It is undeniably true that any student desires to gain quality education that not only focuses on imparting knowledge but also imparts life experiences. Leading academicians and world leaders such as Vice-President Biden acknowledge the pivotal role played by community colleges primarily because these two-year institutions are not only less expensive but also maintain open admission policy as compared to the four-year universities or colleges. After successful completion of community colleges, these students can transfer to a university to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
Below are eight insightful tips that all community college students need to be well conversant with:
Take advantage of the available academic support
There are several learning services provided by community colleges that all students need to take advantage of including labs, tutoring and writing centers. You can always pay for paper. At my college, we had different learning materials. The library had enough textbooks on reserve which meant that anyone could borrow and use instead of buying. We also had computer rooms where we get access to online learning materials.
Understand the regulations and policies of the institution
Every institution has its own set of rules and regulations that govern its operations, and they also have distinct institutional bureaucracy. It is important for students at these institutions to be well conversant with these policies and regulations to have a good understanding of the institutional culture. This will help one to know the approved and prohibited items from the college before joining. This is because rules vary from one institution to another and what might be accepted at one institution may not be condoned in another institution. For instance, most colleges prohibit preparing meals at residential hostels while there are some that approve of this. Consequently, when it comes to management, there is a chain of command that needs to be followed. There are different divisions such as student affairs and academic affairs, and therefore student should have an understanding where to direct their various issues. Having a good understanding of the bureaucracy as well as the rules and regulations will help a student to know what is expected of them and has a nice stay at the institution.
There are financial aids: you need not pay all fees by yourself
Most students are often eligible for some financial grants such as state tuition, federal grants such as the Pell Grant. More often students are unaware of these grants; it is, therefore, important that students find out all the possible financial grants that they are eligible for. Some of the most common financial grants that they need to look for include the work-study program and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. Eligibility for these grants are often pegged on the student’s ability to pay for their fees, the number of credits attained and their academic performance. Students with strong academic standings and are needy are more likely to get financial aid if they apply for them.
Build networks
Community colleges accept students from all walks of life and are thus highly diverse. Students should take the opportunity presented by this diversity to build their networks and create lasting bonds with fellow students, faculty or peers. Through networking, students can gain insights and guidance from their professors and pees which can be integral to their career development.
No restrictions on going back to college
These institutions are open to all students. There are often cases where students drop out due to various reasons such as lack of school fees or personal reasons, in such situations these institutions can accept back such students. Older students can also are welcome at these institutions since they offer flexible schedules.
Learn other things apart from the class work
Besides gaining knowledge presented in class, it is important to learn other facets of life such as engaging in co-curriculum activities. While in college I got engaged in extracurricular activities like debates, student conferences, and different school clubs.
Embrace different learning techniques
Besides attending classes I also learned through online researchers, holding discussions with other students and my professors. This way I gained a deeper understanding of the content.
Know where to get good food
There are different dining options, try them out during the first semester to determine the best place to dine that commensurate your taste.
In conclusion, it is true that community colleges offer an array of resources and services that are important to students. You should not be afraid to reach out for help to gain the full benefit of the available opportunities.