Review of Collin County Community College District
from Plano, TX
Describe your college in three sentences.
Collin College is the best and most advanced community college that there is. It will surely prepare you for any serious degree that you want to purse (whether there or anywhere else), but you must be ready to work for it. The faculty, the policies, and the overall environment are very conducive to learning- especially so for self starters.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
1 Most of the teachers are very helpful, but there will always be a few (and you're guaranteed to encounter at least one), who are not. In such cases be prepared to go over your material alone, and essentially teach yourself.
2 Reach out for any and all opportunities that are offered at Collin: academic or otherwise. There are so many; from helping you find scholarships (much like Cappex), to transfer fairs, to free food tastings.
3 Study groups are ALWAYS a good idea, especially for major-specific courses
4 When in doubt of an assignment, grading scale, etc... you will always be able to find syllabi online
5 Register for your courses as early as possible and do yourself a favor by using ratemyprofessor.com to find the professor that most matches your learning style
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Like any college, major-specific courses will be harder than basic core classes but Collin will prepare you for university-level courses. Be proactive, take notes, use ratemyprofessor.com, and take initiative and you'll be successful anywhere- doubly so for Collin.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The dorms are close enough that you don't have to drive to any part of campus, and they're the size that any 2 to 3 person dorm should be. BUT you'll be extremely close to the city amphitheater, all the good food joints, and anywhere fun in Dallas. Dorms are where you have to make the most of your situation, but at least at Collin you're given a lot to work with.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The food is actually pretty good and looks appetizing. As someone that visits friends at other schools (sometimes universities) regularly, this is a blessing. If you grow tired of the school food, there's a Starbucks, Chipotle, Taco Bell, Chili's, Red Lobster, you name it!, less than a mile in any given direction.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
The city's amphitheater is one side of campus, there's a rec center across from campus, and anywhere else that's truly exciting is no more than half an hour away. Club hoppers, gym rats, bar flies, concert goers, etc... will never be bored. Don't forget that you're in school, though.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I went to Collin for 2 years immediately after high school, got my Associate's of Science, and transferred smoothly to UTD the next fall. If you pay attention to your plan, make sure that you understand what is required and expected of you, and stay vigilant over your GPA, then you will have absolutely no problem pursuing your degree there or elsewhere. The only difference between Collin and UTD is... Collin is significantly cheaper.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There isn't anything too unusual about Collin, but if you don't know what campus events are coming you might find yourself blind sided when you walk into the main building and see a transfer fair or someone dressed as a clown trying to give you a free brownie.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
If you are responsible, vigilant, proactive, ambitious, and a self-starter, then you will achieve greatly here.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is a club for what seems like everything. Anime, religious groups, sports teams, food (maybe?), just EVERYTHING. Look around and you're bound to find something worth joining.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Officers patrol the school and the campus very frequently and have a very speedy response time. The security is pretty beefed up with cameras everywhere, and a police station less than a mile away. It's an exceedingly safe campus.
Collin College is the best and most advanced community college that there is. It will surely prepare you for any serious degree that you want to purse (whether there or anywhere else), but you must be ready to work for it. The faculty, the policies, and the overall environment are very conducive to learning- especially so for self starters.
1 Most of the teachers are very helpful, but there will always be a few (and you're guaranteed to encounter at least one), who are not. In such cases be prepared to go over your material alone, and essentially teach yourself. 2 Reach out for any and all opportunities that are offered at Collin: academic or otherwise. There are so many; from helping you find scholarships (much like Cappex), to transfer fairs, to free food tastings. 3 Study groups are ALWAYS a good idea, especially for major-specific courses 4 When in doubt of an assignment, grading scale, etc... you will always be able to find syllabi online 5 Register for your courses as early as possible and do yourself a favor by using ratemyprofessor.com to find the professor that most matches your learning style
Like any college, major-specific courses will be harder than basic core classes but Collin will prepare you for university-level courses. Be proactive, take notes, use ratemyprofessor.com, and take initiative and you'll be successful anywhere- doubly so for Collin.
The dorms are close enough that you don't have to drive to any part of campus, and they're the size that any 2 to 3 person dorm should be. BUT you'll be extremely close to the city amphitheater, all the good food joints, and anywhere fun in Dallas. Dorms are where you have to make the most of your situation, but at least at Collin you're given a lot to work with.
The food is actually pretty good and looks appetizing. As someone that visits friends at other schools (sometimes universities) regularly, this is a blessing. If you grow tired of the school food, there's a Starbucks, Chipotle, Taco Bell, Chili's, Red Lobster, you name it!, less than a mile in any given direction.
The city's amphitheater is one side of campus, there's a rec center across from campus, and anywhere else that's truly exciting is no more than half an hour away. Club hoppers, gym rats, bar flies, concert goers, etc... will never be bored. Don't forget that you're in school, though.
I went to Collin for 2 years immediately after high school, got my Associate's of Science, and transferred smoothly to UTD the next fall. If you pay attention to your plan, make sure that you understand what is required and expected of you, and stay vigilant over your GPA, then you will have absolutely no problem pursuing your degree there or elsewhere. The only difference between Collin and UTD is... Collin is significantly cheaper.
There isn't anything too unusual about Collin, but if you don't know what campus events are coming you might find yourself blind sided when you walk into the main building and see a transfer fair or someone dressed as a clown trying to give you a free brownie.
If you are responsible, vigilant, proactive, ambitious, and a self-starter, then you will achieve greatly here.
There is a club for what seems like everything. Anime, religious groups, sports teams, food (maybe?), just EVERYTHING. Look around and you're bound to find something worth joining.
Officers patrol the school and the campus very frequently and have a very speedy response time. The security is pretty beefed up with cameras everywhere, and a police station less than a mile away. It's an exceedingly safe campus.