By Ross Jennings
Regional Director
Hong Kong/Korea/Taiwan
Green River Community College

More and more international students are choosing American community colleges for higher education abroad. This is true despite the fact that the role of community colleges is still not widely understood internationally. Understanding US community colleges can be reduced to this simple concept: "two plus two."

Almost all American universities welcome transfer students from community colleges. Here is how it works. A student takes the first two years of bachelor's degree classes at a community college. He or she then transfers to a university to finish years three and four. The student receives a bachelors degree from the university at the end of the fourth year. This is "two plus two" - two years at a community college plus two years at a university equals a four-year bachelor's degree. Of course, starting with English as a second language can extend the program longer than four years.

An example may help illustrate the process. Po Ching Chiang came from Taipei to Green River Community College near Seattle almost three years ago. He started in the beginning level of an ESL class. Chiang worked hard, skipped a level and finished his ESL class in nine months. Choosing his classes carefully with his adviser, Po Ching will complete his two year associate degree in two years.

Chiang's high 3.8 grade point average will qualify him for consideration to the University of Washington in Seattle, as well as several other top universities to which he has applied. The university to which Po Ching transfers will accept his credits from Green River, and admit him as a junior (third year student). In two more years, Po Ching expects to graduate with a bachelor of arts in communications from the university of his choice.

Not all community college students transfer to universities. Some students just want to learn a job skill to earn more money. Community colleges offer excellent job training programs (called "vocational" programs). Examples of vocational programs include airplane and helicopter pilot training, industrial skills, international business, early childhood education, secretarial skills, geographical information systems, forestry, and many others.
What kinds of international students attend American community colleges?

There are three main types. First, many graduates of foreign high schools and two-year colleges seek an American university degree, and choose to start at a community college for a "two plus two" program.
Second, international students from foreign universities may take a leave of absence from their studies and attend a community college to improve their English or change their majors. Third, older students out of school may want to improve their future by going to college or just learning English for their jobs. This maybe difficult to do in foreign countries, but easy to do in the United States, particularly at a community college.

American community colleges are not for everyone. International students with high TOEFL scores (550+) and excellent grades generally apply directly to a university for admission. Students seeking graduate programs also usually apply directly to a university, unless their TOEFL is below 550. In that case, they may choose a community college to improve their TOEFL and graduate school (GRE, GMAT, etc.) scores. Finally students accepted to "name: universities (Harvard. Stanford, Washington and the like) almost always take advantage of the opportunity.

For many international students, however, an American community college is an intelligent option. There are five major reasons why.

1. Gateway to American universities. Community college graduates can transfer to top universities to complete bachelor degrees. For example, foreign students graduating from Green River Community College have transferred to the University of Washington, Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, USC and UCLA, among many others. Almost all American universities accept "two plus two" transfers from community colleges.

2. Strong English programs. Students who need to improve their English can benefit from excellent ESL programs usually found at community colleges. Community college ESL students can easily advance to college academic programs, usually without TOEFL.

3. Open admission. Community colleges usually have faster and easier admission procedures than universities. Most major universities admit foreign students only once per year; community colleges usually admit students every term.  Most community colleges have no TOEFL requirements for admission to academic standing for their ESL program graduates, whereas TOEFL requirements at major universities usually range from 550 to 600. The time between application and start of classes can take six months of more at large universities; at community colleges, it generally takes less than half that time.

4. Low cost. Tuition costs are usually much lower at community colleges than at universities, especially private universities. A "two plus two" arrangement can significantly lower the cost of an American bachelor's degree.

5. Excellent teaching and support. Undergraduate classes can be very large at major American universities. Graduate students sometimes teach undergraduate classes instead of professors, who are often more involved in research.

At community colleges, classes tend to be much smaller, and are taught by instructors, not students. Community college advisers and teachers help their students with academic and personal matters, housing, class selection, and transferring to a good university.

Higher education in the United States enjoys a high reputation worldwide for quality. For international students wishing to study undergraduate programs in the United States, it makes sense to consider both community colleges and universities.

Community colleges are increasingly popular with both American and foreign students because of their access to excellent universities, strong English programs, easier admissions, lower costs, and quality of instruction and advising.