Why attend a community college?

Curious about the benefits of a community college? You are not alone...there are lots of benefits and 118,000 MORE students discovered those in 2023. In the fall of 2023, community colleges experienced a 2.6% increase according to the National Student Clearing House.

While all institutions of higher education some sort of increase, post COVID, the increase enrollment at community colleges is noteworthy. Full disclosure - I work at a community college as full-time faculty and I absolutely love my job, my colleagues and the students.

For some students, a community college provides lots of advantages to accomplish career goals. First, community colleges offer lower tuition and fees than most four year institutions. Most recently, many colleges are offering students within their district FREE tuition when they enroll and attend full-time. Some other restrictions may apply, but in-district high school graduates generally meet these. By attending a community college, students can save money (financial aid or self-pay) to put towards their coursework at a transfer institution. In most cases, the savings will also offset significant costs of graduate school. So, if you are considering a career in psychology or social work, both tracts require a Masters Degree, or similar credential, to practice in the field. Starting at a community college saves money that will pay for graduate work.

Second, most community colleges offer a transfer agreement or articulation agreement with four year institutions. These agreements guarantee that credits completed at the community college will transfer and some may even guarantee admission to the transfer school! While the agreements require a certain GPA and completion, they may not be enough for Ivy League or top-ranked schools which are competitive regardless of academic path. For education, many community colleges are offering transfer programs or 2+2 degrees where the student completes all general education requirements then transfers directly into the school of education to earn the appropriate degree and certification.

Third, perhaps my favorite: small class sizes and AMAZING faculty support. While I can only speak for my school, I know at other community colleges where I have worked, the student-to-faculty ratio is low and many faculty really enjoy helping students take the next step in their careers. Again, speaking for myself, I personally advise transfer students in political science and write letters of recommendation for internships, fellowships and more. My colleagues lead the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa where they directly impact student's academic success as well as mentor based on personal experience. We all assist students in getting accepted to their desired transfer school and have many who now attend the University of Michigan, DePaul University, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State and many more. In contrast, many students will not have direct faculty advisement or mentorship during the undergraduate years at a four-year institution - only when accepted into a program and upper-level courses will students have more access to tenured faculty.

Finally, campus life still exists and it may be more accessible to students. Many community colleges offer residence halls so freshmen still get the "college life" experience. The experience at a community college would mirror a smaller school with a residence hall. It's easier to meet people and yes, there are still athletic programs if students wish to play collegiate sports. There are likely MORE activities as well because it is easier to plan and advertise to the campus community where larger schools generally attract one dorm or one program. Clubs and organizations exist as well - Phi Theta Kappa is an honor society focused on transfer students, the National Society for Leadership and Success is a professional development program at many schools and there is also simulation opportunities like Model UN or state government. There is no shortage of student activities at a community college, don't be fooled!

If you are on the fence about a four-year, I would definitely recommend you check out a local community college in your area. While Ivy Tech does not offer any residence facilities in Indiana, these nearby schools do: Marian University - Ancilla College, Southwestern Michigan College and of course, my favorite, Lake Michigan College. Go Red Hawks!

Students, is Dual Enrollment Worth It?

Lots of things happen in spring...college admissions letters are mailed out, high school seniors are finishing their last semester, incoming freshmen are being asked to supply transcripts and parents everywhere are a little overwhelmed. I feel this so much as a mom to a senior this year!

One of the to-do items is providing transcripts and this includes anything from a higher education institutions - cue the dual enrolled students. If you completed college coursework while enrolled as a high school students, you will need to provide the official college transcripts for evaluation at the incoming institution.

Here are some key things to remember:

• You are not considered a transfer student even though you have college-credit. Some terms you may hear thrown around include "incoming freshman with xx amount of credits" or "first year student but considered a sophomore," etc.

