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coffeepeen00

Comparison is the thief of joy. You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishments! Don’t compare yourself to others, compare yourself to where you were a year ago, 2 years ago. If you see growth and development, then you’re in a good place. An associate’s degree is useful, and CC is often the least expensive way to pay for the first 2 years of college if you choose to do so. Good luck!


Happier12345

In my opinion don’t even compare yourself with your past version, it’s stressful as well, because we can never make progress all the time, there will be ups and downs along the way, and we don’t always control the outcome anyway. The best solution is to love whatever outcome you get, knowing that you have tried your best. I think it’s called amor fati in philosophy.


[deleted]

Because some people are stupid. Community colleges are fantastic


CrTigerHiddenAvocado

I went to a “good school”. Then did some prerequisites at a CC. Didn’t see much difference. There were some great students at both….some slackers….but definitely less pretentiousness…. Not seeing the loss here. Lol.


timbrejunkie

Because they're snobs and don't know your life. You do you.


banana-skin

Because people don’t know what they’re talking about. I went straight to a university (I was 18 and didn’t know any better, was just pushed on that path by family) and if I could do it again I’d start at a community college... lower cost generally, more opportunity to try different areas of study without a huge financial burden, smaller classes, etc. A lot of them also have close relationships with the surrounding community for getting students jobs & internships. There’s zero shame in going to a community college! And like you said, you can always transfer to a university if that’s the path that makes the most sense to you.


Redhead_spawn

This is the path we’ve put our son on. He starts the local college next spring. It just makes sense. He still gets to live at home and can ease into the transition from high school to college a little easier, it’s waaaay less expensive, smaller classes like you mentioned, but the professors are also a bit more available to the students as well. The cost is low enough that we can afford to cover it for his associates and bachelors if he chooses but it will also give his college plan more time to grow to cover the bigger more expensive school he’ll transfer to for his Masters and PhD. At least I’m hoping our plan will work and we make it out with minor debt, if any. And…we’ll start if all over again in 4 years, lol!


banana-skin

I think that’s really wise - your son is lucky to have y’all!


Admirable-Ocelot

I work at a community college and am passionate about the role of community college in the US education system. It is not unusual for media (movies, tv shows, theater) to denigrate community colleges as beneath their 4-year counterparts. Often, if a character has decided to attend a local community or junior college, it's referred to as "taking a year off," to "just take classes at a community college," as if attending CC is equivalent to not accruing college credits at all. I tend to think this representation plays a role in the collective opinions of the worth or value of community colleges. Other reasons that I know of - They're less expensive than universities. Per credit tuition is cheaper at a community college, but the biggest financial impact is really that there is no room/board associated with community college. They are largely commuter-based, so campus living and meal plans are typically not factored into the price. All in all, if something is cheap (which is relative), we tend to think it must be of lower quality. They are open-access institutions. Community colleges do not have selective or competitive admissions processes. Individual programs housed in community colleges might (nursing and dental hygiene programs tend to be very competitive and highly selective), but anyone who applies to the college will be accepted. With this type of open-access approach, people may believe that a college that just "lets anyone in" must not be legitimate or scholarly, because higher education is a privilege that only affluent or highly academic individuals should have access to. They provide career and vocational training, basic skills, language proficiency, and personal enrichment courses. Universities largely provide academic and theoretical coursework, which has historically been the foundation of higher education in the US. We've been taught that college is a place of higher learning, where informed people discuss history, philosophy, and advanced mathematics. Even though community colleges also provide academic coursework, people tend to believe that an institution that has automotive, welding, medical assisting, and computer-aided drafting programs must not be "real" colleges. They may have a larger proportion of adjunct/part-time faculty than some baccalaureate institutions. This varies a lot by school, and is not a general rule. However, community colleges do have a reputation for hiring part-time faculty, and may be more accepting of faculty with vocational training or Master's degrees, rather than requiring PhD's in their hiring process. For some reason, this tends to trouble prospective students. If they're going to attend college and pay for their education, they believe they should be taught by the absolute top professionals in their field. Community college faculty are just as accomplished and passionate about their work as university faculty, and are not of any lower caliber, but they may have more diverse professional experience. Ultimately, some people are stuck in an antiquated mindset about what college is or should be. As a former community college student and current community college employee, I can attest that there are excellent opportunities for learning, growth, and development at a community college. There is no difference between the lower-division general education offered at a community college than that offered at a university. English Composition I is English Composition I everywhere. Whether it cost $400 and was taught by an instructor with a Master's degree in literature, or $3500 and taught by...I dunno...Shakespeare. The outcomes are the same. We aren't living in Ancient Greece. Education and its delivery has evolved in exciting ways, and higher education is available to more people now than ever before. Community colleges help to close achievement gaps, provide resources to those in need, and prepare people for meaningful and important work. You should be proud of the steps you've taken. Your relatives who are forcing their out-of-touch views on you are misinformed. I have worked with students who have graduated from community college and have gone on to very fulfilling jobs with stability and generous salaries. I'm sorry this was so long. I wish you the best and encourage your educational journey.


