by Colene Pefley

Created on: August 10, 2009

Choosing to go to a community college can feel at first, demeaning, and below your potential. Missing out on the typical college experience can be frustrating. You watch as your peers go off to reputable colleges, live in dorms, and go to frat parties, while you are stuck at home. But hold on a second, the advantages of starting your education at a community college outweigh the disadvantages. Whether fresh out of high school or returning after a lapse in enrollment, community college can be a fulfilling, not to mention cheaper, experience.

This cost of community college is a fraction of the cost of a more pretigious school. The classes are basically the same, for general education, and if you excel in these classes, it will look very good on your college application when transferring. You can still receive financial aid as well. Sometimes the financial aid is more than enough to cover basic school costs and you can use the difference to help pay for food and housing costs, if you have any.

There is generally more flexibility with a community college. Classes are based around adults that may have full-time jobs, so you will find many night classes, as well as on-line courses. Your schedule can work around what ever commitments you may have. If you have children, some community colleges offer daycare that is either free or based on your ability to pay. The caretakers are often students that are in the Early Childhood Development program.

Smaller class sizes are another great advantage of going to a community college. Larger colleges may pack hundreds of students into one class, while community colleges limit their class size to 25-30 students. This will allow your instructor to be more available to you if questions arise or help is needed. Community college has a more comfortable feel to it, as opposed to the coldness of its larger counterpart.

Community colleges also offer sports programs that may not be on the same level as a larger college or university, but is a great starting point for aspiring athletes. Some professional basketball and football players have been drafted straight out of community college. Community colleges offer great sports programs and their fans are local, loyal, and true.

Sometimes community colleges get a bad reputation because there is a lack of competition to get into one. This is completely absurd, because obtaining a quality education is up to you. You can obtain an associate's degree or transfer to a reputable university to finish your bachelor's, master's, and doctorate. Beginning college at a community college can catapult your future career and help you mold your dreams and make those dreams become a reality.

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