The Truth about Community Colleges

Have you ever watched the television series “Community”? If so, you would have a pretty good idea about how I once pictured community colleges in my head.  Although I had never stepped foot on a community college campus, I thought that community colleges had no social activity, non-existent academic environments, a hodgepodge of unmotivated students, and very few, if any,  vigorous course offerings. Needless to say, I didn’t think very highly of these institutions.

After spending my first year with NCAC as one of the few advisers at a community college, my preconceived notions about community colleges have changed quite drastically.

I am discovering, however, that a lot of students still seem to hold an array of misconceptions about community colleges. A few of my students have even described community college as being a “glorified high school”. Maybe a community college isn’t the right fit for those particular students, but they certainly aren’t bad for ALL students, right?

If we are speaking realistically, not one of us can say that 100% of our students will find their best fit institution in a four-year college or university. But with so many wrong ideas about community colleges floating around, students who may find a wonderful fit in a community college don’t really know what they are in for.

Here are a few of the biggest misconceptions that that I have come across:

Misconception #1:  Everyone is admitted to a community college.

Actually, that is a true statement. However, not everyone is automatically admitted to more specialized programs at a community college. The community college that I served in my first year as an adviser has specialized programs in the allied health field, the largest and most popular being an RN program. This RN program has a completely separate admission process that includes a six-point ranking system. Nearly 300 people apply each cycle; roughly 65 of those 300 are chosen. Some of the factors taken into consideration include having taken and passed the proper rerequisite courses, what cumulative GPA was received in those classes, and what health care experience the candidate has. Oh, did I mention that this ranking process is used to determine eligibility for the TEAS test?  Regardless of how great their ranking may be, students will absolutely be denied admission into the RN program if they did not pass the TEAS.

The truth is this: Anyone can be admitted to the community college itself, but there is no guarantee for admission into the specialized programs that a community college offers.

Misconception #2: Classes at two-year institutions are easier than classes at four-year institutions.

Look at it this way: Would a class taken at a two-year institution be transferable if it did not meet the standards and rigor of the equivalent class at a four-year institution? I don’t think so. 

Misconception #3: All credit from classes taken at a community college will transfer to a four-year institution.

The truth behind this is probably one of the hardest things to explain to students. A good amount of credit from classes taken at a community college will transfer to four-year institutions, but  certainly not all of it. Most two-year institutions have general transfer degrees and articulation agreements with four-year institutions. Both of these are great options for transferring to a four-year institution. However, community colleges also have more specialized degrees available. These degrees are made for getting students through school and into the workforce quickly, generally
into an entry-level position. Because these degrees require classes that can rarely be found at a four-year institution, they do not transfer very cleanly at all.

If the thought of transferring ever crosses your students’ minds, please guide them towards receiving a transfer degree or a degree with an articulation agreement built around it, and tell them to work closely with an academic adviser at their chosen two-year institution. It will save your student a lot of time, money, and headaches.

Although I can think of several more misconceptions surrounding community colleges, I think you get my point. Part of our job is to speak the truth about community colleges, because if we are being honest with ourselves, a fair number of students will find that their best fit is at one of these institutions.

What other preconceived notions do you find your students hold about community colleges? How can we speak truthfully about community colleges in our schools? Be sure to leave your answers to these questions in the comment section!

About Laura:

I am a second-year college adviser with the Missouri College Advising Corps, serving in a first-year partner school. I graduated with honors from the University of Missouri in December 2009,  obtaining degrees in Business Administration and International Studies. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, baking, spending time with family and friends, and dancing like a fool in my living room.  This photo was taken in Durnstein, Austria.   I was in Austria for a mission trip over the summer, but we took one afternoon to visit Durnstein and play around a little bit. (And eat lots of high fat ice cream - amazing!) The water behind me is the Danube River. I took my shoes off and hopped in at the shoreline, just to be able to say that I stood in it. It was cold! :-)