Spring Semester is just past the leaves falling from the trees around you.
It's no secret there are many benefits gained from attending college. What may still be a well-kept secret are the many, many reasons to attend your Community College. Below are the top ten reasons why you should consider attending your local New Hampshire Community College in Berlin, with academic centers in Conway, Littleton, and Woodsville.
Open Admissions Policy: Community Colleges have an open admissions policy, which means they will accept any student with a high school diploma or GED. The admissions process is quick rather than a long and drawn out process that can take several months. NHCC has implemented a placement test to access students' knowledge in reading, writing, and mathematics. Those individuals requiring refresher work may be placed in a course where they can sharpen their skills prior to college level work. The additional course will help insure their academic success at the college. Although the college exercises an open admissions policy, some individual programs may have prerequisites for admission, so it is imperative that you check for eligibility requirements.
Incredible value: On average, a four-year university or college costs four times more annually than does a community college. Add on the cost of housing and it really gets pricey! Attending a two-year college allows students to save money until they are ready to transfer into a baccalaureate degree program.
Can I handle college? College can be intimidating for students coming out of high school and also for adults who have been away from the academic world for some time. A two-year community college is a good testing ground for students to see if they can handle the pressures of a larger college or university. It's also a perfect setting to build confidence and develop valuable study skills. Some classes are smaller, allowing more attention from professors.
Proximity to Home: Leaving home can be tough. Getting used to college while still in familiar surroundings can be beneficial. You are surrounded by the support of your family and friends. Staying near to home may also allow you the opportunity to continue to work at your job, which means putting money away.
Individualized attention/Student Success: Community Colleges are often less crowded than public universities. Classes seldom exceed 30 students, which translates into more individualized attention and opportunity for one-on-one relationships with faculty. The average teacher-student ratio at NHCC-Berlin is 1-15. NHCC-Berlin shares responsibility with the student for his or her success. Many programs are in place to support students throughout their studies. We have a Learning Center that is poised to provide tutors and workshops.
Flexible schedules: Classes and workshops are conveniently held during the day, evenings and some weekends so busy students can take course loads that fit their schedules. Our academic centers in Conway, Littleton, and Woodsville reach out to students who may not have the time or means to travel several times a week to our main campus.
Practical Experience: Enrollment at a community college means you will be engrossed in your major course of study your first semester, so you'll get an idea pretty quickly whether you have chosen the right career path for yourself. In many cases, you'll also have an opportunity to experience hands-on, practical coursework, either in lab settings at the college, or via internships or co-ops outside the college. This practical experience is important when it comes time to seek employment.
Greater focus on instruction: Community College professors are not required to conduct research and publish scholarly work in order to maintain tenure as they do in a four-year institution. Their attention remains on you the student. You are not being taught by a teaching assistant.
Transfer Opportunities: Transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities make the transition from two-year to four-year institutions almost effortless. Provided students earn a grade of "C" or higher in a course, credits will transfer to institutions all over the country. Students need to plan ahead for transfer, so that they make sure the courses they enroll in at a two-year college are requirements toward their bachelor degree.
Job Placement Rate: Community colleges produce students ready for the workforce. Not every student wants to transfer to a four-year institution. That's okay. Those who earn a two-year degree or one-year certificate are well prepared to enter the job market. The placement rate for graduates from NHCC-Berlin is between 89 and 93%. (Those numbers include individuals continuing their education and those entering the military). That's proof that our graduates get good jobs following completion of their program.
We look forward to your visiting us as the leaves begin to fall!
If you have questions, thoughts, or comments about this article, please e-mail keneguess@ccsnh.edu.
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