A look back at the institution of education over the past 20 years will reveal that once upon a time a bachelor’s degree was long since considered the marker of ultimate success, the highest level of achievement that one could make in their lives. In those days, if for some reason you failed to march across the stage on graduation day after an epic, four-year stretch of high tuition, long nights studying, and unrelenting professors that found great joy in riding your back, then you had indeed failed at life.

Attendance at a technical college or local 2-year school was deplorably referenced to as “loser’s territory” and if you dared to enroll in one anyway and followed through to graduation, well you were congratulated but to a lackluster fanfare. Some community college graduates still receive this reception upon exit of a community college but attitudes are definitely changing. Today more than ever, degree-seeking individuals are paving the path to their careers through the entrance and exit doors of community colleges. These well-informed leaders of the new school have realized a smarter way to education; that a bachelor’s degree or taking a traditional route to obtain one is not necessarily the best or right way to be a successful and employable member of society.

Pinch and Save

If you attend community college the right way, your accounts show a noticeably lower balance in losses. Let me guess, the million-dollar question flashing in your mind after reading that statement is, “Well what IS the right way to attend community college?” The best way to go about is to enroll for classes with a set plan of action to avoid turning a junior college into exactly what it is not, a university. As you plan, ask yourself one question, “What kind of career can I start with an associate’s degree?” after these questions have been answered, choose a university to transfer to before you start a junior degree program to know which credits are transferrable and which you should avoid taking. By taking these steps, you are in complete control of your education and which directions it will turn in. It will be forward moving rather than stalled and undecided, which can potentially lead to higher bills as a direct result of your extended enrollment beyond the intended 2-year stay.

This is not the only way that you can save by going to a community college. Chances are a larger university is not near your home. A school closer to home allows you to stay home and cut your bills another way by eliminating room and board fees and transportation expenses. Driving across town and maintaining your sometimes drastically lower living expenses sounds much better than the usurious bill many find themselves incurring at a larger school miles away from home.

Build a Solid Work History

Now that more people are earning degrees than they did two decades ago, employers are requiring applicants to have some type of experience listed on their resume if they expect serious consideration of their resume. In the past, all one needed was a crisp degree, bright and shiny, to hand over to a prospective employer to get on a desired company in your respective field. Those days are gone. To be competitive in today’s job market, with longevity, you must have referenced experience from someone of power to vouch for your basic job performance. That’s right, your experience does not have to explicitly match the career you are seeking but it is a must these days for you to have volunteer work, internships, or interim work experience on your resume to go along with your education when shopping yourself for a job.

Be the Center of Attention

At a community college, resources of educational support are more accessible as a direct correlation to the size of the school you are attending. While you work on transitioning, a network of tutors, counselors, and advisors are more apt at working closely with you as part of the encapsulated student body they have to work with. You do not have to compete with 4,000 other students for one professors attention there and the resources are less detached than at state university. Therefore, this is a special plus for someone who needs more accommodations to fit their learning style and needs.

Investigate, Interview, then Decide

Each point listed in this article was included to shine a light on the positives of community college and advise you on how attaining a junior college degree may be the best thing for your career in the end. However, even with the all of the advice in the world, the local community college offerings still may not feed your specific goals. As great as community colleges are, they are just not that great for every career. Set up campus tours and schedule an informational interview with an academic advisor at both the junior college and 4-year school you are considering before taking the leap. Nevertheless, before you do anything, decide what steps will be good for your career plan and make a sound decision on entering an associate’s degree program that fits your lifestyle, goals, financial outlook, and most importantly, dreams.

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