• Your college or university will evaluate your transcripts and apply any college credit earned to your academic progress. If you participated in a program that guaranteed a certain number of credits will transfer when a "degree/program" is completed (in Indiana this is the Core 40 with Ivy Tech), be sure to follow up with the registrar to verify everything was applied correctly.

• An advisor may assist in your credit transfer by putting the course credits in the right buckets or categories towards the bachelor's degree. Most schools have the same categories, but some may differ and number of credits required to complete before registering for upper-division courses. These categories may be: Humanities, Social Science, Math, Natural Science, and more. Your Political Science course may not be added to the Social Science category until have completed two or three from different disciplines...the bottom line here: Check with your gaining institution!

Things to consider if you are considering dual enrollment (cue the high school freshmen & sophomores):

• Do you know the top three schools you intend to apply to? If so, reach out (or have a college consultant like me) and contact the school admissions office to verify what credits, how many and how those credits will be applied if accepted into the institution or program. Some top tier schools only allow 6 credits of AP to transfer and 12 credits from a dual enrolled program; out of state schools often do not accept an associates degree in its entirety.

• Do you know the program you intent to complete at one or all of your top three schools? This is kind of a big one...If the goal is to get into a pre-professional program (pharmacy?) or something like engineering where there are several sub-fields, I recommend reviewing the program plan to verify the courses needed. While a dual-enrolled program may require certain courses on their end, those same courses may not be required at the incoming institution and could be a waste. For example, if the pre-professional program does not require three years of a foreign language, but the guaranteed degree for transfer does...consider if that third year is necessary. Would it be better to take college-level statistics with a smaller class and well-liked instructor instead of completing at transfer school with larger class sizes and an unknown instructor?

• Do you know what your senior year will look like if you start a dual enrolled program? Parents, time to take a hard look at your kid(s) and their course load, extracurriculars and social life. By the time they get to their last year of high school, they should have an appropriate self-awareness of healthy work/life boundaries. Helping students decide their courses in high school and managing time to study, work (if necessary), compete in athletics, and spend time with friends are required skills. When students who are over-scheduled and unable to set their own boundaries in high school get to college, they may struggle. I see it all the time and we have freshmen burnout...leads to repeated courses, taking time off, and unwanted stress.

My best advice regarding dual-enrollment, gather all the information you can! Speak to the high school advisor, find friends who have completed the program and contact the intended transfer institutions. College consultants, like myself, are well-versed in this process as well. Feel free to reach out an schedule a FREE consult with me...

It's College Decision Season!

Many colleges and universities have resumed for spring semester courses and with that...it's college decision season! Admissions offices are sending decision letters and while some may still come through the snail mail, many are received electronically and may even direct you to your now active "student account."

If you are still waiting for a response from one or more schools, never fear! This article gives you some insight into timelines for regular decision, early decision and early action admissions.

While the delayed release of the revised FAFSA has also delayed some admissions, many are still actively engaging with applicants. While some schools have offered merit aid with acceptance letters, needs-based aid will be delayed pending the release of data from the Department of Education to school financial aid offices. Once received, students can expect to hear from schools on how much they may receive in Pell Grant, institutional aid and student loan options.

Students who applied for Early Action have the ability to commit to the school up until May 1st - in schools where housing is competitive (Purdue, I'm looking at you), early acceptance and payment is a wise decision. Students who applied Early Decision have entered into a binding agreement with the school once accepted. Some schools are offering a second round of Early Decision II applications which gives students the opportunity to apply again if their first choice was unsuccessful.

We are definitely in the decision season! Early Action and Early Decision letters have been sent from many schools including these in Indiana: IU-Bloomington, Purdue (main), IU-South Bend, Indiana State and ED for Notre Dame. Outside of Indiana, these schools have sent letters: Vanderbilt, University of Arizona, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of South Carolina...more to come!

If you are still waiting on a decision, I suggest some patience until February. Then, feel free to reach out to an admissions officer or if working with a college consultant, contact them. Many of us have an inside track to when decisions will be released!