By
Marilyn V. Jacobsen
Director Center for International Students and Programs
Riverside Community College
More and more American students - and students from other countries - are finding there are many advantages to beginning their collegiate careers at community colleges.
Community colleges provide the first half of education toward a baccalaureate degree. Sometimes called "two-year colleges," the community college usually are completed in a minimum of 2 1/2 to 3 years - by both international and American students.
Reasons for selecting a community college may include:
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Easier entrance requirements (for example, a TOEFL score of 450 instead of 500 or 550);
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Smaller class size;
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Lower fees (sometimes as low as one-third the cost of a university);
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Courses which transfer to four-year institutions;
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Two year Associate degrees and Certificate programs in many fields, whether or not the student wishes to continue for a baccalaureate degree;
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Orientation program for introduction to American college education;
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Assistance in locating housing, apartments or
homestays.
Community colleges that wish to serve international students should have a special "International Office" which assists students with everything from the application process, to advising for choice of courses, to tutoring, to helping with the transfer process to a university.
Many students just starting college are not certain what major they wish, and what four-year institution they want to attend. Beginning at a community college allows the flexibility to try different courses and, with counseling, select the institution for their baccalaureate degree.
The community college faculty members focus on teaching rather than research, which usually means faculties are more accessible to the students than at a large university. Classes tend to be much smaller at community colleges, generally 30 to 40 students, giving time for more personal attention to each student. At a university, the lower division survey courses may have two hundred or more students for the lecture, and graduate students rather than professors meet with the class in study groups.
Community colleges offer the opportunity to meet a wide variety of local people, and many colleges have International Clubs. These clubs provide a way for students from other countries to meet each other - and to get to know American students and their families.
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