Community College in the USA

In the United States, college is not an automatic step after high school. Some students go straight into college, others go into the military or vocational schools, and some choose to go straight to work. Some colleges are very difficult to get into and they only accept students with very high grades and very high scores on the standardized tests such as the SAT and the ACT. Community colleges are generally easier to get into and accept students with a wider range of grades and test scores.

If you get a scholarship or qualify for some government programs, then college is free; however, most people pay for it themselves. Hillsborough Community College tuition for people who live in Florida is about $2,000 a year, plus books and other supplies; for people who live in other states or countries, it is close to $7,500 each year. Some private four-year universities can cost $40,000 or $50,000 per year, but the average annual price for a four-year private school is around $25,000 and a public four-year program is only $6,500 per year. The United States government pays for my education because I served in the armed forces, but other people have their parents help them, save money before, or take out loans to fund their education.

I am enrolled at a community college, which only offers Associates (two year) Degrees but is affiliated with the state universities in Florida. This means that after I complete my two-year degree at my community college, I can transfer to a state university and complete my bachelor’s degree there. The relationship between Hillsborough Community College and the state universities such as University of Florida, Florida State University, and University of South Florida allows all of my credits to transfer and count as credits there. After completing an AS, you can go straight into some professions, such as a teacher’s aide or some computer and electronic jobs. However, it is better for your career to have a four-year degree, because most jobs that pay well require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Classes are interesting when they apply to something that I can use in my life or when they are about a topic that I find compelling. I find classes less interesting when they do not apply to my life, like some types of advanced math that I will never use again, or when the information is taught in a very boring way. I would rather be in classes that are more interactive and that make me think about what we are learning than in ones that only have lectures, readings, and tests.