I was reading an article in the Ventura County Star the other day about high school seniors choosing to attend community college instead of the four-year universities they got into: ones such as UC-Santa Cruz, CSUCI, Cal State Dominguez Hills, etc. Whether it was to be closer to family or for financial reasons, the author of the story who shall not be named implied that heading into the direction of a community college is a bad thing, and does not provide one with an ample opportunity for a quality education.
IT really sickened me to think a liberal news media would have the courage to imply that community college is a “cop out” and leads to know extended opportunities. Without community college, I would not be the person I was today. Some kids are just not ready to leave home at 17/18 years old, and take on the pressures of a four-year university. Not to mention the absurd costs to attend the college, along with the stress of applying for financial aid packages, registering for housing, and putting your life in place to be on your own in a matter of 3 months. Community colleges appear to be frowned upon, and are not given the credit they deserve. The story went on to say that community colleges cannot offer what the four-year institutions can. I beg to differ.
In fact community colleges offer the same valued education, if not better, then the four-year colleges for 1/25th the price. People do not understand what programs are offered at community colleges such as ROTC, Nursing, Vocational as well as different clubs and organizations that exist at the four-year. So you have to live at home, but then again, who likes sharing a dorm with two other people and you dont even get your own bathroom. I think its time to reconsider the demeanor of a community college, and ignore the ignorant biased media in what they believe is a road to failure. Some people just cant afford the high costs of a four-year.
Not only that, schools are being more selective in the admissions process and your safest bet for a better chance at acceptance is through transferring. For whatever reason the author of this article decided to believe that community college is the end of the road, I implore this person to think the opposite: look at the success stories of community college students and how going down this path created the same, if not better opportunity for their education. I know it did for me. IF it weren’t for community college, I would still be a biology major right now, wasting thousands of dollars on tuition for an education for a career in a job I did not want.
Community college is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a fresh start. Follow the yellow brick road of opportunity and don’t ever let anyone ever tell you what you can’t do. Shame on this writer for assuming that choosing a community college over a four-year was a bad thing. Your ignorance amazes me.