With the financial hardships almost plaguing the country, the decision many seniors have to make about where to go to college becomes increasingly swayed by the cost of the school, leading to a rise of students choosing to attend community college.
However, contrary to popular Neuqua Valley belief, the choice to attend community college is not educational suicide.
The reality behind community college is that no realistic harm can be done by attending one as oppose to a four year university. Not everyone is able to slip into the full college curriculum and lifestyle directly out high school.
Community colleges offer young adults fresh out of high school the chance to integrate themselves into the college academic society without immersing themselves in the full load of responsibilities.
Furthermore, the cost of a community college is significantly less than a four year university. Instead of thousands of dollars for a single class, a community college could potentially cost that much for an entire course load for the semester. . In addition, if living close enough to the college, tens of thousands of dollars could be saved on living expenses by not requiring a dorm room or an on campus apartment.
In contrast to what is often believed, attending a community college does not leave any negative mark on a student’s educational record. After each semester a student attending a community college has the opportunity to transfer to another school, typically a four year university, if they feel like they are ready, financially or academically, to make that jump.
When applying for a job after college, the fact of attending a community college will most likely not come up in an interview. Employers typically focus on what degree was achieved at the school where the degree was achieved from, meaning that the fact of attending a community college is in no way even regarded once transferring to a four year university.
Lucas Giolas, Photo Editor
