Why Community College Isn't Just Like High School
Community colleges offer plenty of benefits; the costs are far below what you’d pay at a private school and often in-state public schools, they’re close to home and they give you time to figure out what you want to major in. But oftentimes, it’s difficult for students to see the benefits of community colleges because of one thing: they think it’ll be just like high school. Here are a few reasons why community college isn’t anything like high school.
It’s bigger
Some high school students assume that going to community college means they’ll have to interact with everyone they knew in high school. But community colleges take students from multiple high schools and typically have thousands of students. So there’s no way you’ll walk onto campus knowing everyone! Even if you do see familiar faces, it’ll be in a completely different environment.
You’ll have more class options
Do you ever get sick of taking mandatory math or foreign language classes in high school? At community colleges, they may be optional. While you’ll need to confirm, chances are, if you really don’t like a subject, you won’t have to take much of it. Medieval history, sculpture, ethics and fashion merchandising classes may not have existed in your high school, but they’re probably available at your local community college.
Your schedule is flexible
Sure, your high school may have allowed upperclassmen to go off-campus for lunch or take advantage of late arrival or early dismissal periods. But you probably didn’t get to customize your schedule based purely on your wants and needs. Are you a morning person? Schedule your classes for the morning and find yourself free all afternoon. Want to work hard and save money? Create a schedule that will allow you attend class two or three days a week and work the other four or five days. You definitely didn’t get that sort of flexibility and freedom in high school.
There’ll be a new range of extracurriculars
Maybe your high school didn’t offer many clubs or sports that interested you. Or perhaps your school was so small there really wasn’t much available. That changes in college, even if you’re going to a two-year school. Join a poetry club, get involved with a political movement or nab a spot on the Quidditch team if you’re a Harry Potter fan. There’s something for everyone on a community college campus. With all this in mind, can you really keep saying community college is just like high school?
