by Kelly Ann Butterbaugh

There are as many myths about college life as there are colleges, and a great number of them focus upon community colleges.  While some of the stories are true, the false ones injure the reputation of the colleges and create the image of a “false college.”  It is important to know the truth about community colleges in order to make the correct decision about which college is the right college. 

“Isn’t going to a community college like staying in high school, a sort of thirteenth grade?”

            One of the most predominant and inaccurate myths circulating the corridors of high schools, this statement prevents many students from attending a community college on the basis of reputation alone.  Community colleges are “real colleges,” and they offer a great deal of advantages that many four year colleges do not. 

            Maria Esposito Roberts, Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement of Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, PA, comments, “It’s true we don’t have a Big 10 football team, but we certainly make up for it with our warm atmosphere and people who care about every single student.”

Like high school, most community colleges offer a supportive atmosphere that helps to alleviate the traditional fears that come with college.  With small class sizes and personal encounters with professors, community college can be a great transition between high school and the four year college without skimping on the academics.

“If I attend a community college, I’m not saving that much money because many of my credits will not transfer to a four year college.”

            While community colleges offer two year programs which allow students to earn an associate’s degree and attain professional employment, their main concern is helping their students transfer to a continuing college.  In fact, many community colleges offer articulation agreements which are formal agreements made with four year schools.  These agreements guarantee that no credits are wasted during the transfer if the set program is followed.

            If transferring is your plan, take the time to plan ahead.  Know to which college you want to transfer and your course of study before taking any courses.  Also, follow the instructions of your advisor carefully.  Courses that stray from the prescribed course schedule often are the reason for losing credits while transferring. 

            Marcha L. Hunley, Honors Experience Chairperson at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College in Cincinnati, OH warns, “Do not self-advise!  Work with your advisor to maximize the transferability of your classes.” 

“The social life at a two-year college isn’t the same as that of a four year college.”

            This statement tends to be true.  Community colleges often fall into the category of  “commuter campuses” with students taking classes and then going home.  Although, the colleges are combating that mindset by creating new and exciting programs as well as full sports programs.  The best advice is that students get from the college what they put into it, including extracurricular activities.

“Community college is for people who can’t handle a four year college.”

            False, community college is where students go because it is the right choice for them, not because it is a last choice for them.  Lehigh Carbon Community College notices that many of its students were originally enrolled in four year programs before transferring to the institution.  Many of their reasons for transferring include the personal contact made between students and faculty that is lost at the four year level as well as smaller class sizes.

            The faculty at a community college is not pushed to publish research to the degree of those at the four year level.  This leaves teaching as the number one priority, eliminating classes taught by lab assistants.  Likewise,  community college classes are sometimes run with as few as five students per class rather than in lecture halls filled with 200 or more students. 

            Many students who choose to attend a community college are competitive academically, but they are not socially or financially prepared for the four year college experience.

“I’m not going to get the same quality of education at the community college as I would at the four year college.”

            In this case the saying “you get what you pay for” is untrue.  Because of the high rate of transfers, community colleges have proven to offer the same level of instruction to students as four year colleges.  Most students who transfer after two years agree that their education at the community college was equal to or even superior to that of the four year school. 

            “Many students are astounded to find that many of their first year professors hold Ph.Ds,” says Maria Esposito Roberts.

“What about the open admissions policy of two year schools?  Don’t the have to let you in regardless of your ability?”

            Yes and no, community colleges operate on an open admissions basis which means students cannot be denied admission based upon ability.  However, that does not mean that they cannot be denied enrollment in classes.  Students must “test in” to classes in order to assure that they can function at a collegiate level.  If they can not, there are remedial programs offered which will then prepare them for the college classes ahead.  This means that some students may attend more than four semesters at a community college before graduating.  Likewise, there are honors programs for those who achieve at high levels upon entering the college.  Open enrollment is there to help students not to create a low level of expectations. 

“Is it really that much cheaper?”

            Yes!  On average community colleges can cost 20% of the tuition at a four year college.  Some claim to save 73% on the first two years of a college education.  Plus, community colleges offer the same opportunities for grants, scholarships, student loans, and work study programs as other institutions. 

            While all of this tuition is saved, the college still offers the same educational opportunities as a four year school.  There are state of the art libraries and on-line capabilities, satellite campuses which alleviate long distance commuting, tutoring, extracurricular activities, science labs, and full computer labs and stations.  It’s money well saved.

            After looking at the facts and debunking the myths, is community college right for you?  That’s a personal choice, and like any college its pros and cons need to be considered.  Visit the campus, talk to the advisors, and peruse the course catalog. 

            “Remember—your Bachelor’s degree states where you graduated from, not where you started,” reminds Marcha L. Hunley.