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I had the aptitude and intelligence quotient to make straight A's as a high school student, but I only applied myself in the disciplines that interested me. I was too preoccupied with my pipe dream of becoming a rock star to take education seriously. Consequently, when I graduated in 1977, it was quite literally by the skin of my teeth. I was near the bottom in class ranking and my grade point average left much to be desired.

I spent the year following graduation rehearsing with rock bands that never seemed to play anywhere for money. All the while, I still lived at home. To my credit, and much to my parents' relief, I did have a decent-paying job and paid my own way for many things. Suddenly, a revelation took hold. The field of music had many different attributes and the fact was that I was going nowhere fast in my many bands. I decided: why not go to college and get a degree in music? Perhaps I could teach or become an independent session player. Who knew? Maybe both.

As mentioned in other articles covering this topic, community colleges were far less expensive and much easier to enter; especially in light of my haphazard high school record. I neither took SAT tests nor prepared myself for a university education, so a community college was my only option. I was 18 years old, and for the first time since I was in about the 3rd grade, I was enjoying school. Furthermore, my grades reflected this. I graduated with an Associate of Arts degree two years later with an overall GPA of 3.45. Now I could enter a University as a Junior level student. Or so I thought.

Community colleges; junior colleges, two-year colleges, whichever term you prefer, is in my opinion merely an extended version of high school. While these establishments can prove to be very useful in preparing one for a specific vocational trade, such as a dental assistant, cosmetologist, shop-related skills such as auto mechanics, or one of many other such skilled occupations, I feel that they do not adequately prepare a person who wishes to pursue a career that requires a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in the Arts and Sciences.

I transferred easily enough to a big university, but I was in for a rude awakening. The classes were much more demanding. The bar was set considerably higher, and the competition was far greater. Once I entered university-level classes, I soon learned that those enrolled will either sink or swim, and it wouldn't be long before the individual knew where he/she stood. I sank quickly; as if I had been pushed off a pier with cement shoes on my feet. Many classes that one will take in a community college that appear to be equivalent to a specified university course often will not transfer. A person finding him/herself in this situation ends up having to start over, and at a more difficult and demanding level to boot.

To conclude, community colleges certainly serve as the means of choice when seeking a vocational trade, but for any other profession where four years or more of college is mandatory, it is wise to prepare accordingly by starting out at the true university level.

This will avoid the very real possibility of setting yourself up for an unnecessary letdown.

Learn more about this author, Patrick Sills.
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