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The season for higher education is here again. In the next few weeks, millions of students will be returning to school, and some students will be experiencing college for the first time. Once high school ends what should a student do to complete his or her own higher learning. The choice falls down on two primary options a university or a community college.
After I completed my tour with the U.S. Marine Corps, I faced the same difficult predicament millions are face each year. The choice for me was simple; I pursued classes at L.A. Pierce College. It is a community college located in the San Fernando Valley. I left the Marines not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, and I figured the best was to ground myself would be to go back to school.

Living in Los Angeles I had the choice of multiple high-end universities, state universities, and community colleges. I picked the later for one main reason, I could play around with the different majors and see what truly appealed to me. Not only did I enroll in the general education classes, but I also took extra classes designed for people transferring to universities in particular majors.
In choosing to do this process at a community college, I was able to diversify myself with trying more fields of interest for less money. I first started as a computer programmer and after a year of computer classes, I just got sick of it. Changing my major aspects after a year only cost me twenty-six dollars a credit hour compared to two-hundred and forty dollars a credit hour at C.S.U.N, or U.C.L.A. At fifteen units per semester and twelve units for summer, the money adds up fast.
New college students tend to think community colleges are not as good as the universities. There is some falsehood to this thinking. Many of the professors at some of the best community colleges taught at the universities. The professors at one point did not like the "Publish or Die" aspect of being tenured at a four-year university. In fact, I have had two professors that received PhD's from North Western University. Students should not fear they are getting subpar education from a community college.
The professors from my community college are the reason I am pursuing a PhD in creative writing. Before I went to Pierce College, I could have cared less about English, but it the professors at Pierce College opened my eyes to the world of writing. Starting in the fall of 2008 I will be in the accelerated TA program at C.S.U.N for my masters with a credential, and finally onto the PhD program at USC.
Community college will continue to provide top quality education at the best prices. Going to a community college can be the best choice for anyone who decides to take the next step in education. You will get top rate professors, and the college experience for a remarkably small amount of money. Community college will prove to be the best choice for students who wish to progress forward in education, and not have to open a student loan to fund your first few years of school.

Learn more about this author, R.K. Jeromin.
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