Introduction
After competing high school, it is expected that one should go to college to further their education, work or both. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find a decent job if you are not a college graduate. There are several choices an individual can make with regards to which college to attend. However, it narrows down to choosing either to attend a 2-year college or attending a 4-year college. This paper discusses why attending a 2-year college is better than attending a 4-year college.
Cost
The tuition cost for most 2-year colleges is a fraction of what one would pay for attending 4-year colleges. A survey conducted by the College Board indicates that the average annual tuition cost for community colleges is $ 2, 544 in the U.S.A. This puts the annual tuition cost of a 2- year college at about a third the annual tuition cost of attending a 4-year college. It is also worth noting that in a 2-year college an individual will spend half the time they would spend in a 4-year college. Therefore, they will only pay tuition fees for only two years as opposed to four years. In addition, students in most community colleges live at home because they go to colleges that are in their locality; therefore they save on costs that would be incurred on room and board. Attending a 2-year college will save a student thousands of dollars. Graduates of 2-year colleges begin life with very little college debt .
Time frame
In a 2-year college an individual will spend half the time they would spend in a 4-year college. Therefore, an individual attending a 2-year college with became employable earlier than a person attending a 4-year college program. A person who attends a 2-year college will have some work experience by the time a person who enrolled in a 4-year college finishes his/her program. The person who attended a 2-year college program may have an upper hand because work experience is equally as important as academic credentials in the job market.
Flexible Schedules
Community colleges tend to have a more flexible schedule as compared to most 4-year colleges. There are more 2-year colleges that offer evening and weekend classes as compared to 4-year colleges. This is because the workload for 2-year college programs is lighter compared to 4-year college programs. Therefore, it is much easier to attend a 2-year college while juggling with work and family obligations. On the contrary, 4-year colleges hardly have this kind of flexibility because classes run throughout the day.
Job Security
2-year colleges are meant to give students a particular skill set. As such, they offer very few majors in diverse trade areas. Therefore, employers are able to determine with certainty what an applicant is capable of doing. In addition, most 2-year colleges are directly linked with industries in their area hence students receive vocational training that directly meets the demands of their local job market. In fact most students, in 2-year colleges take internships and apprenticeships within the community which gives them valuable industry insight and connections that they can exploit to get a job after graduation. It is no surprise that a survey conducted by SchoolsInTheUSA.com indicated that 80 per cent of law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel attended a 2-year college program. On the contrary, 4-year colleges give students several options and freedom to change their majors. This makes it difficult for employers to figure out where to place them in their organization.
Despite their lower tuition costs, most 2-year colleges tend to have smaller classes as compared to most 4-year colleges. This could be attributed to the fact that it is the 4-year colleges that attract all the media attention. Professors teaching a smaller are able to learn about each of their students. Similarly, students find their professors more accessible and they can seek help whenever the need arises. In such a setting the teaching is customized to meet the needs of each student. On the contrary, in 4-year colleges with big classes, teaching has to be standardized because of the large numbers. It may not be possible to meet the needs of each and every student. In such a setting, the professor moves with the very bright students while the average students lag behind.
Conclusion
It is evident that despite the media attention that 4-year colleges attract, attending a 2- year college is better than attending a 4-year college. I would advice high school graduates to consider attending 2-year colleges. A 2-year college program is far much cheaper compared to 4-year college programs. It takes half the time it would take to complete a 4-year college program. 2-year college programs are more flexible which favors students with work or family obligations. Graduates of 2-year college programs are preferred by employers because they possess a particular set of skills. Lastly, 2-year college programs tend to have smaller classes compared to 4-year college programs hence teaching can be customized to suit each student.
Works Cited
Couch, Christina. "Two-Year vs. Four-Year Colleges: Which One is Right for You?" 12 July 2012. http://www.collegeview.com. 3 January 2013
Pern, Laura Walter. Understanding the Working College Student: New Research and Its Implications for Policy and Practice. Herndon: Stylus Publishing, LLC., 2010.
Peterson, James. Undergraduate Guide: Two-Year Colleges 2011. revised. New York: Peterson's, 2012.
