community college what is a intro to college course?

One type of note, once unique to the United States but becoming known and established in other countries, is the community college. Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, are two-year schools that provide affordable postsecondary education as a pathway to a four-year degree.

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What is a community college degree?

Community colleges are primarily public higher education institutions that strive to provide affordable and accessible educational opportunities to all. An associate degree, which takes about two years to complete full time, is usually the highest degree available, but community college students can also receive certificates and job training.

What is it like to go to Community College?

Most community colleges are commuter schools and do not have housing for students. The population of students tends to be older, too – the average age of a community college student is 28, according to the American Association of Community Colleges.

Can high school students take college courses at a community college?

Most high school students can take college courses at a community college, usually within a dual enrollment program. In these programs, high school students take courses at a community college and receive both high school and college credits. Sometimes these courses are held at the student's high school.

What are community college admissions?

Community colleges are almost always open admissions. In other words, anyone who has a high school diploma or equivalency will be admitted. This doesn't mean that every course and every program will be available. Registration is often on a first-come, first-served basis, and courses can fill and become unavailable for the current semester.

What is an introductory college course?

a college or university course that introduces students to a subject and prepares them for studying it at a higher level.

Are community college classes harder than AP?

A rigorous high school course load is very important to selective colleges, and AP courses may be considered stronger indicators of your academic abilities than community college classes. With community college classes, the difficulty of the class and your mastery of the material are harder for colleges to judge.

What's after introductory level?

Course Numbering If a college uses a traditional numbering system, you can usually tell the course level from its number: 100 range – freshman – introductory level. 200 range – sophomore – introductory level. 300 range – junior – advanced level.

Is AP or running start better?

“For students looking for a challenging course load, I typically recommend AP [Advanced Placement] classes rather than Running Start,” Fortney says, explaining how high school is an important life experience that Running Start students miss out on.

Is honors or AP better?

Are honors classes considered lower than AP? In a way, yes. AP classes typically have a higher GPA weight because of their difficulty, and they may cover more challenging material. Since AP classes provide college-level coursework, schools may value them more than honors courses.

Which is better dual enrollment or AP?

It is generally accepted that when it comes to having more rigorous curricula, AP programs win the AP vs dual enrollment battle. AP programs are also more widely accepted. Moreover, it is more convenient to take AP courses over dual enrollment.

What is introductory level?

Introductory Level means the level of an employee who enters the industry and who has not demonstrated the competency requirements of level 1.

What are the 5 levels of education?

Education in the United States follows a pattern similar to that in many systems. Early childhood education is followed by primary school (called elementary school in the United States), middle school, secondary school (called high school in the United States), and then postsecondary (tertiary) education.

What do course levels mean?

Per faculty legislation, the number of a course implies its level. The course number indicates the level of the course, with the exception of the first-year seminars, all of which are open only to first-year students and considered to be at the 100 level.

Do colleges prefer AP or honors?

Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.

Are AP classes like college classes?

Advanced Placement or “AP” classes are college-level courses offered to high school students. These classes are offered in a wide range of subjects, such as Biology, English Literature and U.S. History. Each AP class concludes with an AP exam that measures your mastery of the material you studied during the semester.

Do AP classes replace regular classes?

AP classes affect GPA as well — regular classes usually weight an A in a class as a 4.0. But many high schools and colleges give AP classes an additional point. So it's possible to have a 5.0 GPA credit from an AP class. Or, a student could get a B in an AP class but still have a 4.0 GPA.

What is community college?

The term “community college” means different things in different countries, but in the United States, the term indicates a public higher institution of learning that typically serves its surrounding local community, as its name suggests.

How many years does a community college take?

Community college is also commonly known as a two-year college because their programs (such as associate’s degrees and vocational certificates) take two years to complete.

How Much Does Community College Cost?

The average cost of attending community college is $2,700 per year, while the average cost of universities is $7,600 per year.

What are the Benefits of Attending Community College?

Taking these differences into consideration, what are the unique benefits for attending a community college in comparison to a larger university?

Why do community colleges offer vocational training?

Because community colleges are geared toward job preparation, they typically offer technical and vocational training for the jobs that students wish to pursue after graduation. Community college training programs are usually in partnership with the industry workforce and employers to ensure that there is adequate and practical training, as well as proper work placement, for their students.

Is a community college bigger than a university?

Community colleges are typically much smaller than their university counterparts. This comes with both pros and cons depending on your academic goals. A smaller institution may mean more one-on-one attention from staff, an easier time getting around campus, and more parking spaces, but it also means that the recreational facilities are smaller, and there are fewer student clubs and groups.

Is community college a good college?

As mentioned before, community college can be a great first step toward a 4-year degree. If you plan on earning a bachelor’s degree in the near future, you can take advantage of the other community college benefits by starting out with an associate’s degree.

What is community college?

A community college, sometimes referred to as a junior college or technical college, is a tax-payer supported two-year institution of higher education. The term "community" is at the heart of a community college's mission. These schools offer a level of accessibility—in terms of time, finances, and geography—that cannot be found at most liberal ...

Why are community colleges so challenging?

It can be more challenging to find a close peer group and to build strong faculty/student relationships at a community college than at a residential four-year college.

Is a community college selective?

Community colleges are not selective, and they provide a higher education opportunity for applicants who didn't earn stellar grades in high school as well as applicants who have been out of school for years. Community colleges are almost always open admissions.

