By: Jenalyz Serrata, Follow South Jersey Intern
Students on the path to tertiary education are encouraged to attend a two-year or four-year college. However, what about those who attend community college and later transfer to a university?
The stark contrast between a two-year and four-year university becomes apparent only through experience. Yet, when that transition occurs, individuals may feel lost, like a familiar environment has suddenly become unfamiliar. This is where the security and familiarity of attending one school can play a crucial role in your college experience.
It is known that entering into community college first has many benefits. For example, tuition is ten times cheaper than entering a university for the first time. It is easier to have classes with fewer people, and the application process is more straightforward than that of a university. Also, you can have a more flexible schedule when attending a two-year college, which is beneficial if you have a part-time job or even kids. However, what happens once you receive your associate’s degree and plan to transfer to a four-year university?
Higher Ed Dive‘s website states, “New research from a trio of organizations found that just one-third of students who started at community colleges transferred to four-year institutions, and fewer than half of those students earned a bachelor’s degree in six years.”
Research shows how the transition from community college to a four-year institution has had its downfall on many students since half then one-third of those who have transferred have graduated. The drop in graduates who have moved from a two-year college can be caused by multiple situations, such as needing more motivation to continue to study due to the difficulty level of the courses or even being uninterested due to being used to a different routine than expected at a university.
The differences between a community college and a university are very distinct. As a student, you will feel intimidated when asking for help at a university. So much is happening, sometimes leading to students and professors being impolite when you need help. The environment can be fast-paced and overwhelming, especially since the students and professors expect you to solve the problem you might be facing independently.
It is easier to find help at a community college; for example, when reapplying for FASFA, they provide more events to help with the application. Events like these only happen at a university if you are a member of groups such as ASCEND at Rowan University that specifically focus on helping students through their college experience. Situations like these happen very often; however, the actual circumstances are when none of your classes at the two-year college correlate with what you are studying at the four-year institution.
According to Kathryn Quigley, chairperson of the Department of Journalism at Rowan University, two-year colleges are a great way for students to start their tertiary education. She believes it is the best option if you are looking for a more affordable way to have higher education.
“Some challenges for students transferring into a four-year institution include getting used to a new campus and the increased intensity of the courses and workload.”
Quigley says the increased workload of these high-end classes can affect your college career. Therefore, she says not to blow off your classes and work hard in every one of them for the betterment of the future in your career.
Overall, one of the best decisions is to attend either a two-year college or a four-year institution. Choosing between them can lessen the risk of facing an overload of emotions when unprepared for a different environment. Change is needed; however, being comfortable with what you may be used to can help create a stress-free environment at a college or university.
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