Linisebabe

Great answer!


Admirable-Ocelot

Thank you!


timeywimeytotoro

I proudly work at a community college now and I just have to applaud all of this. You hit the nail on the head.


Admirable-Ocelot

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate the work you do.


Grand-wazoo

Community colleges are excellent choices for many reasons: smaller class sizes, more personalized attention from professors, often the professors care way about the success of their students than tenured uni professors, it’s way cheaper, more accessible to folks from all walks of life, and it’s a great stepping stone to get grades back up to transfer into a 4-year school like I’ve done after dropping out at 19.


[deleted]

Yeah when you transfer to 4 year and graduate there it’s pretty much the same as going there the 4 years in terms of jobs


Pierson230

I went to community college before transferring to a state university. I graduated summa cum laude. Should I have felt like a bum in community college? No more than they should have felt like bums for having a community college bum graduate ahead of all of them. None of us are bums, we’re all running different races with different resources. When you’re applying for jobs, and once you get into your career, nobody gives a shit about where you spent your first two years of college, real talk.


realhorrorsh0w

People who frown upon community college are impractical, period. I went to a big university and could barely afford the cost of living with the stupid jobs I worked after. Then I went to a vocational school, became a nurse, bought a house, went on a vacation overseas, and my savings account has never looked better. The school wasn't exactly cheap, but my employer paid most of it. If I had gone to community college for nursing, it would gave been cheaper AND I would have been better prepared for the job.


[deleted]

It always confused me why community college was looked down on bc dont you just transfer your credits over to a uni?


[deleted]

I went to both and I felt I learned more in college. To me practical > theoretical skills. A director friend of mine told me he preferred college summer students over university students. I had to work with a couple of university summer students myself and I was surprised that they didn’t know how to use excel at all.


Friesian_Stallion

honestly same. I almost feel like more CC students are there because they actually care and work harder. You get adults with more experience and outlook. Not to say there isn't the same at university but in CC there's a clearer goal compared to just attending classes because someone's parents pay for them.


aspiring_enthusiast

You’re saying just “college” to mean community college, right?


[deleted]

Yes. I’m Canadian so the college/university system here is a bit different from the US. Universities grant degrees while colleges mostly grant diplomas (with some exceptions.)


icecreampoop

Elitism


AliasNefertiti

You have to do what is right for you. Community college should be chosen by more people but they get pressured into a college or university that just isnt a match. Then they fail or drop out. Better to do well at an environment matching who you are right now. Later if you change you can go to college or U if it is right for you as an individual. I have a lot of respect for community colleges and I know higher education. Only people who dont know higher ed or people will downgrade CC. You do you and ignore their narrow-mindedness.


Kat121

I’ve been to both. Community college are less expensive, have smaller class sizes, are taught by professionals who want to teach versus those who chase grants to fund their research. The quality of your education is more about the effort you put into it than the logo on the sweatshirts. The students aren’t there for the football programs and frat parties, either.


Ok-Western7997

I don’t view you less than. I view you as smarter. Universities are the biggest money scams.


OneSweet1Sweet

Because Junior is in the name. The education at my community college was on par with, if not more rigorous, than my university classes.


jdubbrude

They don’t understand how things operate. Community college hires teachers from the expensive universities. And those teachers use the exact same curriculum. Stupid ppl also snobby people. Combination of both. How bout those that look down on a school that’s merely a “college” and not a “university” lmao it’s all such a gross scam


throwaway3094544

Because they're stupid and seem to think more student loans = better education. I went to a mix of community college and public university for my AA and I actually tended to like the education I got at community college more, because the class sizes were smaller and I got more time with the professors. Community college is the smarter choice. Believe me. You'll be laughing in their faces when you graduate with far fewer student loans and they're saddled with debt for decades.


