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You may have heard that community college is the thirteenth year of school or that it’s not as rigorous as a four-year university. I would like to dispel both of those myths.
Even if you’re taking dual credit high school courses, it’s still college. And to meet state and federal requirements, as well as act ethically, community colleges offer rigorous curriculum. My students often thank me for preparing them for courses at the institutions to which they transfer. Critical thinking is the cornerstone of higher education and you’ll learn how to expand that skill through your coursework.
2. We can help you with just about anything
I tell my students that the biggest mistake they can make is waiting too late to ask for help. There are a ton of services at community colleges to help you, so take advantage of them!
Educational Assistance
Tutoring centers, peer tutoring, library classes, life-hacking workshops, professor office hours, paper editing. The list goes on and on! And because community colleges serve both traditional and nontraditional students, they provide most of these services both virtually and in person, during daytime hours and in the evenings. I have conducted online office hours with students while they are on a break at work, feeding a baby, or even at 9:00 pm.
Material Needs
Most community colleges have food pantries, technology to loan, emergency assistance, and living stipends available. One of my students lost her home in a fire and we were able to supply her with a laptop and hotspot to borrow as well as some emergency funding to help with her living situation. If the college doesn’t have these services, someone at the college can connect you with community resources.
Mental Health
The first time I saw a therapist was in college. Usually included with your student fees, you can meet with a mental health professional on campus. They can help with anything from school overwhelm to relationship issues. Ability services can help you ensure you have the right accommodations for physical disabilities or neurodivergence. When it comes to thriving in college, taking care of mental health is just as important as studying.
3. Small class sizes are golden
Did you know that the average class size at community college ranges from 25-35? In a large university, your required freshman classes might have 300!
In my small history classes, everyone can be involved in discussions and active learning rather than listen to me lecture for over an hour. One of my favorite things to do in my class is conduct game-based activities about historical topics and primary sources. I can do that easily in a small class. I even turned a classroom into an escape room!
Small classes ensure that each student gets more attention. I know every student’s name. We work together to create a supportive environment so that students can get to know each other and me. Even in online classes, I can reach out to each student individually and help them reach their academic goals.
I’m not suggesting that tenured professors at research universities don’t care about their students, but teaching is often not their main job. Most community college instructors choose to work there because they love teaching and want that to be their focus. This means that some of the most innovative teaching can come out of two-year institutions and you as a student will benefit from that.
At my own institution, my colleagues and I created a multi-disciplinary project centered on food. My students conducted interviews with their families about the importance of food to their history, biology students studied nutritional aspects of food, and pastry students made desserts. We brought everything together with a contest and food tasting. This kind of innovation is something I see at a lot of community colleges!
5. Opportunities for Connection
Because we try to live into the values of being a true public institution, community colleges have robust connections with the local community. Need an internship in your field? Want a mentor in the type of career you’re interested in? Hoping to find employment in your discipline? You can make those connections.
On campus
From clubs to extracurriculars, there’s something for everyone. At my campus, the most popular student group is the Anime Club. We also hold events where students can bring their families, such as movie nights and cultural celebrations. Community colleges have diverse student populations and interactions outside of class are opportunities to learn and grow from getting to know people who are different from you.
So whether you are a high school student seeking dual enrollment, a recent high school grad, or you’ve taken years away from school, community colleges are for everyone.
More Great Reading:
Why I Recommend Community College to High School Graduates
