Community Colleges - IIf you haven't a clear idea of what career you want to focus on after finishing High School, or the real problem is you're tight on funds, or you are a foreign student, I guess there is a wise solution for you. Whether you want to save money or to explore your career interests before pursuing a bachelor's degree at a university, committing to a four-year program, the answer to your troubles may be entering a community college. These are public post-secondary institutions of higher education intended to meet the educational and vocational needs of students in their local communities. Usually they are run by a state government. By maintaining an "open door policy" with low tuition costs and few entrance requirements, community colleges have offered many U.S. citizens a chance to get a college education. You may be one of them. From the beginning of their existence community colleges were created to serve their localities. They continue to place high priority on responding to local needs and their century-long history has developed a distinctive aspect of higher education. Nevertheless today community colleges increasingly recognize that their students will live in an interdependent, multicultural society. That's why more international students are attending community colleges; here they find a popular alternative for completing the first two years of a Bachelor's degree. These students see the community college as a starting point in their effort to earn a four-year or graduate degree from a U.S. university. These first two years are designed to provide a strong foundation of general knowledge before a student begins concentrating on a major field of study. Community colleges are then incorporating international components into new and existing curricula; providing special programs, activities, and classes for their growing immigrant and foreign student populations; initiating study abroad programs; encouraging faculty exchanges; and recruiting international students to the campus. Two years at a community college can help an international student improve language skills and grow accustomed to the U.S. educational system and way of life. In a community college you can explore different subject areas before committing to a program. Many of them offer intensive guidance counseling to assist you with your career decision-making process that can help you assess your abilities, interests, and educational options. As student population is often smaller than in four-year schools, teachers, advisors and instructors are readily available for students, really caring about them. It is a great help specially if you want to pursue college-level coursework but you aren't academically ready. Community colleges offer classes and one-on-one tutoring to help you strengthen your basic skills. |