Spring Break
Community college can be a smart choice
Taylor Trudon
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Commentary
I have come to the conclusion that attending community college is similar to the drive-through experience one may have at a fast-food restaurant. Just as you would order your food at your local Mickey D's, you are offered a plethora of selections ranging from a leafy Asian salad with grilled chicken to a sizzling quarter-pounder. Akin to driving to your nearest community college, students can nourish themselves, buy what they need, stay as long as they like and hit the road again.
It's a grab-n-go style - whether you are there to pick up a few credits, plan to eventually transfer or are invested in a four-year degree program, community college is meant to accommodate your lifestyle in terms of convenience.
I spent my freshman year at a small college in Rhode Island, and for numerous reasons, I decided to transfer to UConn. Unfortunately, by the end of last summer, it was too late to submit an application, but it didn't make sense for me to return to my old school just for the fall. Thus, it was determined that I'd attend Middlesex Community College and continue my education there until December.
I believe that the best benefit of going to a community college is that the cost is significantly less. Not only did I not have to spend a dime on tuition, but my books were paid for as well. I was really only responsible for ensuring that my gas tank was filled for driving to school. Even though I only took four classes, I made my schedule so that I only had to be at school two days a week, which further saved gas money. Like the Dollar Menu, every penny counts - if someone is going to give me two apple pies for a dollar, hey, I'll take it.
The two classes that I did not take at the Middlesex campus, I had the opportunity to take as online courses. As a self-proclaimed technologically challenged individual (I can barely text), I was more than apprehensive about taking a course online, let alone two at the same time. After some trial and error, I was able to catch on to the basics and it was smooth sailing from there. I loved that I could receive credit for participating in a discussion thread at midnight and that I had a full week to go through the chapter at my own pace. Online classes are all about convenience, and sometimes, when there's a torrential downpour, it's much more convenient to go through the drive-thru to get that Egg McMuffin as opposed to trekking inside the restaurant sopping wet.
It's a grab-n-go style - whether you are there to pick up a few credits, plan to eventually transfer or are invested in a four-year degree program, community college is meant to accommodate your lifestyle in terms of convenience.
I spent my freshman year at a small college in Rhode Island, and for numerous reasons, I decided to transfer to UConn. Unfortunately, by the end of last summer, it was too late to submit an application, but it didn't make sense for me to return to my old school just for the fall. Thus, it was determined that I'd attend Middlesex Community College and continue my education there until December.
I believe that the best benefit of going to a community college is that the cost is significantly less. Not only did I not have to spend a dime on tuition, but my books were paid for as well. I was really only responsible for ensuring that my gas tank was filled for driving to school. Even though I only took four classes, I made my schedule so that I only had to be at school two days a week, which further saved gas money. Like the Dollar Menu, every penny counts - if someone is going to give me two apple pies for a dollar, hey, I'll take it.
The two classes that I did not take at the Middlesex campus, I had the opportunity to take as online courses. As a self-proclaimed technologically challenged individual (I can barely text), I was more than apprehensive about taking a course online, let alone two at the same time. After some trial and error, I was able to catch on to the basics and it was smooth sailing from there. I loved that I could receive credit for participating in a discussion thread at midnight and that I had a full week to go through the chapter at my own pace. Online classes are all about convenience, and sometimes, when there's a torrential downpour, it's much more convenient to go through the drive-thru to get that Egg McMuffin as opposed to trekking inside the restaurant sopping wet.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
what is this garbage?
posted 1/24/09 @ 3:20 PM EST
as somebody who has attended two different community colleges and truly understands the great purpose they serve, i must say this is quite possibly the dumbest article ever printed in the daily campus. (Continued…)
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