College is a time of major transformation for teens developing into mature young adults. It teaches them a variety of skills and provides them with memories that will last a lifetime. But how does a student, specifically an athlete, decide which path will be more beneficial for their futures?
Decisions regarding two year community colleges or going straight to a State or UC can be extremely tough for high school seniors. For most students, going straight to a four year or UC, such as UC Berkeley or UCLA, right after high school is the dream. However, not everyone has the ability to attain this goal. Four year college sounds great, but in reality a very low percentage of students who apply to UC’s actually get in. Not to mention the tuition. For instance, UC Berkeley’s acceptance rate is currently 18% for the graduates of this coming year. This number is expected to drop in following years, with the 2025 graduates acceptance rate at 15%, and the class of 2026 UC Berkeley acceptance rate decreasing to an astonishing 11%. In other words, by 2026, of 100 students who apply, less than 15 will be admitted. Schools have become extremely selective over time, and while scores have always been vital to getting past their first round of filters, after that, students will need to impress them beyond just academic scores. Next, California State schools acceptance rates vary dramatically. From Cal Poly SLO at 33% to CSU Fresno at 97% acceptance, these colleges can also be a great option for graduates. On the other hand, going straight to a four year college right off the bat if given the opportunity can also be an amazing experience and offer tremendous benefits for students’ future career paths. So how does one decide?
Firstly, there are numerous pros and cons to either decision. Listing and weighing each out based on what type of education will be best for you could help steer students in the right direction.
Pros of a Community College:
Affordability:
College tuition has been skyrocketing in recent years as acceptance to four years has become increasingly difficult. However, most students will find that they can get a two-year degree for up to a fraction of the cost for a four-year degree. Senior at Granada, NaVaughn Long, agrees that a big pro to community college is “the lower tuition costs.” In fact, in the Fall semester of 2023, Las Positas College provided free tuition to college for full time, incoming students who completed their financial aid (FAFSA) for the first time ever. Oftentimes they can have their student loans paid for by the time they have their bachelors degree. Also, cheaper admission means students can save more money to buy other necessities like room and board costs.
Career focused:
Not all jobs require a person to have a Bachelor’s degree. In fact, a handful of extremely high paying jobs need only a two-year degree. Plus, the number of openings for various careers that insist on their workers obtaining a two-year degree are expected to rise, including jobs in healthcare, technology, engineering, and legal support.
Smaller class sizes:
In many community colleges, classes are intentionally kept smaller to give students more individualized attention from professors, as well as an easier time focusing on hands-on instruction for a better learning experience. With this approach, students have been able to excel in their courses more easily than they would in a room with a hundred classmates. It allows them more time to ask questions that help them learn and grow from mistakes, and gain more confidence to do so when necessary.
Flexibility:
For students who work full time or undertake other extracurricular activities, community college makes it simpler to pursue a degree while also allowing time for students to manage life’s demands. With its pliable schedules for its offered courses, such as part-time, evening, online and hybrid options, plus a lighter workload overall, this may be the most convenient choice for people with hectic schedules.
Easier application process:
Many universities require students to take standardized tests, such as the SAT or ACT. However, community colleges do not make these scores a priority for admission. For example, Las Positas’s admission process takes about 20 minutes to complete and involves zero charge. In addition, if an undergraduate wishes to eventually transfer to a university after two years, they still may not be required to take such assessments.
Second chances:
Specifically for student athletes, community college can be an amazing option because it gives students who didn’t do so well in high school a second chance. Spencer Langowski, another Senior at Granada high school, states that he saw this firsthand with his brother and his team playing for Las Positas. “I saw guys on his team who didn’t get recruited out of high school go to junior college and then go to four years” afterward. He claims that community college can be a great stepping stone to the big leagues because it allows students more time to grow as athletes. “Watching my brother play at community college, I saw how much he grew as a basketball player and how much smarter he got on the court too.” Community college can just be a great starting point for athletes to get their names out there.
Cons of a Community College:
Limited curriculum:
Since community colleges consist of a shorter amount of time, there are more limits on what courses and degrees the school can offer. Long states, a “pro of a four-year college is there are more variety of subjects…” In reality, if your career interest requires a specific area of study, you will probably need to transfer to a university at some point. Additionally, if you end up deciding not to transfer to a four year afterwards, there will be much less job opportunities available for you.
Different college experience:
Community colleges are often much smaller and do not offer the same opportunities you would find at a four-year school. If living in the dorms, hanging out on campus, or joining fraternities or sororities are priorities, community college might not be the best option for you.
Pros of attending a four year (State or UC):
Skill building:
While in Universities, some of the most valued life-long skills are mastered while students work to achieve their degree(s). In this environment, students learn to become self-reliant, responsible adults and develop skills like critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, organization, and time management. Acquiring these skills will help young adults have a better chance at succeeding in life long after graduation.
Career Prerequisite:
Most careers require a Bachelor’s degree, which can only be obtained with four years of college education. This degree also opens up many doors with various job opportunities previously unavailable with only an Associates degree.
Networking opportunities:
Thanks to the multitude of clubs, organizations, and affinity groups on campus, attending a university can help graduates enter the workforce with a professional network already put in place, and get them a foot in the door. Cortevious Taylor, an additional athlete about to complete his final year of high school at GHS states that four-year college “comes with a lot of experiences and opportunities you are not able to get at a community college.”
Cons of a four year (State or UC):
Costly educational investment:
Attending a four-year university can be extremely expensive. According to Education Data, “the average total cost of a four-year degree is approximately $145,000, and when accounting for student loan interest and loss of income, the ultimate cost of a bachelor’s degree can exceed $500,000.” The average student loan debt as of 2023 was $37,338, and even 20 years after attending school, half of student borrowers still owe $20,000 each on loan balances. Taylor also states that “tuition can become an issue… and taking the responsibility as a young adult to live by yourself and pay for things can get overwhelming.”
Geographic restrictions:
Many four-year institutions urge students to live on campus in the dorms, which contributes to the higher costs of attending these colleges. While this can add to the experience, it may be a barrier for students who would rather live at home.
Larger class sizes:
Universities are often much larger than community colleges, which comes with plenty of opportunities to socialize. Larger class sizes tend to have a correlation to lower student grades due to distractions.The ideal class size is around 20 students, however university class sizes tend to have more than 50 students, which not only makes it more difficult to concentrate, but also deprives people of individualized help from teachers.
Moreover, two-year community college first could be the way to go for interested students. This is due to something known as the TAG program. For those who don’t yet know what this means, it’s basically an agreement that allows students attending a Community college to file a Transfer Admission Guarantee after completing a specified number of transferable credits with a minimum GPA of around 3.0 or higher, as determined by the transfer institution. The TAG contract enables qualified students to be guaranteed admissions into several colleges and universities one year prior to transfer. This route can be extremely beneficial for many students because it provides a guided pathway to achieving one’s goals, which can set them up for success in the future. In addition, community colleges offer various AA, AS, and vocational degrees and certificates that can also get you into available four-year schools.
College can be a life changing experience for students transitioning into adulthood. It may not be for everyone, but those who choose to be a part of it get to learn new things, experience life on their own, and make new memories every single day. Our local community college, Las Positas, is ranked 1st in California, and 6th best overall community college in America. On the other hand, nearby UC Berkeley is rated the #1 for top public schools in the country, tied with UCLA. With those rankings, it would seem either choice is a good one depending on what’s right for you and where you want to take your education.
