As some of you may have read in my previous article, community college is not that different from university life. In fact, community college is way better than most people make it out to be. Sure, it doesn't sound as prestigious as an ivy league school, but the benefits of a smaller college are everlasting. Here's why:
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1. It's Saves You Money.
Tuition is cheaper, Room and Board is cheaper, Food is cheaper. Why wouldn't you want to save thousands of dollars?
2. There's a Smaller Time Commitment.
Some smaller campuses like community colleges are only for two years, so you can take important courses along with getting great experiences without going into an insane amount of debt. Oh, and there's more opportunities to take night classes, so if you have a full or part-time job, you can still work and take classes at the same time!
3. You're More Involved
There might not be as many clubs, but what clubs do exist are pretty cool. You can join clubs that plan your campus's activities or give tours to future students, you can try out for your school play/musical, or you can create your own club!
4. The Classes are Smaller.
You don't have to feel crowded and insignificant in a room full of hundreds of students. Instead, you have a place in your little society. You get to know your classmates, and you get to know your professor. It's a lot easier to ask questions too, since you're not forced to sit in the back row of a balcony in your lecture hall.
5. Your Professors Care About You Personally
Because your classes are smaller, your professors get to know you for you. They care about you and your life, and they care about how successful you become. They want to see you grow, and they'll do anything to help you reach your goal, even if it means sitting in their office for two hours in order to help you understand a concept
If you're living at home with your parents, you've got it all. You're not paying for room and board, you get to do your laundry for free, and you get a home cooked meal almost every day. This is a college kid's dream.
7. Nobody Feels Awkward..
You can find people from all walks of life at a smaller campus. Whether it be a regional branch or a community college, students range from being fresh out of high school to being senior citizens. Nobody feels awkward or out of place because of their age. Everybody is there for the same thing- an education.
There's a plethora of options for you when deciding when you want to take each class. Morning, afternoon, or night, there's most likely a time that will best suit you and all of your needs. Oh, and don't forget about online courses. Those are great to take any time of the year!
Because the classes at a smaller college don't cost nearly as much as classes at a university, you won't feel as stressed to choose your major right away. Being forced to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life is cruel, especially when you're paying thousands of dollars to do so. We need time to explore different paths in order to find out what we like to do, and smaller campuses give us that opportunity.
Transitioning from high school to college is rough. But you know what? This transition is significantly easier at a smaller campus. You get to build a strong relationship with your advisor, and you're not too overwhelmed with the price and the size of the campus. Smaller campuses promote a sense of belonging.
11. Finding Work is Easier
Going to a smaller campus is great because there are plenty of places to work in the surrounding area of the school. By not having to compete with thousands of students for the limited on-campus jobs, you'll have more success in landing your part time job.
A lot of smaller campuses provide the same quality education as bigger universities do. The Ohio State University's branches, for example, have some of the most excellent professors around. After spending a year at OSU Mansfield, I would highly recommend the school to any person who wants to further their knowledge and work towards a degree.