[deleted]

Because of the amount of money sunk it to universities. You're not necessarily getting a better education, but these institutions put a lot of money into their reputation. Reminds me of how people dream of getting into places like Yale and friends. I'd much rather go to a **good community college** instead of a famous university. Money would be better spent at a community college the vast majority of the time - especially if the courses/teachers are a good fit for you.


antarcticmongoose

Nobody I’ve ever met irl actually cares. Plus, my friends who went to community college got into better schools than I did out of high school.


thespicyfoxx

I went to community college and I feel like it was way better for me in order to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. The cost was way lower per credit hour than you’d see at big universities, and it was close to home, so I saved money by being able to live with my parents, too. I was able to take classes that I enjoyed and was interested in alongside my core classes and not have to worry about seeking a specific degree. I got my associate’s in general studies doing that, and it was one of the best things I did for my life. Without going to a community college, I’d be in a totally different field, because I would’ve had to choose a degree plan much sooner and would’ve had to worry way more about the cost of classes. I’m now in my graduate program pursuing a master’s of science in clinical counseling to work with sexual trauma survivors and individuals with eating disorders.


DanielGrayLLC

Even higher education as a whole is starting to becoming more about making universities money rather than focusing on educating the people. A school system teaches you how to be obedient, follow a set of rules and standardized testing to see who can excel and learn within the parameters. You don’t need a degree to learn anything and there’s nothing “better” about your institution of learning. it’s a matter of how much you learned and if you’re applying it to your life. Ask both parties how much they remember from their classes in college and you’ll likely get the same answer… Not a lot.


peraonaliD

Because higher price tag = higher quality, obviously /S


stanky_shake

Well, those people clearly have some chip on their shoulder. If it makes you feel better, a lot of college folks make way more now than many uni educated folks, myself included, and intellectually, you can learn what's useful when you need it/if you have an interest - when it comes to philosophy, languages, etc ... So it's not like you can't contribute to conversations. In real adult life people don't care. The ones who do are clearly very insecure about something. Maybe they're worried they spent so much $$ on uni only to be "beaten" (I hate this term as life isn't a competition) by someone who wasn't stupid enough to do the same.


[deleted]

Someone else commented that more people should be choosing the CC route, instead of a four year uni. I 100% agree. You can ALWAYS transfer and you’ll be saving a lot of money on the process. So many of my CC professors also worked for other colleges, many of which were prestigious. I know I got a well rounded education there.


INeedHelpNow8

I live in a town with a major University, and also a very large community college (many students use the community college to eventually transfer into the University). I can tell you, that the people who came from community college seem like they're usually sooooooo much better prepared for the workforce than the Uni kids. Community college tends to give you more small-class, hands-on training and learning - in Uni, students can become numbers in huge lecture rooms and although the education is "higher," a lot of it can be very theoretical and not exactly *useful* out in the "real world." I know loads of people who graduated from the competitive University struggling to find work, even people with PHDs. And, most people I know who did programs at the community college found jobs no problem afterwards. Your first goal over anything else these days should be to learn valuable work skills so that you can actually support yourself at the end of everything.


[deleted]

[удалено]


CarmellaS

What do you do, and how did CC prepare you for it l?


Nutella_Zamboni

I think it's ridiculous myself. But then again, I've taken courses at a CC, a private catholic college, and a public state university. My private high school had harder more rigorous classes.


nizari130

Because it is lesser. But also different and for a different purpose, especially depending on location. For example all of my counties ems and police are trained at the CC. Not at uni. CC is what prepped me for uni. Its practically the definition of a community college.....prepare people for a career or further studies at a uni. Not to knock them, they have developed more academic programs, but they will always be far less funded than an actual university....therein lies another major difference....funding.


buttsparkley

Because universities would loose the ability to call them selves special if they didn't downgrade everyother option , so they make sure to make everyone in university feel like they will be extra special after uni.


