Having Second Thoughts About Attending PGCC?

By Tia L.S. Holmes, Associate Editor

There are many trivial reasons why people may feel ashamed or are being mocked by others for attending a community college. We live in a society that is obsessed with prestige, so with that mentality, why would anyone want to attend a community college? To combat that foolish way of thinking, here are a few points that will reinforce your sensible decision to attend PGCC.

One of the essential benefits of attending a community college is the cost. Community colleges are meant to be an affordable way to earn a degree. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) listed the average annual tuition costs of four-year and two-year institutions, both public and private, at $6,585 and $2,402, respectively. In this economy, it’s a logical choice to save a few thousand dollars where ever possible.

Community colleges educate almost half of the nation’s undergraduates, according to the AACC. President Obama even spoke about and visited 30 community colleges during his campaign. When referring to his Community College Partnership Program, he stated, “Without community colleges, millions of people would not be able to access the education and skills they need to further education or succeed in the workplace.” He recognized community colleges once again in his 2010 State of the Union Address.

Here at PGCC, there are programs and centers that keep you linked with other colleges. PGCC offers six collegian centers, and an honors program, society, and academy. To make transfers seamless, PGCC is partnered with many four-year institutions, enjoying such benefits as the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program, among many others. There are student groups here that are present on some four-year campuses, such as the newspaper, magazine, and theater groups. In essence, many differences between a community college and a four-year institution are minor.

In case you were wondering, many successful people have attended community colleges. The Pulitzer Prize–winning poet, Gwendolyn Brooks, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Maxwell Taylor, and NASA astronaut, Eileen Collins, have attended community colleges, to name a few. AACC Vice President for Communications, Norma Kent, commented, “Community college graduates have gone on to Ivy League schools.” So, always remember that among you are many future alumni who will go on to become famous and/or influential leaders