Overview – Types of Colleges
Community Colleges
To be eligible for admission to a community college, a student must be 18 years of age or a high school graduate. At the community college, students who plan to transfer to a four year college as a junior will take regular college classes, completing their general education requirements and/or major requirements before beginning work in their major at the four year institution.
Students may also earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree, or complete a certificate program in vocational training. Several community colleges offer study abroad programs and Honors programs which enrich academic opportunities.
The Community College may be a good choice for you if:
· You plan on four years of college, but for financial or other reasons, you prefer to stay at home for the first two years.
· You plan on four years of college, but you haven’t met the academic requirements to directly enter a four year college.
· You know you want to attend college, but you are unsure of where to attend or what your career focus should be, so you want to complete your general education requirements first
· You wish to attend a college which will train you in two years for a vocation.
Public Colleges and Universities
These schools, that offer Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate programs receive funding assistance from the state. Therefore, tuition expenses are less than at private colleges and universities. Students who live in the state of the institution pay lower costs than those who come from out of state. Students will find a wide variety of programs of study at public schools.
Private Colleges and Universities
These colleges do not have direct financial support from and control by the state, therefore tuition will be significantly greater than at public universities. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same costs.
This independence means that they have greater freedom in designing programs, defining admission criteria and procedures, and determining the focus and culture of the school. They are large, medium, and small; nonsectarian and religious; greatly selective to very modestly selective; traditional to innovative; specialized and liberal arts. Some are nonprofit; some are for-profit businesses. Campuses vary widely in location, environment, goals, admission requirements, and programs and degrees offered. There are hundreds of out of state private colleges.
Factors to take into account when applying to private colleges:
· Your high school record
· College admission tests
· Extracurricular activities
· Essay
· Recommendations
· Interview
· Special talents/achievements
· Personal background
Factors to take into account by all colleges:
· A sound college preparatory program
· Challenging course selection that requires critical thinking
· Participation in extracurricular activities
· Participation in community activities
· Good writing skills
· Indication of personal development (maturity, responsibility, ability to collaborate, decision-making skills, and flexibility).
The single most important thing you can do to improve your overall level of education is to read. Reading is the key to academic development, personal development, better standardized test scores, and wider knowledge.
Math proficiency is essential in admission to colleges, vocational training programs, and various majors (such as engineering). Engineering programs prefer that you complete calculus in high school. Math is the gatekeeper for many programs, including vocational training.
Community Colleges
To be eligible for admission to a community college, a student must be 18 years of age or a high school graduate. At the community college, students who plan to transfer to a four year college as a junior will take regular college classes, completing their general education requirements and/or major requirements before beginning work in their major at the four year institution.
Students may also earn an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree, or complete a certificate program in vocational training. Several community colleges offer study abroad programs and Honors programs which enrich academic opportunities.
The Community College may be a good choice for you if:
· You plan on four years of college, but for financial or other reasons, you prefer to stay at home for the first two years.
· You plan on four years of college, but you haven’t met the academic requirements to directly enter a four year college.
· You know you want to attend college, but you are unsure of where to attend or what your career focus should be, so you want to complete your general education requirements first
· You wish to attend a college which will train you in two years for a vocation.
Public Colleges and Universities
These schools, that offer Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate programs receive funding assistance from the state. Therefore, tuition expenses are less than at private colleges and universities. Students who live in the state of the institution pay lower costs than those who come from out of state. Students will find a wide variety of programs of study at public schools.
Private Colleges and Universities
These colleges do not have direct financial support from and control by the state, therefore tuition will be significantly greater than at public universities. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same costs.
This independence means that they have greater freedom in designing programs, defining admission criteria and procedures, and determining the focus and culture of the school. They are large, medium, and small; nonsectarian and religious; greatly selective to very modestly selective; traditional to innovative; specialized and liberal arts. Some are nonprofit; some are for-profit businesses. Campuses vary widely in location, environment, goals, admission requirements, and programs and degrees offered. There are hundreds of out of state private colleges.
Factors to take into account when applying to private colleges:
· Your high school record
· College admission tests
· Extracurricular activities
· Essay
· Recommendations
· Interview
· Special talents/achievements
· Personal background
Factors to take into account by all colleges:
· A sound college preparatory program
· Challenging course selection that requires critical thinking
· Participation in extracurricular activities
· Participation in community activities
· Good writing skills
· Indication of personal development (maturity, responsibility, ability to collaborate, decision-making skills, and flexibility).
The single most important thing you can do to improve your overall level of education is to read. Reading is the key to academic development, personal development, better standardized test scores, and wider knowledge.
Math proficiency is essential in admission to colleges, vocational training programs, and various majors (such as engineering). Engineering programs prefer that you complete calculus in high school. Math is the gatekeeper for many programs, including vocational training.