By Francesca Catanese

When I was 13 years old, I started dreaming:  about where I would go to college. I knew my parents had both attended universities, after which both had chosen to go to continue on to graduate school. Without a doubt, I saw a university in my future too. But what I didn’t know is that both of my parents started at community college. 

I must admit, at the time, community college didn’t inspire much interest in me. Despite their encouragement, it didn’t fit the picture of my future that I had created. But as an older and wiser person than I was, I would like to convince you why I was wrong.

Community college is often viewed as a lesser alternative to a four-year university. 

Community college is far less expensive than a four year university with an average annual tuition of $4,150 compared to $11,950 for in-state universities and $45,000 for private schools according to NBC. Many people take that to mean that it is worth less.

Community college is also not selective like four year universities. For example, UCLA accepts less than 10 percent of applicants and Stanford less than 5%.  I know many of my peers see the fact that community colleges accept all applicants as a bad thing. They believe that only students who performed poorly in high school go to community college. 

Community colleges also do not involve the stressful admissions process of more “prestigious” universities. You are guaranteed an education, without competing with others. This cultivates a much healthier relationship with one’s intellect, because there is far less emphasis placed on being “the best”, a mindset which can lead to burnout and resentment. According to a study published in Frontiers Psychology, “There is a significant correlation between academic stress and poor mental well-being among college students,” highlighting how environments with less pressure can foster healthier relationships with learning.

The fact that community colleges aren’t exclusive is a blessing in disguise. They do not cherry pick from a crop of young hopefuls but rather welcome everyone to learn and grow together whether this is a recently graduated teenager, a middle-aged mother, or a retired person. This more equitable approach teaches students to view everyone in the classroom as an equal, instead of as a competitor.

Community college truly allows students to discover themselves in a much less competitive environment and become well adjusted, well rounded adults. I think that for some, without even considering money or academic prowess, the benefits of community college may actually outweigh those of a four-year university.

Despite all the benefits that four-year universities provide, such as prestige, funding, and infrastructure, they lack an environment that represents “the real world.” An isolated community consisting almost entirely of 18-22 year olds teaches you many things, but working and playing with the same type of people as yourself leads to a limited view of reality. Only community college allows you to connect with people of all walks of life every day.

Many community colleges also offer specialized programs that universities do not. This could be anything from scuba diving technology, to rocketry, to hands-on field courses in the animal sciences. For example, Pierce College offers a Crime and Intelligence Analysis track and College of the Canyons offers technical training in areas like Low Observable (stealth) technology.

Community colleges also offer many of the same opportunities as a four year university such as the opportunity to study abroad, often with a smaller price tag. This gives more students, some who have never traveled before, the opportunity to see the world and learn while doing it.

Despite the popular stigma, every high school student should consider community college, no matter how much money they have, no matter how many Advanced Placement (AP) classes they take, and no matter their desired career. It is critical for young people to be allowed the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and discover the world in all its many aspects. It is time we realize that community college fits that bill.