Community Colleges – A Stepping Stone To University Education

If you are fortunate enough to live in a place where a community college provides classes, then you should make it a point to take advantage of the facility. This can be a great help to further your educational qualifications to advance your career. Community colleges provide some intensive courses in various educational areas. The courses are quite affordable and provide an impressive level of training.

Community colleges play an important role in providing affordable education; yet they are considered inferior in comparison to University education. This consideration is quite further from the truth. In fact, a good number of nurses are students of community colleges and are very well trained in their jobs. The associate degree nursing program provided by community colleges are rigorous courses that provide very good clinical experience and comparable to that of the bachelor of nursing degree courses provided by Universities. However, if you possess nursing training from a community college, most hospitals will not consider you a candidate for any administrative nursing position, as this requires a Bachelor’s degree.

There are many advantages of learning at the community college levels. One biggest advantage is the fact that the teachers at the community college are dedicated to teaching. They are more approachable and helpful to the students. They are not simultaneously working on their own projects and usually devote all their time to teaching at the community college. Students are never considered as an interruption in the pursuit of their own agenda.

Community Colleges are a supportive system for those individuals who are going back to academics after a long gap or for those who may not have been getting top grades at high school. The teacher to student ratio is lower in community colleges hence, the teaching faculty can provide personalized attention to the students. This is a great advantage to the students who require extra coaching.

Students who complete the two-year degree program at community college are likely to complete their four-year degree. Research indicates that students who start at universities for four-year degrees usually drop out of the course mid way. A two-year community college degree will also help to increase the earning capability of the individual even if he does not complete the four-year degree course.

There are some disadvantages associated with community colleges that one should be aware of. Some universities do not accept transfer credits of courses completed at the community colleges. Ensure that you check out the courses required at the university that you plan to transfer to for further education. Another problem could be the availability of certain courses that you may want to do, or the limited number of courses on offer at the community college.

In conclusion, the community college education can be a useful, instructive and an affordable option for formal education. It can be considered as a stepping-stone to the higher level of University education.

Grants For Online College Providing Educational Opportunities For More Students

Colleges and universities are reporting summer enrollment increases as a result of a recent Pell Grant expansion. The expansion, part of an education bill that President Barack Obama signed into law earlier this year, went into effect July 1st. It came at a time when an MSNBC report noted that people in this recession have been particularly choked with debt and uncertain about the future and a Sallie Mae study noted families have been relying on more money from sources such as grants to help pay for college.

Summer enrollment at the University of Wyoming increased by 5.2 percent over last year, from 5,812 students to 6112, at least in part as a result of the Pell Grant, according to an August news release from the institution. At Middle Tennessee State University, summer enrollment was up 8.31 percent from last summer, with 8,603 students increasing to 9,318, a Daily News Journal article in August noted. Dr. Deb Sells, Enrollment and Academic Services Provost at Middle Tennessee State, attributed the increase to distance learning enrollment as well as summer Pell Grant availability, a news release from the institution noted.

Pell Grants are designed for students with financial needs and as of July 1, they were expected to be awarded to about 617,000 more students than last year, with the average grant, at $3,865, about $220 more than students last year averaged, according to a June article in US News & World Report. Also as of July 1, the federal government was expected to launch Iraq and Afghanistan Service grants. Through these grants, college students who lost a parent or guardian serving in these countries after Sept. 11, 2001, could receive more than $5,000 toward college tuition and fees, the report noted.

In addition to the Pell Grant, assistance from some states, colleges, universities and technical schools this year increased. Students in Arkansas, for example, recently benefited from a scholarship program that expanded with help from a new state lottery. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln this year added Chancellor’s Scholarships that, as one of 1,500 scholarships valued at more than $12 million, provide students with $2,000 in additional support, an August report in the York News Times noted.

Private institutions also have been increasing scholarship and grant offerings, while slowing tuition hikes and in some instances keeping tuition at last year’s rates. Scholarships, grants and other forms of financial aid at private colleges and universities increased by 6.8 percent between fall 2009 and 2010, according to a June report from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. At Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities during the 2008-2009 academic year, 71 percent of the $18,478 average freshman financial aid package was from scholarships, the website for the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities shows.

Many families rely on grants and scholarships to keep costs for tuition and fees down. The average family’s budget for college tuition and fees comes largely from their own income and savings (37 percent) and, behind that, from grants and scholarships (23 percent), the Sallie Mae public poll for the 2009-2010 academic year shows. Families in the recession have had to work more hours, cut back on other spending and rely on more money from sources such as these in order to pay for tuition and fees, the Sallie Mae study shows.

In addition to the Pell Grant, the federal government offers Teacher Education Assistance, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity and Academic Competitiveness grants and more. Many states also offer student grants for college. Families and students as well can look toward large corporations, non-profit organizations, community and civic groups that offer scholarships for campus-based and distance learning programs. The costs of tuition and fees might also be offset by work study program participation and tax credits and deductions.

How to Thrive in College Online Education

Do you take online courses at a university or college? Do you want to get a degree through distance learning so that you can earn more money? This article is by someone who has finished an degree through online education.

Online courses and degree are for everyone. Many people will take an online course and then realize they miss the the traditional face to face interaction between professor and student. But if you are a self-starter, if you are willing to work hard, if you are good at managing your time, you can finish an online degree successfully. You can finish your education even with the demands of family and work.

Here are four great tips that can help you get good grades.

1. Organize yourself.

At the beginning of every new course, go over all the course materials especially the syllabus. Understand the professor’s philosophy and personality. Look at the homework assignments and their deadlines. As you go through the course, develop a feel for which sections of the course are more important. Focus on those things to earn a good grade.

2. Get help for your professor and your fellow students.
Most distance learning courses have a online community where you can participate in forums, discussion boards, and/or online chats with the professor and the students. This virtual community has proven helpful for many students. If you need help in staying focused and getting ideas, use these features whenever possible. If your professor allows contact through telephone, video conferencing, or email, contact him to get the help you need.

3. Set aside time to complete your class work.

Whether you are single or married, you probably have many activities to juggle. These activities take up time. Pick a couple time slots every week to concentrate and finish your assignments. Depending on your schedule, some slots are better than others. Consider these time slots: early morning before work, your lunch break, Friday evening, and Sunday morning.

4. Take your class materials with you.

Many online courses require a lot of reading and writing because there is no physical classroom to go to. So, bring your textbooks, laptop, flash cards, and other class materials with you. You may be able to squeeze reading and studying times during the lunch break, a long traffic jam, or while waiting at the doctor’s office. Also, try recording yourself reading the textbook. Then, during your commute, bring your favorite mp3 player and listen to yourself.

A college degree is an achievable goal. With distance learning courses from accredited institutions, it is more accessible for people with internet access. Figure out if an online degree is right for you. One way is to audit a class as a non-degree student. If you are successful and stay motivated with your audit class, then you’ll have confidence in getting accepted into an online degree program and completing your degree. Online degrees require extra discipline but are worth the effort.

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