Community Colleges Versus Universities

Choosing the right college or university is a very important decision.  If you don’t know where to apply to, the following can help you figure out which is better — a community college or a university.

Pros and cons of studying at community colleges

When you are the type of student who wants easy access to your instructors so you can easily consult any problems you have in your subject, then a community college is for you.  This type of school tends to have fewer students in a class so there is a greater teacher to student ratio leading to more interaction.  However, a community college may only offer an Associate of Arts degree and not a full four years degree that’s offered at universities.  But these associate degrees are extremely useful for those who will eventually decide to go to a university.

In terms of the transition period from high school to the next level, a community college is easier though you are going to miss the independence part – living away from home – since most community colleges rarely offer housing inside the campus.  But the best part is that this type of school will surely shed less of your money saved for college education since it has lower tuition rates.(1)

Pros and cons of studying at universities

Universities offer higher degrees such as the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctorates.  But due to the high number of students, many classes in big universities are conducted at huge auditoriums full of students, each one trying to comprehend the lecture.  Students are more often burdened by their tiresome experiences in trying to fit in to the schedule of their busy professors who are devoted to their whole publish-or-perish game.   However, it can’t be denied that some university professors are some of the best among their chosen fields and once they are inside the classroom, no one can refute their excellence.  The university environment requires a lot of adjustments.  But this can be a proper training ground before you enter the real world.  Just keep in mind that a university education is more expensive than any other community college education.(2)

About myself: what would suit you

Even before your write your “about myself” essay or admissions essay which is a common requirement for both institutions, you have to be aware of what you really want, and that includes whether you like to study in a community college or in a university.  The right decision for your school of choice basically depends on your personality, and the type of environment that you find to be more conducive for learning and where you will be more productive.  Basically, your “about my self” essay should have an explanation on why you want to study in a certain institution.  So be sure that you write an honest “essay on myself” to land that spot in your dream school.(3)

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_college
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University
(3) http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-12-college-essays_N.htm

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