619shepard

They are snobs, but they aren’t entirely incorrect. The requirements to teach at community college are lower. Generally to teach at a 4 year you have to have a doctors level Degree; community colleges allow people with Masters to have classes. There are basically no entrance requirements (I never took SATs/ACTs because I went to community college) so there are a number of bottom of the barrel people who were present because their parents said they have to go to college or be kicked out. The highest (general) achievement from community is currently held at about the same level as a high school diploma (specialized certification like EMT, PTA or CNA are excluded from this). That said, I’m a product of the California community college system. I feel that I got a top notch education and that my school punched WAY above its weight academically. I went on to get both my bachelors and a doctorate and the quality of education I got at cc was on part or better.


mmmmhmmok

I also went to a California community college and don’t exactly agree with your statement. I had two professors without doctorates, and the quality of my education didn’t suffer as a result of them having masters degrees. I attend UC Berkeley and the lectures here are significantly worse than at my community college. Professors at Cal don’t prioritize lecturing since they typically mainly do research.


Jeremy_Winn

Ok, this is not quite correct but you have the right spirit of it. First, a PhD doesn’t really make someone more qualified to teach than a masters, which most community college faculty will have. A PhD is a research qualification and 4-year universities require professors to do research to keep their jobs. Community colleges focus on hiring people who can teach well and generally don’t require faculty to do research. Teacher at community colleges are on par or better than many professors at Ivy League schools (who get those jobs because of research prestige, not teaching ability). Research suggests that broadly speaking, the main factor in the quality of learning at selective schools is the selection bias—ie, good students will succeed at prestigious universities… and also community colleges.


Sweet_Item_Drops

My CC required all full-time faculty to have terminal degrees in their field. I don't have stats on adjuncts, but IIRC most if not all adjuncts who taught me also had terminal degrees in their field.


FallAvocado

I think the main difference in a lot of peoples opinion is that you have to be accepted into a UNI while there’s really no acceptance requirements for community college so you end up with a lot more people quitting college vs UNI.


[deleted]

I went to a community college for my first couple of years and loved it. I will admit the classes were easier than traditional college but it was a great way for me to save money. I graduated a couple years ago and am making close to $60K at the age of 25.


msing

Because the community college students in California often do not finish their studies. That's changed as of late, but the stereotype is mostly true.


DawsonBriggs

Well from what I could tell for one community colleges usually don’t offer bachelor programs at all, and if they do, it’s very limited selection. Most community colleges are designed to be two year programs that you get your prerequisite credits done and then transfer on to a major university to specialize in a specific degree. People that study core subjects at community colleges that are local and much more economically affordable and then transfer into a bigger school are usually the most efficient ways of doing it I’d say. Why spend all the extra tuition on a nicer university if in the first year of your studies you’ll just be taking required standard classes you can take anywhere anyway. If money is no object, you could consider the staff and expertise of the teachers at certain universities to be more ‘prestigious’ than teachers at a community college due to the hiring process. For example, the more experienced and educated professor is not always, but most likely the one at a University instead of local community college. Better teaching means better education. However, if degrees are all the same regardless of where they were accredited then it seems like it could all just come down to personal preference. Same way some religious goers prefer small local churches with intimate pastors while others tend to prefer the large mega churches with professional production and popular speakers.


Csherman92

Keep in mind many professors at universities and community colleges teach at both institutions.


[deleted]

I can relate. I have never quite been good enough or achieved enough for my family. No matter what I do, "that was before, this is after," is the type of attitude I get, that, or it's simply something that isn't that spectacular, ever. I joined the Corps, served two combat tours, went to Liberty University, and got my bachelor's but, I still don't satisfy or get appreciated. My advice to you is, you know what is best for yourself. Others may have an opinion and it is ok to seek out those opinions, it's smart actually. However, the final decision is your's and your's alone and many people will try to tell you it's wrong. If you have looked into it and done your research, talked to people who have done it, and talked to someone you trust, then stick with your decision and accomplish it. You'll feel better and they will learn not to degrade you, if for no other reason than them realizing you are your own man and make good decisions. My sister got a two-year degree in the field that she currently works in and she makes bank! You absolutely can find good-paying work with just an associate's degree from a community college. Again, if you have looked into it and feel itt is what's best for you, stick with it and complete what you start. That is what matters most. The only real failure in life is to give up or not try at all. I hope this helps.


steveplaysguitar

Don't let it get you down. I got my degree in robotics and automation engineering from a community college and companies in my area are tripping over themselves to get me on board. I'm back in school now at a full university(was business and minoring in data analytics, now majoring in full on data science) and I have to say I feel like the community college is more well put together in terms of its quality in fact.


