16 of 41

Community

Write now Article Tools

I agree that for many young people community college is the place to start. As a parent of two young adults I wholeheartedly agree and for a number of reasons.

The first and most obvious is cost. There is no way that I could pay for two children to attend college today, and I hated the thought of them being saddled with ridiculous student loans they would be paying off for the rest of their life! It didn't make any sense to start adulthood in so much debt.

Unless a child knows exactly what he wants to study then what is the difference where the general classes are taken? Who will care if you got an Associates Degree at a local junior college? In the meantime, you may also want to consider that many of these young adults are also holding part-time jobs that are also giving them needed work experience. They are also learning valuable lessons about everyday life and being in the workforce and that is something that a college doesn't teach.

As a parent we must also consider the child, and if he/she is mature enough for the rigors, independence and perseverence it takes to succeed at a university. To be sure it is an exciting experience for some children, but many are not ready and still need the guidance and support of their family and home. The first year my son was in college I had to help him with term papers, scheduling his classes, and preparing for tests. I don't know how he would have managed had he been alone on a college campus.

My children have friends that started off in a University and either failed and returned home or it has taken them 5-6 years to complete their degree. Not to mention that they are having a difficult time securing good employment since they have no work experience. Whereas, my son has been attending junior college and also working. He now has customer service and sales skills to add to his resume. He already makes as much money as many working adults out there.

This fall he will begin an accelerated program to complete his degree. He lives at home, drives a nice car, and has money for his personal expenses and is happy. He also feels now that he has had the time to explore his career options and has a better idea of what he wants to do with his life. He looks forward to school and enjoys all his classes because he is allowed to pace himself and does not have to overwhelm himself to meet that graduation deadline. His grade point average is 3.5, something that was never possible for him in high school. Needless to

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Which is a better first step into college: Community colleges or regular universities??
We want to hear your view. Write now!