Phew, Finishing High School…Now What?
Woohoo, graduating High School, the whole world is ahead of you, your future starts now! What do all those cliches mean? Well, it means that it’s time to make some decisions. Do you go to a four-year college? Will you be able to live in the dorms, and live the whole “college” experience? With so much in flux right now, maybe your best move is to attend what BestColleges.com has ranked the #1 Community College in New York State – SUNY Ulster.
There’s No Place Like Home.
Community College allows you to get a real idea of what college is like. You’ll be exposed to new work habits and study habits to find what works best for you. You can find your own learning style while deciding what you really want to study.
The beauty in this is that you would be close enough to home have your friends and family at hand. It’s a big transition from high school to college, and having support and encouragement can be beneficial.
But I Already Know What I Want To Be!
Community colleges offer Job Training/Certification programs and Applied Associates in Science (AAS) degrees. You can get certified in a number of areas that can further your current employment or assist you in obtaining new employment. The AAS degrees will get you started in your desired field and allow you to continue further education at a four-year institution when it’s convenient for you. Or you can simply transfer straight to a four-year college and continue your education while working in your desired field.
Money Makes The World Go ‘Round.
Higher education can get very, very costly. There are many factors to consider. If you go to a community college, you generally have far fewer expenses than going to a four- year institution. You don’t usually have to worry about housing and a food plan. The tuition at a community college is also far less than a four-year college.
At a four-year college you commonly have to pay for housing, food, entertainment, and a multitude of other items. Any toiletries or furniture that you might need has to be added to all of this as well. That is all on top of tuition itself.
According to U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT the average tuition for the Academic year 2019/2020 was $10,116 for in-state public colleges and $36,801 for private colleges. U.S. NEWS & WORLD Report is a multi-platform publisher of news and information, which includes their website and annual print and e-book versions of its authoritative rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools and Best Hospitals. This is an extremely helpful resource for researching your educational choices.
Flexibility Matters
Community colleges offer an array of learning options to accommodate the needs of a diverse group of students. Smaller class sizes allow for a more interactive learning experience. Online classes offer options for those that already have a rather full schedule.
Community colleges are also crucial for the returning student who has been away from the education system for an extended period of time. What about that person who struggled to make it through high school? How intimidating does “COLLEGE” seem to them? Community colleges offer a more personal approach to higher education based on a smaller student body. SUNY Ulster also offers a variety of tutoring outlets, advisement, and counseling for students.
Getting To Know All The Players
Community colleges offer a number of programs, clubs, and activities. These provide an opportunity for students to practice social networking. This can aid in your future career by developing relationships and contacts. If you take on a leadership role in clubs and student government, it looks amazing on a job resume or an application for a transferl institution.
Community colleges also make it easier from day one to obtain internships in your field of study which can give you the hands-on knowledge to add to your resume. This is important in any and every field of study as almost every place of employment will want on-the-job experience.
Where Do I Start?
So now you have some ideas running around your mind. Do some research. Poke around some websites. Get informed! And don’t forget to get your FAFSA done. What is FAFSA? It’s a Free Application For Federal Student Aid. It’s a fairly easy online application, so why wait? Get started on your journey today!