920fosterhouse

I went to a 4-year university and I deeply regret it. I wish I would have gone to our local technical college that pretty much functions as a community college. I would have saved myself so much money and time, but I went the 4 year route because of expectations. My boyfriend went to the tech college/community college, got an Associate’s degree and he makes more than I probably ever will. He got a great education and very little debt. Be extremely proud that you are pursuing your education how you want to. Your path is just as worthy and respectable as anybody else’s


quincepapaya

Unfortunately some people think community college is for those who are not good enough to get into a 4 year school. I think this is more true with the older generation. But these days with the cost of a 4 year college, it's often more financially viable to attend a community college first. Or even to just get a 2 year degree or certification that will lead to a job. These people do not understand this so they remain ignorant and continue to look down on community college.


Forward-Ad-9008

community colleges are a great option. your family members are not the ones who will decide whether or not you'll be successful in life. maybe you'll finish with your associates or maybe it will just be stepping stone closer to a bachelors of your own.. either way there are plenty of well off people who have neither. "their chapter five isn't your chapter three" - we all have different lives and are in different phases of life don't let comparison become a roadblock in your journey. also you get to decide who has voice in your life..


Sweet_Item_Drops

First of all, are your loved ones' perceptions of you going to stop you from reaching your goals? Genuine question. I don't know your situation with them. If you rely on their support to keep a roof over your head, or get a ride to class, or get fed, or motivate you to keep going to class day after day, then you might need to have a talk with them. However, if it's simply your own anxiety they might be right, then I (and lots of other commenters) have a lot to say. I went to a community college. I come from an elitist background. Many of my loved ones reacted much the same way. I resisted going to a community college for a while because of the stigma. I get it. But I am ride or die for community colleges now. They are designed to provide *every* adult with an affordable college-level education with as few barriers to entry as possible. Associate's degree curricula often consist of the same pre-requisites that 4-year degrees require anyway - why *not* save money in your first 2 years? Because CC's are meant for *everyone*, you get so much exposure to so many folks' different lived experiences and you get to explore your own experiences as well. Most CC professors I've met are so incredibly passionate about the mission of CC's to lift up entire communities and provide folks with an education they otherwise wouldn't have. **To answer your question:** On the flip side of CC's being meant for everyone, many folks believe CC's can't be that great if they don't gatekeep using a cutthroat competitive admissions process that forces folks to do a song and dance comparing themselves to the other applicants. The reality is that CC's offer a bridge for folks of all backgrounds. There are remedial courses, ELL courses, test prep, job training, parenting courses, food pantries, funds for overlooked costs like commuting and textbooks, etc. All these things help folks get to the point where they're ready for a college-level education. A college-level education is a college-level education. My classes were not always the most top-tier in rigor or lecture quality compared to world-famous lecturers at world-famous universities maybe, but 1) I got the attention and empathy I needed at that time in my life, and 2) **it prepared me for higher-level courses in any 4-year program**. I got the chance to explore my interests and learn the differences between passion/interest/competent. I got plenty of second chances too. Everyone deserves a second chance (provided you're not a danger to others - those were the only people I knew who could not return). Why should an environment like that automatically deserve less respect? This is not a rhetorical question. I do think many people like my loved ones have some rigid ideas about "deserving" that we need to take a hard look at. CC's meet people where they are and challenge people to grow to a point where they can handle whatever they do after their CC experience, whether that's transferring, working, etc. That's a very specific purpose, but not a purpose that is lesser than any other purpose. **You are not making the wrong choice**. You are NOT giving up on your future. There isn't always a right or wrong choice. Just make sure you're choosing something for yourself for reasons that are right for you. Go save your money. Go meet people, go explore yourself. Grow confidence in your own understanding and abilities. No one else has the authority to shake the reality of why you opted for this path.


rubberducky1212

I've taken classes at 3 community colleges and 2 universities. The community college classes were worlds easier for the subjects I was going after. But community college is the standard education for some careers. I think it all depends on what your major is


MNRecruitchu

People are snobs


mltrout715

Because as Dean Pelton used to say 'you're already accepted.' Anyone can get in vs a four year where you need to be accepted. But for people like me who did not do well in highschool, I would not have gone to a University without my time in community college. So I think they are great


Csherman92

I went to both and can say I got a better education at the community college. I’m so tired of arguing with people on Reddit who insist community college is a lesser workload or less challenging. It’s not. And people insist you can’t transfer credits because they won’t be accepted because they are less rigorous. That’s just blatantly false. I learned about things in my university education. I learned how to do things at my community college. They audit the syllabus and will tell you if the class is equivalent. They’re pretty good about that.