Do community colleges have baccalaureate degrees?

Community colleges do not offer four-year baccalaureate degrees or any graduate degrees. They have a two-year curriculum that typically terminates with an associate's degree. Shorter programs may lead to specific professional certifications.

How much does it cost to attend a community college?

Affordability – Attending a community college can offer savings of thousands of dollars. The average cost of attending public community college is $2,713 per year. By comparison, the average cost of attending a public four-year college or university is $7,605 per year.

What is the partnership between community colleges and industry?

Partnership with Industry – To ensure students have adequate preparation for jobs that require higher education or workforce training, community college officials are working with employers to develop flexible, affordable and relevant training programs that meet business and regional economic needs. The partnership between businesses and community colleges can maximize workforce development strategies, job training programs, and ultimately, job placement. International students can take advantage of these opportunities through optional practical training, a one-year authorization to work.

What type of education is offered in the United States?

The United States offers many types of postsecondary education . One type of note, once unique to the United States but becoming known and established in other countries, is the community college.

What is open access to postsecondary education?

Open access to postsecondary education. Preparation for transfer to four-year college or university. Workforce development and skills training. A range of noncredit programs, such as English as a second language, skills retraining, community enrichment programs and cultural activities.

What Can I Do With a Certificate From a Community College?

Certificates are offered in a variety of academic disciplines and can be used to pursue a better job in a number of industries.

How Are Community Colleges Different From Four-Year Colleges and Universities?

The types of degrees offered is one of the main differences between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, Shanna Smith Jaggars, assistant vice provost of research and program assessment for the Office of Student Academic Success at Ohio State University—Columbus, wrote in an email. Almost all community colleges are open-access, which means almost anyone who applies is accepted.

What Are the Benefits of Attending a Community College?

Small class sizes, affordability, convenience and faculty who are focused on teaching – as opposed to research – are often cited as the main benefits of attending a community college.

What Types of Jobs Are Available to Community College Graduates?

The most popular majors for community college graduates include liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Can I Attend a Community College While Still in High School?

Most high school students can take college courses at a community college, usually within a dual enrollment program. In these programs, high school students take courses at a community college and receive both high school and college credits. Sometimes these courses are held at the student's high school.

Are There Any Placement Tests I Need to Take to Register for Community College Courses?

Most new students at community colleges have to take placement tests in subjects like math and reading before registering for classes.

Can I Attend a Community College Outside of My Hometown or State?

Yes, students can attend a community college located in another state. However, some districts offer lower tuition to in-district students, Smith Jaggars wrote in an email. The average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year colleges ranged from $1,430 in California to $8,210 in Vermont in 2019-2020, according to the College Board.

What Is a Community College Exactly?

A community college offers postsecondary education at an affordable rate . Once known as junior colleges, these institutions operate predominantly as two-year schools. Community colleges prepare graduates for the workforce.

What Degrees Do Community Colleges Offer?

Community colleges offer degrees in academic and vocational subjects. Many learners study academic disciplines like English, history, economics, sociology, mathematics, and biology. Often classified as transfer degrees by community colleges, earning a degree in one of these academic majors can prepare graduates to enroll in bachelor's programs.

What is the American Association of Community Colleges?

The American Association of Community Colleges offers a community college finder to help prospective students find colleges in their area. After putting together a list of schools, students can research how to apply for community college.

How many years of college do you need to go to college to get a bachelor's degree?

Depending on their major, graduates can also transfer from a community college to a four-year school to earn a bachelor's degree.

How many people have an associates degree in 2019?

In 2019, 1 million U.S. students graduated with an associate degree. The most common majors included the liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities, which made up 40% of earned degrees.

How much does community college cost?

Not usually. Community college generally costs $550-$3,360 per semester in tuition, depending on the state. That said, 17 states do offer free community college programs for students who qualify based on income or academics. These states include New York, California, and Indiana. President Joe Biden has also proposed a free community college plan.

How many states have free community colleges?

In total, community college students in 17 states can attend tuition-free, two-year colleges. Nevertheless, these programs limit eligibility based on household income and academic promise. Moving forward, more states may enact similar measures — recent data shows that most Americans support free community college.

Before Applying to a Community College

Before you start the application process, it’s important to take a few factors into consideration. With so many program options, the cost of attendance and different school options, deciding where to apply and for what can be a daunting experience.

What You Need to Apply to Community College

Most community colleges have straightforward application processes. Moreover, most community colleges have an open enrollment policy, meaning they welcome all applicants.

The Community College Application Process

Applying for community college is a relatively simple process. As you can see, most colleges require you to submit an application with basic information about yourself, proof of previous education and to take a placement test before you start classes.

5 Tips for When You Start at Community College

Now that you understand the basic process of applying to community college, continue reading to learn about what you should expect when starting school.

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Researching schools, applying to college, taking placement tests and selecting courses can be an exhausting process. It’s also one that can lead to your dreams.

The Cost of Community College

Admission to Community Colleges

Commuters and Part-Time Students

Associate's Degrees and Certificate Programs

• Community colleges do not offer four-year baccalaureate degrees or any graduate degrees. They have a two-year curriculum that typically terminates with an associate's degree. Shorter programs may lead to specific professional certifications. That said, many of these two-year degrees and professional certifications can result in significantly higher...

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