To tell the truth, entrance tests in community colleges don’t determine the student's’ passion for education. Placement tests put students off the path to success in their education career. Susan Headden is a senior writer and a prize winning journalist wrote that 72 percent of students who didn’t take the remedial courses and directly went to college level classes “made the wise decision.” On the other hand 27, percent of students who claim to take remedial classes went to the higher level courses in community college. Also, she included that a retired professor at Stanford University, Michael W. Kirst, speaks about students who have been denied from taking college level courses, without letting them try(35). Community colleges make students
In high school, students have the tendency to think that community college is something that is bad. In “Confessions Of A Girl Who Was ‘Too Smart For Community College’,” Chelsea Fagan talks about how in school, she had a hard time in school with her grades and how her school showed off kids that went to college on a bulletin board. She tried everything to avoid going to a community college. Only for the reason that there was a “stigma” on how community colleges are mostly frowned upon or even laughed at (Fagan). Being rejected from many colleges she then convinced herself that she was too smart to go to a community college. Later on she reluctantly went to community college expecting it to be terrible. She quickly realized that community college was a great place to be. Later on, this gave her opening to go to other places. She closes off with her stating how community college is a great place financially and also a great place to mature. In “Confessions Of A Girl Who Was ‘Too Smart For Community College,’” Chelsea Fagan’s simple structure and casual tone make it easy for a reader to understand her main point, and I agree with her concerns on the reproach of community college, but she never really explained why community college was great other than her thoughts on it being cheaper making her argument a little weak.
The authors’ main argument in “Challenging our Labels” is that labels, such as “remedial” shouldn’t be used because they limit and isolate students, and that students shouldn’t let those labels define who they really are. The five authors of this passage, emphasized on the negative connotation that the label created on their lives, and shared how they proved themselves they were worth more than a dumb label. Students from remedial classes in other universities, possibly shared those feelings of embarrassment, inferiority, and not belonging in a campus due to being unfairly discriminated by placement tests. These tests such as the EPT, were not supposed to classify students in campuses like CSUSB, as “not yet proficient” without further ado.
“I am just going to Joliet Junior College”, said about half of my classmates my senior year of high school. People everywhere make community college out to be something that is looked down upon and for people who were not as bright. In his essay “Blue Collar Brilliance”, Mike rose explains the reputation community colleges have acquired over the last few decades depicts two year schools as a place for people who could not make it into “real colleges”, also known as four year colleges (276). Although four year universities have reputations for quality education and excellent programs, students can get the same quality, if not better education at a two year college at a better convenience.
Perhaps some student aren’t ready to jump into four year college right after high school. Perhaps some students don’t have enough money or funding to afford four year colleges. For those who trying start taking classes, a community college, two years colleges or vocational school might a good place to get adjusted for college or for training to enter the workforce early. Liz Addison, supporter for two-year community colleges, considers community colleges the ideal place to begin and that it is not important to make the jump into a four-year university. In her essay, “Two Years Are Better than Four,” Addison portrays the theory of the community college. She assumes “The philosophy of the community college, and I have been to two of them, is one that conditionally allows its students to begin” (256). Her assumption are based on her idea “the community college system is America’s hidden public service gem” (257). A similar idea that Charles Murray believes in. He also believes community colleges the ideal place to begin for those who are training to enter the workforce early. He states “Try to force her (for example, by setting up a demanding core curriculum), and she will transfer to another school, because she is in college for vocational training. She wants to write computer code. Start a business. Get a job in television. She uses college to take vocational courses that pertain to her career interests.”().These to supporters of two years colleges and vocational training are encouraging students looking for place to start or those who are trying to get certain skills to join the
Community colleges in the United States develop rapidly and have become a vital component of the postsecondary education delivery system. As of 2011-2012 school year, 45% of all undergraduate students were enrolled in public two-year colleges, approximately 8.3 million students (Knapp et al., 2012. Cited by AACC Fast Facts). And it seems that with globalization and Obama’s education agenda, the trend of growing enrollment in community colleges won’t change. A high school graduate who decides to pursue postsecondary education may face with a dilemma--whether enroll in a community college or a traditional four-year college. Even within a community college, a student may be faced with a choice—enroll in a vocational program and enter workforce after graduation with a vocational certification, or choose an academic program with an intention of transferring to four-year institutions.
