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Throughout their high school years, many students reflect upon the dilemma of choosing whether to attend either a community college or a university. Both are institutions of higher learning that vary in terms of the environment, costs, and the types of education offered. The option of higher learning is one that every high school attendee should consider by the time of graduation, even though the choice rests entirely upon them.
Community colleges are established to support local areas, mostly the areas close to the school. On the other hand, universities furnish the general population with a learning institution. Colleges are important for students who may require a transition. This is because credits are transferable to a university. Some students may not be ready to move away from home, and junior colleges prepare them for this experience. There are other options, for example taking a parallel program, where the student takes classes at both the community college and the university in order to hasten the transition.

One of the major considerations for community college or university is finances. Unlike elementary and high school education, they are not free. Many parents work hard to save money, while some students may take jobs after high school in order to raise some of the required funds. The tuition at colleges is much cheaper than the cost of going to a university. Junior colleges offer the same general education classes for about a third of the university cost. They also offer an Associates Degree, which is a valuable tool for someone who is seeking employment before completing their course. With the low cost, some students are able to take more classes and graduate faster. In addition to that, they can also save money that would have been used as dorm rent.
Classroom size determines the kind of attention given by instructors. The small classroom sizes at colleges offer the students a personalized feel. The teachers are more approachable because most of the time, they know the students by name. On the opposite end, most universities can have even more than one hundred students in a classroom thus making it difficult for a lecturer to attend to individual needs. An advantage of universities is that they present a wider variety of classes giving the student room to select what they think is best.
While at universities, individuals experience more diversity through their interactions with people from around the world, both faculty and the student body. This is an important preparation for dealing with life in the real world which does not only involve people in the immediate community. It is also valuable as it aids in understanding some of the goings-on around the world, and developing skills in being open-minded.
Although community colleges serve a great purpose in educating the local community, they are limited in the education offered. Most offer vocational training which is geared more towards a job. Universities offer different challenging forms of education, including Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees which pose greater educational challenges and are a pathway to a career.
Both institutions offer a means of justifying the end: achieving a higher education and a preparation for facing the world as an adult. At the end of the day, it all depends on an individual's goals and personal ambitions to guide them on what institution to pick.

Learn more about this author, Marlena Wanjala.
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