocker when everyone at school found out I was going not to San Diego State University, but to... a community college!

Sure, teachers yelled at me, friends criticized me. But in the end, it became my decision: I would go to a community college for two years, and later transfer to a university. Though I was sure I would be offered grants and scholarships, no way would I be able to keep up with my expenses.

That's my story. But why should you start a community college?

Here's why.

Same education, less money: I live in California, so we get Cal grants apart from the Pell grants and the money from FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid- always fill it out no matter what school you're going to!). I got about five thousand dollars for UCR (University of California Riverside). But now that I'm going to a community college, all of my classes will be paid. And to be quite frank, they are the same classes I would have taken at UCR (I will later transfer).

Smaller classes: Classes consist of generally few students. Fewer students equals more assistance from the professor. Simple as that. (Bigger universities have classrooms made to fit more than one hundred students!)

More time to decide career/college: One of the reasons I personally chose to start a community college was because I didn't know where to begin. Sure, I was accepted into some nice colleges, but how would I chose? I don't even know what to major in. I just didn't want to make a hasty decision and go with the college everyone told me to go to.

Transfer programs: I know many who will get their education at a community college and then transfer. Being one of them myself, I have discovered many transfer programs! They offer assistance to those who want to transfer to a bigger state university or even to private colleges. Many of these programs guarantee admission if one meets requirements (GPA, certain classes, etc).

Something that I want to point out is that if one is going to a community college, one does not necessarily have to live with their parents. I know many people fear that by going to a local college will not introduce the student to the real world or give them a different experience after high school. However, I personally believe that it's not true. Many students move out, go to school, work, and save for a bigger expense: their future University.

Of course, this is just one option. If you are fortunate enough to be able to go straight to a University, go ahead But there is nothing wrong with starting small.