Community College Help?

Question

I'm kind of in a bind and have a few questions to ask -- so please answer accordingly.

I'm thinking about going to a community college first to get an associates degree;

1) How long does it take to get into a Community college? I'm about to graduate from homecshooling and getting my diploma -- the last registration/class begins is in October. Would I be able to make it?

2) How are online classes? The college campus is kinda far with heavy traffic. I don't want to have to commute every day.

3) Lastly, disregarding #2, how often does a full time student go to class (5x a week, etc) at a community college for an associates degree?

Thanks!

Answer 1

1) in most community colleges, providing you meet all of their admissions requirements, admission decision is immediate. Community colleges are generally non-selective, meaning everyone qualified gets in.

2) Online classes are often harder than classes in the seat. You don't get the 1:1 interaction with the professor and assignments tend to be writing with a lot of reading. You don't get many multiple guess tests. Some people prefer this over sitting in a classroom.

3) For a class that gets 3 semester hours of credit - you spend 3 hours per week in the classroom. A typical full time classload is 12-18 semester hours of credit. That means you'd spend 12-18 hours in class per week. It can be all on one day or spread out over the week.

Typically, a 3 semester hour class will meet for 3 days (MWF) for an hour each or for 2 days for 1.5 hours each (T-TH). I take some classes that meet in 8 hour blocks (all day Saturday) every other week. It depends on the class you register for. Many evening classes meet for 3 hours for one night each week.

Most students try to arrange their schedule so that they have classes spread out over the day and week so that they can stay relaxed and unstressed. Others like to get everything on T-TH or MWF as close as possible to get them done and leave.

Answer 2

1) You could get into a community college (almost) immediately after registration, with the exception of placement tests. Best thing to do is to call the college and talk to someone who can explain every question you may have about this and about the particular degree you are pursuing. They are usually very happy to talk with you. It's a busy time of year though, so keep trying if you don't get through to someone or they don't return a call.

2) Online classes can be harder, but not always. Again, it depends on the class.

3) How far is the community college? My son drove 30 miles one way (not much traffic though). He rarely had a day that he didn't have a class. Because he worked part-time to help pay his expenses, he would sometimes not take a full load of classes. He enjoyed the drive and it gave him time to think and plan . . . . or listen to his favorite CD's. He set his own pace of what he felt he could be comfortable with and still graduate with honors. It took him 3 years to get an associates degree in computer engineering (also attending summer classes). He is now entering UNC-Charlotte as a Junior via a "2+2" program and will end up having a degree in electrical engineering.

Sometimes, depending on what degree you are pursuing, it may take longer than the 2 years to actually obtain it, because there may be a class that is offered only in the fall and no other time. If it conflicts with other classes you have to have, well, you get the idea... But also, sometimes you can go for a double degree - - - like business and accounting . . . . or computer engineering and networking and get them in about 3 years.

Good luck to you. Community college is great. The smaller classes are a plus and it is a great experience.

Answer 3

It takes about a couple of days (at most) to be admitted into a community college. I think you would be able to make the registration deadline. To find out when the last day to register at the community college, go to the community college website.

Online classes vary by subject and the individual. Some people learn better in a classroom, while others can survive online. Online classes are just like a regular class. You will still have assignments, tests, quizzes etc... and you might have to meet with your instructor on campus once in awhile (depending on the instructor and some other stuff) Also, those classes could be hard online and easier in the classroom.

Full time students can go to class 5x 4x 3x or 2x (sometimes 1x) a week, depending on his or her schedule. It all depends on what you want and whats available. Some students have to go 5x a week because thats the only times the classes in that subject are available. Just remember that the less days the class meets, the longer each class is (ex. 2 days a week, 2 1/2 hrs. each time)

Answer 4

A community college is very easy to gain entrance to. These colleges are not competitive when it comes to admittance. However, how you apply yourself at a community college can show your seriousness about your studies, and thus can factor into what college you attend next.

That said, you have time to enroll in a community college, and you can go part time (1 to 11 credit hours) or full-time (12 or credit hours), depending on your schedule and how much you think you can handle at once. [12 credit hours are generally 3 classes.]

Check with your community college's schedule of classes for the fall to see how often you would be attending classes. It depends completely on the classes you enroll in, really. Most colleges put their class schedules on their web sites.

In my experience (and I have taken 4 or 5 distance learning courses), an online course may be more convenient as far as commuting, but you are expected to do just as much or even more coursework than in a traditional classroom setting, and you have to be very self-motivated to complete that work on time. Some distance learning courses have an occasional in-class discussion, generally prior to major exams, but for many distance learning courses you take the exams on campus.

I don't suggest taking more than 1 distance course at a time because of the possible added coursework, especially if you have no experience in taking these types of courses. I do suggest you try at least one of these types of courses, however, to gauge how comfortable you are with it, and to see first-hand what it is like.

I attended a community college to earn my AA, and I was on campus 5 evenings a week and some Saturdays, except for when I took distance courses. I was full-time student, and I completed a federal work-study in the Graphic Communications & Photography Dept. of my school, though (so I was there on campus a lot). The upside of being on campus a lot is the people you meet, but if you go to class during the evenings, you can usually avoid the worst of the traffic.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

* A couple of days. mainly you just go and take the CPT if you have not taken SAT/ACT. Fill an application and pay the fees. after you get your scores they'll tell you what classes you can take and should take for your intended major in future.
** Well you'll have to go there for science classes and most math classes. Online classes are ok most of the time easier then the regular class in test because test are open book but my friend who takes online classes said that they have research papers most of the time.
*** depends on the school and the class. My biology class in MWF with lab on Mondays after class. my last math class was MTWTR. Also mostly 12 credits is full time. but you can take up to 17 or 21 with approval.

Answer 6

Oneother piece of advice...

If you know what 4-year university you want your Bachelor's from--especially if you know what your Bachelor's will be--contact them and see if the university accepts all the classes you plan to take. Also ask if they have a specific arrangement with the community college. Some 4 year universities have transfer arrangements with local community colleges that allow you to take some of your lower division classes toward your major at the community college and transfer completely to the 4-year school.