What International Students Should Know About Community College Admissions

There is no doubt that the US higher education system is one of the most efficient and sought-after in the world. Undergraduate degree is divided into four years, with two years of general education and two of concentration on major. While many universities rank high on 世界大学排名 and are extremely coveted by international students, if you do not manage to get yourself admitted into a four year university program, two year community colleges are a great way to secure your higher education in the US.

Easier On The Pocket

One of the biggest reasons why you should consider community college is because it is so much more affordable than universities. While the more affordable public institutions would cost you around $9,000 annually, the more sought after private universities and ivy leagues cost up to $30,000 to $60,000, and even more for tuition. On the other hand the average fees for community colleges would set you back by around $3000 only.

Same Education

It is a misconception that the standard of education is lower in community colleges. Even in a university the first two years of a four year degree consists of general education, which is an introductory course on several subjects, before going into a concentration on a major. This very same gen ed section is what you will be studying at a two year community college program as well, just without paying exorbitant fees.

Less Demanding Criteria

It is easier to secure a seat in a community college as the admission criteria are quite relaxed. Some schools do not have any specific overall minimum GPA cut off score, some do not even require you to take TOEFL or a similar English test. Even those community colleges which do have a set criteria, it is usually way less demanding than most universities, and are often even flexible if you fall short just by a little.

Smaller Class Size

Community college classes are usually more intimate and personal experience as the class size is much smaller, usually around 20 students per class, as compared to often more than 100 students in a university lecture hall. Professors can pay individual attention to every student and can be easily reached out to, if you need any extra aid in understanding anything that was taught in class. There is a better scope of participation and help, and thus, a higher chance of getting better grades if you work a little hard.

Transfer To University

There is always an option to finish your two years and then transfer to a university, to complete two more years of higher education on your chosen major. This way you will have a four-year degree at the end of your graduation. All you need for this is good grades and adequate credits to get accepted by a school of your choice. This way you can even land yourself in an ivy league institution and graduate, getting the same degree, but spending lesser on tuition than others who have studied all four years there.

If you have not managed to secure yourself a chance in a coveted university of your choice in the first go, do not lose hope. US community colleges offer quality education and excellent opportunities for a bright future.