Why do people look down on community colleges

In Jan. I will be going to a community college to futher my education. So I have been looking online to just read and see what college will be like.  Well I have come across a lot of sites that really down grade and down play community college. People seem to be saying anything less than a 4 year  is just not worth any ones time. Which I found hard to believe and understand.

Why is there such a mentality when it comes to get a higher education?

Original Post by saintlymama:

I think most basic classes are okay...English, history, etc, but anything science or tech related I would shy away from.  There is very possibly a reason that prof isn't doing there own research or teaching in an established program.  I would just advise caution. 

ha!  spoken like a scientist!  yeah, it couldn't possibly matter whether your english or history instructor knows what they're talking about.  right?  sheesh.

My husband and I both started out at a major state university. We actually met there because I lived in an apartment right across from his dorm. Three years into it he decided he wasn't interested enough in his major (biology) to continue. Yeah wasted some tuition...but he ended up going to a technical school and he is about to graduate with his bachelor's in network engineering (or something like that...can't say I understand much about it). His second year into school he got a job at a major hospital in the area and works for them in the IT department. He got promoted twice in the span of two years and they are paying his tuition (which is actually really expensive!). He plans to get his master's at a different school since his only goes up to bachelor-level. For him, a traditional four-year college wasn't the answer; he wanted something more specialized. I absolutely cannot stand anyone who looks down on technical schools or community colleges like they are "better" than that. He has a great job and is making more at 24 than a lot of his peers. I am in school to be a medical transcriptionist because I didn't enjoy my experience at college either. It is hard work and there is no coddling or hand-holding, the instructors are well-trained, and in general graduates are able to get a great job right out of school.

I am aware that some community colleges or trade schools are not up to the level of traditional colleges. I would advise choosing wisely, and keeping in mind being able to transfer credits, as others said. But don't listen to anyone who thinks they are better than you because of their education.

remember that you will be putting your college of choice on your resume. The person screening your resume and eventually hiring you may have issue with community college and remember you are competing with others who have bachelors, masters degrees from a University. If you can attend a University I would recommend that. I know time and costs are issues. Weigh your choices, get informed and make a long term goal. Some English, math, science etc. classes may not transfer. Don't assume they will. Community College IS better than nothing.

I remember back in 2001 jr college tuition in CA was $11 dollars a credit. Jeeze, you could get your AA or AS for under $1000. ( Counting books and fees) Now its over $130 a credit at a Jr College! Lovely Gray Davis did that, as well as some other things.

Bottom line, any college experience is a good one. Its an less expensive way to find out if you even want to go to school! You can also work and save up to transfer to a 4 yr, if you so desire.

I whole heartidly support our local CC.  We are so lucky to also have Extensions from 2 of our state Universities  (Go Beavers! Go Ducks!) on the same campus.

I like community colleges because they kept the really dumb people out of my university classes.

*ducks and runs*

:D

Any betterment in ones education should be applauded. You do need to make sure the classes you take will be accepted if you plan to transfer to a University eventually. Here in California community college is a great way to cut the cost of getting your general education requirements. The colleges work with the universities to meet their transfer requirements. The classes are smaller and most general education requirements simply don’t require PhD knowledge. Many of the teachers have spent time working professionally in the subject they are teaching, which is sometimes more valuable than degrees. The truth is, you will find both good and bad teachers no matter where you go.

Because anyone can go to a community college, the skill level of the students varies much more than at a university. Tutoring and lower level classes are offered because some students are not even able to do the general ed requirements. If there is any area you are weak in, this is great. Other students already have degrees. It is very diverse, but you can expect the competition at a university to be tougher. This is one reason that people down grade the education. It is not that the community college is not teaching the same basic material in these general ed classes as the university. The fact is that when a student transfers to a 4 year program from a two year program they are often better prepared to succeed then if they had gone straight to a university. I have known several people that went straight to a university, blew it for what ever reason, went to the local community college and then went back to a university and succeeded.

Of course, not all community college programs are geared to going on to a university. Some are just for job betterment or to enter fields that do not require advanced degrees. I have taken classes myself just for the joy of learning. Intellectual snobs will look down on anyone that doesn’t have as much education as they do just as some people will look down on anyone that doesn’t have as much money as they do. Don’t worry about it. Prejudice and arrogance are just a fact of life and I’ve known plenty of degreed people that are idiots. You need to do what will allow you to meet your goals, not someone elses.