In Trainor’s article, “How Community Colleges Change the Whole Idea of Education in America” he explains the influence community colleges have had on America’s post high school educational options (2015). When colleges initially began, they were elite academic communities usually only available to wealthy, upper-class, white men; due to the cost of the educational institutes (Trainor, 2015). That did not change the fact that the freshmen enrollees were forced to sit through general education subjects for the first two years of college (Trainor, 2015). Not until the students reached their junior and senior years of college would they be taught specialized education subjects (Trainor, 2015), which seemed to be such a waste of a four year Ivy
In the past several years, there has been a growing trend in the number of college-bound individuals getting two-year degrees from community colleges or earning certification for their desired career field at vocational schools. Such schools certainly seem to have some valuable qualities: all boast of having lower costs than other colleges, of their absence of student loans, of allowing people to make more money quicker, of being narrowly focused so students don’t have to take classes they don’t need. They attempt to point out apparent weaknesses in liberal arts colleges as well, claiming that such an education is unnecessary in today’s world. However, for every reason to go to a community or two-year college, a vocational track, or an
Chapter 4 reflects on how community colleges in America are not just a place where people goes to get a degree. It is an institution that goes beyond the classroom. The name says it all, “community college”.
With a history of attending community college, more than one in fact, Addison thinks that a community college’s purpose is to let students embark on the rest of their lives. She makes it out to believe that community colleges are the places where “a first independent film, a first independent thought, a first independent study” happens (212). These two-year colleges are not just important because they are more affordable, but because they give students hope and even a chance to dream, Liz thinks. In the author’s opinion, community colleges are not given the appreciation and recognition that they have earned.
In her essay, Two Years Are Better than Four, author Liz Addison states that “It is here that Mr. Perlstein will find his college years of of self-discovery, and it is here he will find that college does still matter.” In other words, Addison believes that it is at community college that one can find himself and seek out his future, that community college is a stepping stone into life, and gives you a boost into the real world. In saying this, she believes that college is still relevant in today’s society, and is needed to succeed in the future. In recent discussions about college, a controversial issue has been whether or not college as America used to perceive it is coming to an end.
There isn't anything more important to community colleges than the certainty that they can and should provide all qualified people who are looking to be accepted with admittance (Vaughan). The people of the community college represent forty-four percent of all undergraduates and forty-nine percent of students attending college for the first time (David). These students include a lot of minority students, students with a low social standing and the non-standard (age twenty-five and older) student who commonly enters college less academically equipped (David). Most community colleges have made immense advancement in reducing a lot of geographical and economic blockades that have in the past limited college admittance (David). Community
San Jose Mercury News Editorial, authors of “Remedial costs are too high for CSU to bear” highlight the San Jose State University policy that took place in 2009. The policy is about Freshmen students who are required to take remedial classes since their math or English basic college-level aren 't good enough.To notice these students that need help ahead of time CSU created the Early Assessment Program . Even though CSU created the voluntary Early Assessment Program, which has an essay and two dozen questions that are included in standardized tests given to juniors, many students didn 't pass it. Those students who don’t take the Early Assessment Program or aren 't qualified will have to take online tutorials and remedial classes which take a year to study. Sadly, there’ll be no repeat chances for those students who don 't pass their remedial courses. They may have to hire tutors or take courses off campus to gain the basic knowledge "they should have received in high school," as the authors said. The author assume that it 's both students and their high school 's responsibility for college readiness, and I strongly agree with the authors ' aurgement. College readiness shouldn 't be CSU. However, College readiness is high schools obligation , and students duty as well.
Community college is an open book for everyone, meaning college gives everyone a chance, despite the student’s level in Reading, English and Math. Addison thought, “Please tell him that hope can begin with just one placement test” (Graff & Birkenstein, 2017. Two Years Are Better than Four Liz Addison, p. 257). Some college like a community college would accept a record of a students standardized test scores, such as ACT’s or SAT’s. A placement test must be taken if a student doesn’t obtain scores from a standardized test. Depending on what the students score is then they will have to take a class that is at their level such as Math 101, English 101 and so on. Placement test will help a student get to their remedial level classes to improve
Introduction: Inspired by the essay “Democratization or Diversion? The Effect of Community Colleges on Educational Attainment” written by the professor Cecilia Rouse, our group addresses an imperative question: does a student’s background and/or local community characteristics affect his/her test scores, possibly affecting a student’s chance of continuing into post-secondary education? In order to find the answer, our group collected the data that are related to students’ background, their community, and their test score as a measurement of their academic performance. After that, our group utilized the data and built a linear model to examine the factors’ impact upon the test score.
Life is believed to be easier for people with higher degrees than for those without higher degrees. Hence, it is the joy of parents to see their children admitted into a higher institution. With the high cost attached to attending a four year university, most students prefer to attend community colleges. Community colleges provide the same quality of education offered by universities for the first two years at a lower cost which help students reduce debts toward getting their higher degree. However, compared to the number of students who started their first year in community colleges, a large percentage dropped out. This is common to both freshly graduated high school students and adults who came back to college to obtain a degree. Students drop out of colleges because of financial issues and the need to take remedial courses. As a result, they have self esteem issues and may remain poor.