MYTHS AND REALITY
Traditionally Untraditional wants to open up the conversation about higher education to include a wider variety of options. Currently, many individuals view community college as a plan Z and don't fully assess the potential this college option has in the long term.
Below we have addressed some of the myths, and stigma surrounding community college to inform our communities of the opportunity community college can provide.
MYTH #1: YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH A COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREE
There are many job opportunities for individuals who have a community college degree. These jobs include trades such as car mechanic, and welder but also extend to advancing office positions like a paralegal, technical writer, legal assistant, dental office assistant, retail store manager, corporate assistant, or art curator.
Some individuals use their associates degree to find a stable job to pay for their education upon transferring to a big university. For some, like those who want to pursue nursing, going to community college allows them the ability to enter the work force at a quicker pace where they can gain knowledge and practice within their field before they decide to go into a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Health management degree path, or a more specialized health field which may be paid for by their employers.
MYTH #2: COMMUNITY COLLEGE ISN'T REAL COLLEGE, THE CLASSES ARE SO MUCH EASIER.
California Community College Classes are designed to transfer to California Universities. They are approved and audited to make sure the material, course duration, and work load are all in line with a college course at any other California four year University. So if a class is transferable to Berkeley it must meet the UC Berkeley standard in all areas.
Many community colleges also offer Honors Programs that transfer over to four year universities. These honor programs provide a students with the ability to conduct independent projects and research with the direct support from their professors. At Las Positas College, their honors program not only allows students to conduct projects and research but also present their findings at Stanford and University of California, Berkeley in front of other honors students, and faculty.
MYTH #3: THE PROFESSORS AREN'T REALLY PROFESSORS
Many California Community College professors have worked or are currently working in their field. This allows students a unique perspective of what their field of study or future jobs will be like. Our local Community Colleges have professors who have worked with Lawerence Livermore Lab and have access or connections to internships and job prospects.
Community College Professors are truly there for their students and are often much more accessible than many professors at four year universities. Because the class sizes at CCC's are much smaller than traditional university classes the professors are often afforded more time with each individual student.
MYTH #4: COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS A LAST RESORT OPTION TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION
Community College is a place that has people from a variety of backgrounds including military, re-entry students, students making a transition into a new major, students taking classes to advance their career, and students who either need or want better financial options regarding higher education
Many community college students chose this pathway because they were worried they wouldn't get into their major because of impaction or didn't want to take on immense debt to get a Bachelors degree.
