March 1, 2017
The traditional four-year college experience isn’t for everyone. Some students aren’t sure yet what they want to study, some are looking for a second chance at their first choice college, and others are simply looking for a more affordable education. Community colleges can be good options for students in these situations. Students can choose to attend a community college to earn a technical/career certificate, a two-year associate’s degree, or to earn credits to transfer to a four-year university to obtain a bachelor’s degree. If you are considering community college, or are just curious about the benefits, check out the following reasons why attending one might be a good decision.
Spend a Lot Less. Everyone knows that the cost of four-year colleges are high and going higher. On the other hand, California Community Colleges have the lowest fees in the nation. Even if you can afford the cost of a four-year college, you’ve probably got other things you could spend that money on.
Take the Most Direct Route to the Job You Want. Spending four years getting a bachelor’s degree may not be the route you want to take. Maybe you want to be a chef, a medical or dental assistant, or work in law enforcement. California Community Colleges offer lots of programs that can have you job ready within two years or less.
Not Sure What You Want to Study? Some students enter college knowing exactly what they want to study, but many do not. If you’re not sure about the educational path you want to follow, community colleges can help with career advisement and help you develop an educational plan to assist you in reaching you goals on time.
Find Classes to Fit a Busy Schedule. Not everyone has the luxury of being “just” a college student. You may need to make college fit in with a job or family responsibilities. With classes in the evening, on weekends and even online, community colleges offer the flexibility to help you proceed with your education while doing other things you need to do in your life.
Go to College Without Leaving Home. There are six community colleges within commuting distance of Almaden. Going to community college gives you the option to continue living at home. This can help lower the cost of college, as well as let you focus on education rather than the lifestyle changes that come with going away to college.
Learn in Smaller Classes From Experienced Instructors. At four-year colleges, it’s common for many of the classes you’ll typically take in your first two years to be large (sometimes more than 300 students), relatively impersonal, and conducted by teaching assistants rather than professors. At community college, class sizes will be much smaller, and the classes are taught by experienced instructors who can give you personal attention when you need it.
Get a Second Chance at Your Four-Year Choice. If coming out of high school, you were not accepted by your chosen four-year college, that doesn’t mean you can never go there. Upper division transfer students from California Community Colleges have highest admission priority to UC and CSU. Plus, many of the community colleges have transfer agreements and admission guarantees to help you make a smooth transition into a four-year university.
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March 1, 2017
Can I meet my career goals if I start at a community college instead of a four-year university?
Yes, you can. Consider the following:
§ California community colleges educate 70 percent of our state’s nurses.
§ California community colleges train 80 percent of firefighters, law enforcement personnel and emergency medical technicians.
§ Twenty-nine percent of University of California and 51 percent of California State University graduates started at a California community college.
§ Transfer students from the California Community Colleges to the University of California system currently account for 48 percent of UC’s bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Are all community colleges the same?
All try to meet the needs of all students and all will offer the courses that are required to transfer to a four-year university. However, some specialize in specific technical/career certificates. If you are unsure which college you want to attend, learn how they differ in terms of the career programs they offer and their transfer agreements with California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC). Transfer agreement information can be found on the college’s transfer center website. Another difference to consider is that some colleges are on a quarter system and
others are on a semester system. San Jose City, West Valley, Mission and Evergreen College are all on a semester system, while De Anza and Foothill College are on a quarter system. While there are some distinct advantages to semesters that deal mostly with extended time, quarter system schools can sometimes provide more flexibility and more options.
Does it matter how well I did in high school?
If you didn’t do well in high school, you can still attend community college as long as you are 18 or older. If you are younger than 18, you must have a high school diploma or have passed the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).
How hard is community college?
Not working hard in high school will make college more difficult. Students are assessed through placement tests and other measures (such as high school courses/grades) to determine what level English and math classes they should start at. Some students end up taking “basic skills” classes in English and math before they are allowed to take the courses that count toward a degree. These classes lengthen a students’ stay at community college. Thus, it is important to take challenging courses in high school and take all four years of math so that students will do well on the college placement tests and be allowed to start in college level English and math classes.
March 1, 2017
How to Apply
March 1, 2017
1. Submit an online application. You will receive a confirmation page upon submission. Within two business days, you will receive a student ID number. If you do not, contact the admissions office at the college.
2. Apply for financial aid. Students should fill out the free application at fafsa.ed.gov.
3. Complete an assessment. All first time students are required to complete an assessment. Students must have an ID number to take the test.
4. Sign up for an Orientation. All first time students are required to participate in orientation. There are different orientation options available.
5. Register for classes. Students register for classes using the college’s portal.
March 1, 2017
Community College Panel & Fair
March 28th in the Media Center during Tutorial
Representatives from our local community colleges will discuss the benefits of attending a community college, the process of applying, financial aid, student life, and more. Afterward, students will have the opportunity to talk to the college representatives.
College / Application / Assessment(College ID # required) / Orientation
De Anza College*
www.deanza.edu / www.deanza.edu/registration/myinfo.html / 3/20/17 in Leland CRC from 2-5pm or De Anza College: 408-864-8717 www.deanza.edu/admissions/placement/ / 4/4/17 in Leland CRC from 2-3:30 or De Anza College: 408-864-6300 https://www.deanza.edu/registration/newstudents.html
Evergreen Valley College
www.evc.edu / www.evc.edu/future-students / Evergreen Valley College: 408-274-7900 ext. 6636 www.evc.edu/current-students/admissions-and-records/assessment-center / Evergreen Valley College: 408-270-6475
Foothill College
www.foothill.edu / foothill.edu/admissions.php / Foothill College: 650-949-7743 foothill.edu/placement / Foothill College on 9/21/17: Register for at foothill.edu/welcome/
Mission College
missioncollege.edu / missioncollege.edu/admissions/apply.html / Mission College: missioncollege.edu/student_services/assess/index.html / Orientation is online. Register for COUNS000A on Mission College student portal.
San Jose City College*
www.sjcc.edu / 3/27/2017 in Leland CRC during Tutorial or
www.sjcc.edu/future-students/apply-now / 4/3/17 in Leland CRC from 2-4:30pm or San Jose City College: 408-288-3170 www.sjcc.edu/future-students/assessment-center / 4/5/17 in Leland CRC from 3-5pm. Note: Seniors are also required to attend Orientation 2 at SJCC on 4/29/17 from 8am-1:30pm.
West Valley College*
westvalley.edu / westvalley.edu/admissions/apply.html / 4/6/17 in Leland CRC from 2:30-5pm or West Valley College: 408-741-2035 westvalley.edu/admissions/assessment/ / Orientation Dates: 4/26, 4/29, 5/2, 5/4, 5/10 & 5/12 Sign up: www.westvalley.edu/admission/outreach/#tabs-5
* Denotes colleges that will be doing application, assessment or orientation workshops on the Leland High School campus.
March 1, 2017