Each year, between seven and eight million bright-eyed hopefuls line the administration halls of America's community colleges (AACC).
In fact, two-year community college graduates earn a higher starting salary than four-year graduates from private and public institutions, according to Miami Herald.
Wild success is at your fingertips via America's community colleges, so long as you learn how to make smart moves and navigate the system.
The Early Bird Gets The Term
Those who get the lay of the land early, generally end up on top.
This applies to community college as well.
Never put off anything.
Community college classes generally fill up on a first-come, first-serve basis, early registration could mean the difference between an ideal schedule or professor that makes the difference between you getting the grade you want.
The same goes for assignments, research and tutoring.
Tutor centers exist solely to help you learn how to be fantastic, so take advantage of them the moment something stops making sense to you.
Ask and You Shall Receive
Take your foray into the college world as an opportunity to talk about yourself.
Seek advice from adults you admire, they will be happy to give it, and often times you'll end up forming connections throughout your educational experience.
Find a model of success in your field and reach out.
Do the same with your peers.
According to USA Today, research demonstrates that your level of interest and engagement with others is a strong predictor of success.
Community college is a melting pot for all walks of life, and probably the only time in your life you will find yourself in a situation where your sole expectation is to absorb fascinating AND lucrative knowledge.
A Course is A Course, Of Course
Michele Brown, director of student recruitment and outreach at Oakton Community College of Illinois, told The College Board regarding majors in college, "the best advice I can provide for students who plan on attending a community college is to take the same college-preparation courses in high school that they would take in preparation to attend any college."
This means thinking about a major that works for you.
If you plan on studying the majors below, there are often specific admission requirements and/or tests.
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Allied health
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Law enforcement
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Engineering technology
- Computer technology
- Nursing
A Penny Saved is a Penny Learned
Many a parent loves the financial benefits of attending community college.
According to fastweb, community college tuition and fees costs an average of less than half of those at public four-year colleges, and one-tenth of private four-year colleges. “They're going to be able to get a good quality education, but it's not going to be at the same cost as going to one of the private universities that would be much more expensive,” says Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Blue Ridge Robert Young.
Achieving success at community college is a financially-savvy step towards chasing your dreams, and for many, a smarter, more viable option than floundering around at a large university.
