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A Graduate’s Perspective: The Value of First Attending Community College
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | February 21, 2022 | Lillian Diaz

Posted on 02/21/2022 2:40:06 PM PST by karpov

Scrolling through my social media recently, I noticed a post shared by a friend that read: “@ all high school seniors filling out college applications right now: COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS OK [repeated 7x].” The sharer of the post wrote that she was about to get her associate’s degree and transfer to a four-year school with zero debt. Having gone through a similar college pathway, I hit the “like” button and commented expressing my agreement.

This post pushed back against the stigma about community college that many people are enculturated to believe: that going to community college is a failing option as opposed to a helpful means of continuing education and obtaining a college degree.

Coming from a college-preparatory high school, I myself felt a little embarrassed when I enrolled in community college while my peers went off to four-year institutions. During my senior year of high school, the student advisor shamed me for my decision to attend a community college, claiming that I was “too good of a student” to attend community college and that I “belonged to a four-year school.”

The message was clear: going to a community college wouldn’t help me flourish academically.

But immediately enrolling in a four-year school was not a financially viable option. Despite applying for scholarships and grants, none of which provided sufficient funds, I decided to enroll at Durham Technical Community College (DTCC). Four years later, I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a double bachelor’s with less than $15,000 in debt. Looking back on the whole four-year experience (two years at DTCC and two years at UNC) I asked myself, was going to community college worth it? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to others? Without hesitation.

It’s time we put a damper on the stigma of attending community college.

(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: college; communitycollege
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To: TexasGator

Yes, CC’s offer the first two years. They offer the equivalent of freshman and sophomore year courses. Some people are saying the first two years at CC aren’t equivalent to the first two years at a university. I disagree.

But, yes, the junior and senior year courses should be tougher.


61 posted on 02/22/2022 6:54:27 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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To: WASCWatch

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that information.


62 posted on 02/22/2022 6:56:17 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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To: Tired of Taxes

“Yes, CC’s offer the first two years. They offer the equivalent of freshman and sophomore year courses. Some people are saying the first two years at CC aren’t equivalent to the first two years at a university. I disagree.”

A university offers advanced and specialized courses unavailable at the CC’s.

At the CC an aspiring engineer will sit in a freshman physics class that is taught for all disciplines at a level lower than he desires.

At an university he can sit in a class of class made up of smart physics majors selected from a much larger and wider pool and taught at a higher level.


63 posted on 02/22/2022 7:15:55 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator
A university offers advanced and specialized courses unavailable at the CC’s.

That depends on the CC, the university, and the major.

64 posted on 02/22/2022 8:04:39 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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To: grey_whiskers
Apologies for the delayed response, I found Sauternes wine to be an excellent dessert wine. My tastes have changed over the years, and I don't drink sweeter wines like I did when I was younger.

The winery near Fort Worth where I've been a club member for several years produces a Sauterne occasionally. I'll give it a try.

65 posted on 02/23/2022 6:10:09 AM PST by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: Tired of Taxes

“That depends on the CC, the university, and the major.”

Cite an exception.


66 posted on 02/23/2022 8:34:01 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: TexasGator
Cite an exception.

An exception to... what exactly?

67 posted on 02/23/2022 7:16:56 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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To: Tired of Taxes

“An exception to... what exactly?”

To my generalization.


68 posted on 02/23/2022 7:18:05 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: karpov

Skip high school altogether, go straight to Community College.

from my home page

___________________________________________________________________

Here’s my modest proposal for education reform.

We have been discussing ways to fast track kids through high school to avoid the liberal agenda and other idiocies:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1315730/posts?page=84#84

Proposal for the Free Republic High School Diploma.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1316882/posts

___________________________________________________________________


69 posted on 02/23/2022 7:22:00 PM PST by Kevmo (I’m immune from Covid since I don’t watch TV.🤗)
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To: TexasGator

First, you’d have to provide evidence supporting your generalization.

Universities accept 100-level and 200-level courses at CC’s for credit. Thus, universities accept those courses as equivalent.


70 posted on 02/23/2022 7:52:10 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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To: karpov

I’ve taught at top private and public universities and colleges, as well as a large community college. The smartest students at the community college were every bit as smart and industrious as those at the four year colleges. The biggest problem I have witnessed with community colleges - a problem also true for the four year colleges - is the politically-focused breed of administrators and professors no longing offering majors and courses that are erudite or focused on Western Civilization and substituting “woke” course, with titles that include words like “gender,” “color,” “social justice,” etc. This makes it difficult, if not impossible for students doing the community college route from getting exposed to a lot of interesting majors and fields of study that the politicized administrators have made out of reach, just about impossible as majors, for a lot of students.


71 posted on 02/23/2022 7:56:16 PM PST by Seeing More Clearly Now ( )
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To: Tired of Taxes

“Universities accept 100-level and 200-level courses at CC’s for credit. Thus, universities accept those courses as equivalent.”

Not always.


72 posted on 02/23/2022 8:25:43 PM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: Raycpa
I'm gonna “ditto” your remarks as well. Got my 2 year associate's degree from Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis. That transferred to University of Missouri-St. Louis and finished my 4 year business degree with a major in Accounting. Best thing I have ever done. The teachers were all “adjunct” professors; did not have teaching degrees, but were professionals in their fields and that proved to be priceless.

Long story short, went on to a Master's. BTW, the companies I worked for during that journey offered tuition reimbursement. If you work for a company that offers this —TAKE ADVANTAGE!! No one can take away the knowledge and education you get once you have it!!

My husband got out of the Air Force and went to Barstow Community College in Cali. He was turned down by a 4 year university because he was a HS dropout when he joined the USAF and got his GED. They determined he should try CC to see if could hack that before going to 4 year Uni. His story is he got is AA in Mathematics, transferred to UC Riverside and got a 4 year degree in Physics; then got a Master's degree in Mathematics, and a PhD in Computer Science. The first 2 degrees (AA and BSA) were through the GI Bill, and he got his last 2 through work that offered Tuition Reimbursement. So, all our degrees were “pay as you go”

Before he got the PhD, he worked as an adjunct Prof. at the same CC I went to as a “Math” teacher and taught several semesters before we moved to Virginia. He loved the experience and his students. Win/Win all around!

73 posted on 02/23/2022 8:41:15 PM PST by duckbutt (Those who pay no taxes have no check on their appetite for services. )
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