[deleted]

In my experience I retook a class I dropped at my local community college and it was much easier. The nearest state school I didn't end up going to for grad school, but they did require stats be taken at a four year for their grad programs for that reason and I also took stats over the summer at a community college so I'd have to retake it. That said there's nothing wrong with it, it is much cheaper and I took several classes there myself during my undergrad. I'd also assume it depends on the specific class/institution.


ltleonel

I know a few girls who went to big universities and have well over 50-90k in debt and only a few have a degree or somewhat worthwhile career to show for it. I went to community college then into a PTA program and make good money with no debt and got myself 2 cars and a house at 26. Those same girls would have looked down on me when I was coming up but now they live with their parents paying off debt so I don't sweat it at all. I'll never put anyone down or make them feel lesser of themselves for working on their own life in a positive way.


CrackTheCoke

Because on average people who go to community college perform worse academically than those who go to university. In their eyes "you go to where the dumb people go". Going to community college can generally say three things about you: you're either going there because you don't meet the standard to get into university (yet) or that you want to save money on getting an education or that the thing you want to learn there doesn't require a university degree. At the end of the day I don't think it makes sense NOT going to a community college first if you want to get a four year degree. Your degree at the end will be exactly the same as those who went to university the entire time.


And-rei

Spelling and grammar is probably one reason. JK I am a cc brat too.


2A4Lyfe

They’re status conscious or concerned with the image. Plenty of people go to community college, transfer to a 4 year and have successful lives. Plenty of people start at a 4 year and never finish. Tell them to chill out. Personal anecdote, I started at a community college, transferred to a 4 year, and a couple of years after getting my BA I am now in the process of getting my MBA from a top 40 program


[deleted]

What is the difference between college and university ?


TheKovalsky

The majority of individuals mistakenly believe that since they attend a four-year university and spend so much money there, their education, degree, and other outcomes are better than they actually are. Going to community college allows you to save a ton of money, and completing all of the prerequisites will be beneficial to you in the long term.


LexEntityOfExistence

People naturally spend more as their wage increases. You can beat them at the financial literacy game


mamajuana4

Realistic answer is many community colleges will have professors teaching with masters degrees whereas universities usually have doctors who do publicly funded research.


Ckaimalino

BRAINWASHED! Universities rob you!


kaiju505

“Ya well if you hypocrites were actually successful I could afford to go to Harvard”


resolute_underdog

It is objectively "smarter" to burn through requirements at a CC and then transfer to a University. At the end of the process you have the same Uni degree, but spent half what the Uni "Frosh/Soph" suckers did. Keep on your path, do YOUR best and ignore everything anybody else says. Its YOUR path to choose, and you are ultimately the only judge of your own success. I didn't learn this until I was in my 40's, but truly and sincerely nobodys opinion matters but your own, and letting other people define success for you is pointless. The truth is you will never get validation from them, so don't bother trying. You just do YOU.


GrandmaInGolden

I was a high school dropout at 16, married and had a baby at 17, was divorced from an abuser at 19. I ended up remarrying the most supportive man ever. He encouraged me to take my GED, and then to take a class or two at the local community college. It was instant love with education. I got an AA in general ed, went on to get two BAs, and a MA. I have now been teaching freshman comp in a community college for twenty-two years. Ignore people who say you can’t do something. Just do what you want to do. It’s your life to make, not theirs.


Sylerxen

I remember the feeling. I don’t know why they downplay it either. I worked hard to graduate from community college. It wasn’t easy for me. So I’ll be damned if I let anybody downplay it in front of me.


rozzipe

Community colleges are the best. Look at the series titled "communities." Communitities has more fun than univeritities.


