are fine institutions. The difference in tuition can be due to many reasons, but it is mainly because community colleges do not have the incredible overhead that residential colleges have.
In 2004, the American Association of Community Colleges conducted a survey to see what the hottest programs at these colleges were. The survey found that the top five fields to study were allied health (46.6 percent), skilled trades/industrial, public services, information technologies and business.
The most important thing any student can do when searching for a college is to keep an open mind. When I make recommendations to students for a college, sometimes they say, “I haven't heard of that one so it must not be any good.” They have this concept that only the ones mentioned in the papers are decent. It drives me crazy! You have to take the time to decide what YOU want from a school and then start choosing possibilities. Find a school that fits YOU and not the other way around. Look outside the box.
Also, please take the time to really understand financial aid as part of the college puzzle. The topic is near and dear to me because I grew up with a middle class background and I could not afford the state school. You do not want to graduate with $50,000 in college loans.
—Todd Johnson, College Admissions Partners
Go, Team, Go!
Remember that choosing a college is not usually an individual choice. Instead, it takes a team of people all working together, including your teachers, advisers, guidance counselors, principals, coaches and family members. You need help with a decision this big, because it is a complex one.
There are so many colleges that accept B students that it is important for you to consider several different elements when you start your search. Ask yourself these questions:
What kind of student am I now, and what are my career plans for the future?
What parts of school do I like the best and least now?
What does the idea of success actually mean to me?
Where do I see myself in two years? Five years? Ten years?
What part of the country appeals most to me?
Do I want a small, intimate college or a bustling, exciting university?
What percentage of males and females would be ideal for me?
What is the cost and how much financial aid does each school offer?
What are the most popular majors and is mine on that list?
Do I want to be involved in a sorority/fraternity?
Will I have any scholarships or grants that affect where I can go?
Do I want a philosophical or religious college?
You may not know the answers to all these questions yet. Many of them will only come after you have taken some tours, read your research and talked to your team. Giving them some thought now, however, will give you a head start.
A COLLEGE WHOSE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN
The core philosophy of the community college in America can be captured in the phrase “access and excellence.” Community colleges, like all institutions of higher education, struggle to be excellent. But when it comes to “access,” there is no struggle at all; community colleges are the access institutions of the 21st century.
The community college has emerged as the institution of the second chance—even the third and fourth chance. Community colleges take great pride in their “open-door philosophy,” which means that any student who has graduated from high school or who has reached a certain age will be admitted. This philosophy and practice is remarkably different from those of most four-year colleges and universities. Historically, most four-year colleges and universities require that students meet certain criteria for admission, eliminating those who are under-prepared or unqualified to compete.
Community colleges are willing to give all applicants an opportunity to succeed regardless of their history. That does not mean that an unprepared student will be admitted into a very challenging program such as nursing or engineering technology. Instead, through assessment and advising, students who are not prepared for more challenging work will be guided into developmental education programs where they will receive special tutoring and courses in which they can develop the skills for more advanced work.
The focus of the community college—through its faculty and innovative programs and practices—is to help students succeed, regardless of their level of achievement when they enter.
—TERRY O’BANION, former president of the League for Innovation in the Community College
What to Look for in a College
When you start your college search, you have to find a happy balance between being optimistic and realistic. Look at the GPA and ACT/SAT scores that each college lists and analyze those numbers in relationship to yours. If a college's cut-off on the SAT verbal score is 510 and yours is 520, go ahead and apply—it's a “safety” college. What if your score is 480? Give it a try—it's a “fairly good chance” college. How about a score of 410? Not likely—but you could still apply to this college; just don't hold your breath. Be willing to stretch a little and know that those numbers are not carved in stone but are general guidelines.
The colleges profiled in this book do more than just accept B students. They are dedicated to helping them. They may offer a first-year general studies, remedial or transition class to help get you started. Many offer on-campus writing clinics and tutoring services. When you get in touch with the representatives from these colleges, be prepared to ask them what services they might offer. Can you record lectures? Are there faculty advisers for each student? Are classes offered to help with the transition to college? Even if they don't have any plans in place (which is unlikely) your request might be just enough to implement one.
Let's take an up-close look at each of these options for a moment. It's important for you to think about which of these features is important to you and will help you succeed in college. Take notes so that when you contact a college rep or admissions officer, you can ask if these choices exist at the school:
TUTORING: A variety of types of tutoring are available on virtually every campus. The only question is what format you prefer. You can check into peer tutoring from either a classmate or friend; faculty tutoring from a willing professor; in-depth tutoring from a teacher's assistant or at special on-campus centers and clinics. While some tutors may charge a fee, most services tend to be free. When you speak with a college rep, ask what might be available if you should need extra assistance.
COUNSELING: While tutoring is helpful to understanding a certain assignment or class subject, counseling is a wider scope. A counselor will help you make bigger decisions like what major to choose, what classes to take and in what direction you should go to achieve your goal. An academic counselor will not only help you reach academic goals, but he or she also will often help you with emotional and mental stress. To do your best academically, you need to be in good shape mentally. Counselors can recommend resources, give suggestions and tips, connect you with helpful mentors or organizations and much more.
“Getting the right college is not a game to be won, but a match to be made.”