I know a lot of people that went to a two year college before they decided what they wanted to do and did their last two years at a four year. I don't think, if either 1) you know what you want to do and you can do it with a 2 year degree or 2) you don't know what you want to do but want to be in school, going to a four year university is worth it if you could go to a community college.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by saintlymama:

I think most basic classes are okay...English, history, etc, but anything science or tech related I would shy away from.  There is very possibly a reason that prof isn't doing there own research or teaching in an established program.  I would just advise caution. 

ha!  spoken like a scientist!  yeah, it couldn't possibly matter whether your english or history instructor knows what they're talking about.  right?  sheesh.

 Of course it matters that they know what they're talking about, but it's harder to get a good job with an english or history degree, so I think those programs might wind up with better instructors at community colleges.

If you're interested in the sciences, be very careful which community college you pick.  My experience has been that 90% of students who come into my chemistry classes with (community) college transfer credit perform poorly.  The few students that do well always come from the same schools.  So, if you're interested in a science, I'd see if there was someone in that department of your local university that could tell you honestly whether or not you were going to get a good education at your community college of choice.  (If they say no community college is good, they're uninformed; if they say they're all good, they're probably uninformed; if they can give you names of good schools, you're in good shape.)  Note that I said to talk to someone who teaches science at the university; the admin offices will just give you the party line of "we accept these courses" but won't have the background to know which courses transfer well and which transfer poorly.

Community colleges tend to be excellent at teaching the fields in which they specialize.  It's when they try to be universities that things go wrong.

Original Post by 10isenuf:

 This is one reason that people down grade the education. It is not that the community college is not teaching the same basic material in these general ed classes as the university. The fact is that when a student transfers to a 4 year program from a two year program they are often better prepared to succeed then if they had gone straight to a university. I have known several people that went straight to a university, blew it for what ever reason, went to the local community college and then went back to a university and succeeded.

 

I disagree that the community college teaches the same basic material - at least in my field.  The reason most community college students don't transfer well to university (in science) is that they've been taught a watered down version of the university course.  The community colleges that resist that and teach the "real course" are the ones whose students transfer well - but they're rare. 

The students that you knew who did well after going back to school sound like most students who try university too young, take a few years off then go back more mature.  Those students generally succeed the second time; I'm not sure the community college had a whole lot to do with their success.  It may have helped some, but I'd attribute their success primarily to their increased maturity level.

FWIW, I don't look down on anyone with less education than me.  They're probably better than me at something else.  (Heck, they might even be better at school than me, just less interested in it.) 

There's nothing wrong with community college, it's a good stepping stone.

A lot of the courses are transferable to a 4 year university, and you can get all of your gen eds done for a lot cheaper.  Sometimes you have to take equivalence tests at the University you're applying to afterwards, but you would be surprised by how many credits can transfer over. My friend is transferring from community college to one of the top business universities in our state, and she already has 1/2 the credits she needs for her major. Plus she saved a **** load of money.

I don't 100% agree with the people who are saying community college courses are "watered down". That probably depends mostly on the professor. A lot of the professor's at the community college in our state also teach at other universities.
...humph.

I actually like those community colleges that are larger than a lot of colleges and universities, like Nassau County Community College (NY), which has around 20,000 students.

i'm a grad student.  the undergrads in my program follow two main routes: they come up through the university system and enter the program in third year, with a few prerequisites, or they do a two-year certificate program at the college that feeds into third year at the university.  theoretically, the college students should have a stronger background in the field and be better prepared, but in actuality, the university students do much better.  they're independent learners and critical thinkers, while the students from the college seem to want a lot of hand-holding and simple, black and white questions and answers.

just one example, but i think it's fairly representative of the difference between college and university (at least in canada, where all schools are accredited to roughly the same standards).

I see the same thing, pgeorgian.  At least, with most of the colleges.  There was one very notable exception in my region.  I always knew that if I got transfers from that particular college, they'd have excellent problem solving/analytical skills and strong work ethic.  Clearly, that school didn't go in for the hand-holding approach that most of the others seemed to favour.

So, all I'm really saying is that, if you want to go the community college route, make sure you find a *good* one.  (Otherwise, some courses that appear to transfer on paper may not actually provide equivalent background to the university version - which is a problem if you're using them as prerequisites since it hurts your performance in the next course along.)  I'd have the same advice for people shopping for a traditional university.

All I know is that I transferred to a decent university after going to community college for 2 years. I made sure all of my credits were transferable, and ended up in the same spot my friends from high school were currently at (who went directly to the university after high school.)

Lets just say I'm in a lot less debt than they are!

