When I was a senior in high school, the thought of going to a junior college was horrendous to me. All of my friends were going off to four-year universities across the country and the thought of spending another year at home just sounded plain terrible. I had worked my butt off through high school to get the grades I needed to be automatic admission to my top choice, Texas A&M.
When I got that acceptance letter, my heart was so full of joy and pride. It never even crossed my mind that I would not be going there my first year. It wasn't until looking at yearly costs that I began to doubt I would be able to do it. Yes, student loans exist but I did not want to live entirely off of them. I did not want to be another college kid who fully funded four years of education on loan and spent the next thirty years trying to pay it back.
Starting my college career off at a junior college was the best decision of my entire life. Need convincing? Here are 5 reasons why I made the choice and how, 2 months away from my college graduation, I am still glad that I did:
1. $$$
For one very obvious reason, attending a junior college is not nearly as expensive as a four-year university. Tuition for 12 hours at a junior college is about $1,100 whereas A&M tuition is at about $7,700 per semester. You are also far more likely to get a scholarship for a junior college than you are at a four-year university. I was able to make payments for my first year of junior college that got me through an entire year without having to pull a student loan. I was able to take 41 hours during my first year at junior college which put me at almost a second-semester sophomore.
Save yourself a few grand in student loans, seriously.
2. Find what you love!
I graduate in about two months and I have seriously changed my mind, and my major, so many times. The best part for me about going to a junior college was I got extra time to really think about what I wanted to do and if I was seriously passionate about it. I came into ju-co as a Bio-Med major, then tried out some business classes, and I am about to graduate as a Communications major. Had I been at a four year university, changing majors that many times would have caused me so many issues. At a junior college, you really get the chance to find something you love.
3. Home-cooked meals!
Seriously. You won't understand how much you'll love and appreciate a home-cooked meal into your living with roommates and the last real thing you ate was some protein bar. Not only is food at home free, but it always tastes better when someone else does the cooking.
4. Work, work, work.
If you are anything like me, online classes are your favorite. You're telling me I can take the EXACT SAME CLASS but from my bed? Ha, never taking in-person classes again. The best part of junior college is that they offer almost all of their classes online, which means you have far more time for things like a part-time or full-time job. My entire first year of college I was able to keep working and putting money aside to help myself when I did go off to a four-year university. It was the biggest blessing! Plus, because I stayed at home, I didn't have to try and find a new job! I got to keep my old job while I did my first year of school.
5. Less time = less money.
Going to a junior college is THE reason I am about to graduate in three years instead of four. Junior colleges offer classes around the clock which means you take far more hours then they allow you to at a four-year university. This means that not only can you save yourself tens of thousands by staying home one year if you really bust your butt, there is a good chance you only need two students loans instead of four!
Going off to college is a very personal and hard decision to make. Where you decide to spend the next few years of your life is not a small decision. I really hope reading through this article makes you feel a little better if you do decide to stay home that one extra year. Junior college is seriously the best thing that ever happened to me. I was mortified at first that people would find out and think that I wasn't smart enough, good enough, or ready for a four-year university. In reality, the average cost of a degree at A&M is about $109,000 (if you finish in four years) and I'm about to graduate in three years while only spending $48,000, all because I decided to stay home ONE YEAR.
Now you tell me, what's really the smarter decision?
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