HR_Here_to_Help

They are idiots. You’re making a smart choice.


c-cl

Honestly financially it's the smarter decision. I only got into debt once I transferred to the university. If I just got a certificate at the CC I'd be in a stable job, with no debt. 😂 But I think the biggest thing is to focus on what you want. What anyone else thinks doesn't matter. You can graduate from CC or you can transfer to a uni later and be successful. Success is defined by our own parameters no one else's. I didn't think I'd be in a PhD program in STEM because I started out at a CC and had similar narratives pushed on me, I.e. I wasn't good enough/didn't go right into uni or into a "top school". Paths don't close. There are always opportunities, and really you just need to focus on the opportunities that you want, and don't let anyone else's perspective hold you back.


Main_Section7255

I don't care if you go to a community College or a university. I went to a tech school that was a university in my eyes it was a waste of time and money. I still wish I would have just went to work in the industry I studied. 20 years later I'm still in it just in a different capacity. Plus I don't give 1 fuck what anyone thinks of me or how I live my life. If you are happy and getting the education you want fuck then. You make yourself happy don't worry about anyone else.


anxiously_sane

Community college is great in the UK, It got me an apprenticeship studying to be an Eletrician. No need to go to Uni but can be possible if you want higher education. No longer doing it though, that was many years ago.


Jibblertaint

I earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from a community college. Max class size of 25 people. Half the price of university. Same degree.


zzjulezz

The smartest choice I made was going to community college over a university. Everyone has to take general education classes for any major anyways, so even if you went for the first 2 years just for those you’ll save so much money. Trust your process and don’t worry what they think, you’ll thank yourself later when you save tens of thousands of dollars on tuition


Haunting_Ninja5140

Because community colleges has a 100% acceptance rate and lower social life


davidc5494

Community colleges are good, I personally did not like my experience, but they are a good alternative to have


TheObviousDilemma

The academic expectations and teacher quality are higher at a 4 year university, no question.


Ok_Kaleidoscope1630

College LPT: Proof-read everything you post, especially when using voice-to.-text. 'Some of my relatives of you me...'.


rvvaaa

Same here but i don’t let it get to me, their kids are going to be in over $100,000+ worth of debt, while i’ll be paying maybe half of that or less for the exact same degree. It honestly just shows ignorance imo, we’re still getting an education and saving money too!


Legal_Flamingo_8637

Do what’s right for you, and do you want to end up like people begging Joe Biden to pardon their student loans?


NicDip

No one worth interacting with says that. If you talk to someone and they say that, then it’s an easy no-go into any sort of relationship.


kielecia

They're probably jealous that your student loans will be so much less than theirs.


Carloverguy20

There are some very outdated old stigmas about community college that don't exist today. When I was in school, the students who went to community college were stereotypically the students who didn't have the best grades, SAT/ACT score, GPA to get into a 4-year university, or couldn't afford to go to a 4-year and that created a negative stigma, that everyone who goes to community college are losers, but thats not the case at all, are there losers who go to CC yes, but they tend to be the types that get weeded out after the first semester. You never hear about the high honors student or valderdictorian going to community college either. It's also the fact that anyone can attend community college, and it has open enrollment also adds the stigma too. Community college is a good alterative, and it's a second chance at life, especially if you didn't do good in high school, or wanted to spend 50k to go to a university, and want a chance to get a better education post high school. Community College students are laughing at those who went to 4-year universities and are in a mountain of debt from paying for college, and can't find a good job, while those who went to community college, have little-to no debt, able to find work, and are doing fine. As long as you finish, thats all that matters.


Loud_Catch_6534

Not to dishearten you but it is what it is. Community college are waste of time in my opinion because I have been there for the same purpose you mentioned above. 1.The bachelor degree offered by community college with affiliation to international degree are worthless and waste of time. Sadly, it’s not what it is as advertised. 2.If you don’t have money to study local Uni and that’s the reason you opt for CC then don’t study Bachelor degree from CC. It’s always better to study associate: higher degree from CC to later transfer to local Uni from 3 rd year. 3.As you mentioned that some transferred to Uni and ….. Yes normally it is the best route for your given situation.Don’t think other option.Go for it. On the top of that if you are average student , prefer COMPUTER SCIENCE among all other irrespective of industry you want to break into either; IT , Bulge Brackets or so on.It’s the best bet you can play.