Original Post by jblarghp:

All I know is that I transferred to a decent university after going to community college for 2 years. I made sure all of my credits were transferable, and ended up in the same spot my friends from high school were currently at (who went directly to the university after high school.)

Lets just say I'm in a lot less debt than they are!

I know a lot of people who did this as well.

Many people on here have said that the teachers credentials at Community Colleges are not as good as 4 year universities.

I can't speak to every Community College but I know it's not true in mine.  And those teachers who don't have PHDs make up for it in experience.  We have several Dr's running about..including the president of the college, who still teaches.   The mayor also teaches at my community college....  She teaches political science and several other related subjects.  One of our English teachers only has a Masters, but his novels are also published.   The teacher that teaches our anthropology classes also only has a Masters but he's actually worked on digs and works with several historical societies.   I'm not sure of exactly who has what in out technologies department...  but our computer technologies teachers also run all school wide networks, networks for distance education.... and the school is as technologically advanced as any 4 year university I've visited.  ((which have been several since I transfer soon)).  The Community College is also part of a network of two and 4 years schools with the best Teachers certification prep programs in the state.  So if your an education major.... it's one of the best places to start.  As for the sciences... we have a Nano-technologies lab....!  along with the others for Chemistry, Biology, and even Geology.  With high quality teachers and the best and most advanced tools.   

I can't say that my Community College is the norm, but the idea that all community colleges are substandard to universities is ridiculous.  I'm starting the paper work to get into a very competitive 4 year.  The only thing I had to do was pay attention to what would transfer and what wouldn't, since my transfer school is very very picky.  Most classes transfer to most colleges in my state.

So do your homework, check the site.  Find out what you can about the Community Colleges near you.  You can find a great one!!

Susieque, I agree with you that immaturity is a big reason for not doing well at the university level. I have also seen a lack of basic study skills and inferior high school preparation cause problems. Community college can certainly help with the latter 2 reasons and possibly it does help with even the first. Those that I know that dropped out and did not go to a community college gave up on a university education altogether. Since they never went back, I don’t know if they would have succeeded or not a few years older. I am not a teacher and my experience is limited to the people I know.    

The community college in my area is a top rated college. I amend my comments to say that a community college should be teaching the same material in the general education classes as the university. Best research it to make sure that they are, particularly if you are a science major. I think your advice to seek out the opinions of someone in the department of interest at your local university is excellent.

I hope you did not take my comment about intellectual snobs to indicate I thought all or even most intellectuals are snobs. On the contrary, I think they are a minority and would not assume you to be one.  Unfortunately, as a degree does not necessarily impart wisdom, they do exist. I have also heard them referred to as educated fools. I found your comments to be thoughtful and insightful and not the least bit arrogant.

Original Post by lunaripyros:

Many people on here have said that the teachers credentials at Community Colleges are not as good as 4 year universities.

I can't speak to every Community College but I know it's not true in mine.  And those teachers who don't have PHDs make up for it in experience.  We have several Dr's running about..including the president of the college, who still teaches.   The mayor also teaches at my community college....  She teaches political science and several other related subjects.  One of our English teachers only has a Masters, but his novels are also published.   The teacher that teaches our anthropology classes also only has a Masters but he's actually worked on digs and works with several historical societies.   I'm not sure of exactly who has what in out technologies department...  but our computer technologies teachers also run all school wide networks, networks for distance education.... and the school is as technologically advanced as any 4 year university I've visited.  ((which have been several since I transfer soon)).  The Community College is also part of a network of two and 4 years schools with the best Teachers certification prep programs in the state.  So if your an education major.... it's one of the best places to start.  As for the sciences... we have a Nano-technologies lab....!  along with the others for Chemistry, Biology, and even Geology.  With high quality teachers and the best and most advanced tools.   

I can't say that my Community College is the norm, but the idea that all community colleges are substandard to universities is ridiculous.  I'm starting the paper work to get into a very competitive 4 year.  The only thing I had to do was pay attention to what would transfer and what wouldn't, since my transfer school is very very picky.  Most classes transfer to most colleges in my state.

So do your homework, check the site.  Find out what you can about the Community Colleges near you.  You can find a great one!!

 I'm going to have to agree with this statement. My Aunt and Uncle are professors at Walla Walla Community college, and both have their doctorates. Uncle in Philosophy and Aunt in Psychology. I've had many professors with their doctorates teach at community college, ranging from Art History to Biology.

I can't attest to every com college, but most will have the same level of undergraduate education that you can get at a 4 year.