Two Years Are Better Than Four

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 the essay, Two Years Are Better Than Four, the author, Liz Addison, gives her opinion on the importance of community college. The main point that she is trying to convey to her audience is that going to a community college is not harming the essential college experience. For some individuals, such as herself, the two-year college experience is exactly what they need to further their education. Community college is an affordable place that can “foster dreams (Addison)”. Throughout the reading, Addison makes compelling statements to prove the point which she is trying to make.

Liz Addison, the author of “Two Years Are Better than Four,” started with a question on the importance of college. She wrote this essay in response to Perlstein’s piece, “What’s the Matter With College.” Addison argued that college is important while Perlstein thought differently. Starting with how the beginning of the college process starts, Addison states that for any one person, that the idea of a community college is for one to begin their journey (Addison, 256). This I would agree with because attending a four-year college during the start of the college journey, I have found myself lost with no idea on how to begin. Therefore, transferring to a community college, finally realizing that a community college is where I should have begun.

“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.

In fact, the community college education is overlooked and not given the value which it truly deserves. In her reading, Addison mentions the advantages and philosophy of the community college. In this quote, she states that the community college education is valuable and she would endorse it everywhere, “[t]he community college system is America’s hidden public service gem. If I were a candidate for office I would campaign from every campus” (257). Addison also suggests that anyone living in America and who is looking to go to college knows where to find one. After completing high school, many students are confused with what they want to do with their life, or which career path they want to follow. The community college simply helps students to just begin, “[t]he philosophy of the community college, and I have been to two of them, is one that unconditionally allows its students to begin” (Addison 256). They let anyone in, and there you will find discoveries of different programs, degrees, and certificates. Addison uses the example of how following road signs will automatically help you find your way down the road, “[j]ust follow the 1,655 road signs, and pop your head inside and there you will find discoveries of a first independent film, a first independent thought, a first independent study” (256). At a community college, students can receive the college experience which their parents nor grandparents had received. Students at such an institution can enter on empty and leave with a head full of dreams. In addition, community college allows low-income students to get the college experience which they cannot afford to receive at a regular four-year university. Likewise, after listing few benefits of attending a community college, Addison again questions Perlstein’s statement, “[h]ow can Mr. Perlstein say college

Two Years Are Better than Four: A Summary In her essay “Two Years Are Better than Four,” Liz Addison argues that Rick Pearlstein is incorrect when he says that the college experience is dead, he says that colleges no longer offer the opportunity for self-discovery that they once did. To the contrary, Liz Addison says that the self-discovery that is associated with college can now be found in community colleges rather than big universities, or as she puts them “university of privilege”. In addition, she says that the philosophy behind community college is that it allows students to begin, furthermore community colleges teach students that their dreams are possible. Addison states that community college is an hidden gem of American public service,

For decades, students have been told that college is the next step after high school graduation. Society reiterates this by glorifying individuals that have completed a degree and looking down upon those who do not have one. The problem is that many students have not acquired the necessary tools nor have the motivation to be successful while pursuing post-high school education. Some argue that college provides the foundation of liberal studies that will improve career opportunities. Charles Murray disagrees in his essay, "Are Too Many People Going to College." He states, "Most people should be getting the basics of a liberal education. But for most students, the place to provide those basics are elementary and middle school." (Graff, 238) This raises the question, is a four-year education the best option for all students. College provides many benefits that would be difficult to find elsewhere, such as, writing skills or cultural growth, but college is not meant for everyone. A college education does not guarantee a prosperous career, instead, gaining work experience or completing a trade school is a more intelligent option for the majority of potential students.

“Two Years are better than four” is an essay published in The New York Time written by Addison to response to Ricky’s point of view. Ricky believed that universities don’t have as much value as today; On the other hand, Addison expresses herself saying that colleges are the key to succeed in the world. I agree with Addison opinion because colleges offer a network of accessible hope, allow students to peruse their dream, and give an affordable opportunity to everyone to enroll. What makes me think that community college is a network of accessible hope is that it allows students to begin their college education immediately. Throughout her essay, Addison expresses that community college allows everyone to enroll just taking a placement test

Similarly, in “Two Years Are Better than Four”, Liz Addison argues that Community College is a good option for those who are not prepared for college or are unable to pay for a traditional 4-year degree. “Community college welcome people who comes from different background” (Addison). Because how much affordable Community college is in comparison to a traditional 4-year college. Community College gives hope to those who parents are blue-collar workers trying to give a better future to their children or those like my stepmother, who cannot obtain a four-year degree from medical school because of how much it costs. However, she can look for

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

Preparing for College after graduating from high school is considered to be as one of the most thought by students. Even so, most students nowadays are uncertain whether attending college will be a good advantage for them. Some believe that it is a waste of time and money, but most people consider it as a reason to thrive in life. Unlike High school, College is certainly different because it determines your future and should be taken more earnestly by the students. College education is a worth of cost because it basically provides students with great benefits, which can be a good help in shaping their future goals.

One question that comes to mind when graduating high school is, “should I attend college?” For many graduates this question have a very obvious answer. A high school graduate may state that, “college is the best option if one is trying to get a higher level of education, and will help one compete for a higher paying job.” However, in my opinion most graduates do not consider the fact that going to college is a very big decision to make and that the schoolwork will not be easy. Going to college is not the best choice for every high school graduate because many students cannot handle college, colleges’ lower standards, and not all jobs require a college degree.

Is the two years are better than four years that was the author start with article. She got the idea when she noticed that most students in her college working and studying in the same time. Liz Abbison attended many college Piedmont Virginia community college and southern Maine college. The author was complaining that two years in the college will be enough for students.

There has been a lot of thought and arguments in the essay I read “Two Years are Better than Four." Most importantly there is Repetition, Contrast, and Anomalies throughout the whole thing. To start off the writer of this essay continued to use the word "college" over and over again, which resulted in repetition.

After high school, a choice that many students have to make is whether to go to college or not. There are many factors that go into one’s decision. There are pros and cons to going to college and also there are pros and cons for not going to college. But the decision that will give someone the better opportunity to have a more successful life is to go to college. The money that one will earn after getting a college degree will be more than the money a person will make without getting a college degree. As our society has continued to evolve, education has become the optimal route to professional success: pursuing a degree is the best way to receive training, to gain expertise in a given field, and even to guide you and help you make choices