Sat Test

Let’s talk about community colleges. Class sizes in a community college are generally a great deal smaller and more personal than in a university with thousands of students. The community college campuses are located within your community, hence the name community college. They can also be called a technical college, a county college, a junior college or a city college. They were originally called community colleges because the students who attend them are taken from within the population of the community. These institutions of higher learning are most often supported by property taxes from within the community.

One plus about attending a community college is that your GPA does not have to be out of this world in order for you to gain admission. Most people can get into a community college in their area without much work. Another plus for you is that they do offer multiple classes that will help teach you better study habits, others teach remedial math in order to prepare you for attending a four year university. When I was looking through my local community college’s schedule, I noticed there were several classes offered that seemed geared to helping students who might need just a little bit more help in making the transition from high school to college.

If you’re having some grade issues, or never really developed study skills that could be considered stellar, then perhaps some of these classes would be for you. Now don’t think that by taking these classes that you’re going to be riding the short bus and other students are going to be pointing their fingers at you and making fun of you. No one needs to know you’re taking these classes. In fact, no one needs to know about any of the classes on your class schedule. You’re a big kid now and your responsibilities are just that: yours.

One of the things I enjoyed about taking classes at a community college was the slower pace that seemed to permeate the campus. I’d attended a four year university and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. When I was home on summer breaks I liked to take a class or two at the community college near my home. Oh sure, I took my classes seriously and did the assignment and studied the books, but there was something different about campus itself. I think sometimes that a smaller learning environment lends itself to a friendlier student body. Sure, you’re probably not going to meet everyone that’s attending classes there, but you can meet as many as you’d like to if you put yourself out there.

As in high school, there are sports teams you can get involved with; there might even be theater groups you could join and work out that acting bug you’ve got.

Let’s get back to the serious part of getting your education at a community college. Don’t forget to make an appointment with a counselor there so he or she can help you map out your road to graduation. I know there are a great many perpetual students out there, and I’m fairly certain that they may have missed a few counseling sessions with their advisors in order to pick up those monikers. You really don’t want to do that, do you?

When you first start at the community college, make your appointment with your advisor. Keep that appointment and talk openly and frankly to him so he knows exactly what educational plans you are working on. He’ll help you map out what classes to take to get that AA degree, or help you find out how to bring your grades up, what classes to take and how to get transferred to the four your college that you really have your sights set on.

Community Colleges are wonderful places, full of enthusiastic young students, as well as older students who are going back to school and retraining for new careers. Most have diverse student bodies and excellent curriculums.

SAT taken? Check! Great GPA? Check! AP classes taken? Check! Involved in your community? Check! Picked your college or university yet? Whimper…

You’re ready for college; you just don’t know which college, right? If you know what you want to be when you grow up, then that may be half the batter right there. Research colleges and universities that specialize and have a respected reputation for the particular field of study you’re interested in.

But what if you want to skip the whole four year experience and go to a technical college instead? How much do you know about those kinds of schools?

I had a friend who attended a community college and got his A&P licenses. A&P licenses are airframe and power plant licenses and certifications to be aircraft mechanics. These are required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) The community college he attended offered vocational training as well as other classes that an average two year community college teaches. This college also offered vocational training in HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), Pastry, Cooking and Horticulture. This means you can get a two year degree in your preferred field at the community college level and when you graduate with your Associates Degree, you’re ready to go to work!

What was really great about visiting my friend at this college was that the students who were in the program to become pastry chefs, or cooks, ran a little bakery and restaurant. The meals were all prepared by the chefs in training and the pastries were as well. What was even better were the prices. Because it wasn’t a fancy five star restaurant, they charged much less for exquisite cuisine. The pastries were intricately designed and delicious to the taste. It was like eating out at a fancy restaurant but only paying a quarter of the price. This might be a good bargain idea for you to think about when you want to take someone out to eat while you’re at college and simply don’t have the money to spend on a high priced restaurant. Bon appetite!

So as you can see, there are other choices besides a four year university and in my next blog post I’ll discuss your other options and how to compare and contrast them.