College application season. A time for tears–both happy and sad–and stress that could rival the weight of an elephant. Said stress is accompanied by the thick veil of judgement that covers Vienna every fall. Acceptance rates hover in the air, and test score minimums are shoved down throats. However, apart from a four year university, lies a different path: community college. Perhaps a taboo for Northern Virginia students, community college offers numerous benefits.
For one, the average price of an out-of-state university’s full tuition, including required food and board, is almost $50,000. However, for community college, the number becomes about $4,000. For the many students who are self-sufficiently funding their education, the vastly lower price of community college is difficult to ignore. Additionally, because community college is local, the ability to find or maintain a previously held job is typically easier. This can allow students to pay for their education in full, without the need for student loans–which can put people in debt for decades.
“Financially, it is cheaper, which is great.” counselor Brandy Buckley said. “I find that students who do not want to go far away or have other interests often want to start off at NOVA.”
Another opportunity given by community college, specifically in Virginia, is the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program (CTG). This program states that any student who completes two years of community college courses in a Virginia community college is given guaranteed admission into multiple Virginia universities, including the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and James Madison University. This is a chance for students to take some prerequisite courses and prepare for a more rigorous education.
“I started at NOVA two years ago and now I’m going to transfer to VCU in the fall.” Andrea Rosa, sophomore at NOVA said. “It has been great to be able to work while taking classes, especially because more of the classes I have taken so far are prerequisites.”
There are also mental health benefits that come with attending community college. Students in community college typically live close to home, meaning they have more opportunities to spend time with loved ones. However, these students also have the ability to spend more time away from home. Being able to budget time based on the students’ individual needs can allow them to feel less caged in to one schedule.
Some may argue that a major struggle of choosing community college is watching one’s friends go out and meet new people while they are left behind. While this may be true for some people, it is also important to recognize that community colleges are a community in themselves. They have campuses with class buildings and food options, similar to any four year college a student could attend. While the energy of a four year university campus may feel different than that of community college, it is still true that no campus feels the exact same as any other. Northern Virginia Community College may be exactly what one student needs to succeed, while another student may thrive elsewhere.
“I got to go to their [NOVA’s] campus last year and I am always so blown away by them.” Buckley said. “I think it is such a great alternative if you don’t want certain things. They have activities and clubs there just like any other university.”
College is truly what the student makes out of it. Regardless of path–whether it be a four year university or community college–students must make an effort towards finding their community. The choice of which path to attend can be difficult, but it is always important to remember that each student is responsible for themselves. Passing judgement on the path of another student will do nothing towards bettering your future.
