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Understanding College Options

This activity aims to help students learn more about community college and four-year college / university.

Discuss

Community college tends to be a more flexible and affordable option compared to a four-year college or university. Community colleges offer a variety of programs, including two-year associate degrees, career certifications, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. You can use community college as a steppingstone to earn credits before transferring to a four-year college or university or go straight into the workforce with job-ready skills. Community colleges also provide smaller class sizes and hands-on training.

A four-year college or university is a higher education institution where you can earn a bachelor’s degree, which typically takes about four years to complete. These schools offer a wide range of academic programs, from business and engineering to education and the arts. A four-year college / university offer the opportunity to dive deep into a subject area, gain critical thinking skills, and build connections that can help in your career. Many universities also offer campus life experiences, including clubs, internships, and networking opportunities.

Watch

Here are various video options to learn more about college:

  • The Benefits of Community Colleges: Student Voices (3:42) – Watch community college students and alumni from across the country share their experiences of community colleges and the positive impact they have had on their lives.
  • Cuyahoga Community College - Why Tri-C? (5:29) – Learn more about this specific community college, as well as how community colleges across the state prepare students for their future careers.
  • Youth In Transition: Postsecondary Education and Training (4:23) - This video includes perspectives of young adults with disabilities on their postsecondary experiences on their community college and university experiences.
  • To College or Not to College (4:13) – This video gives an overview of what college is and what types of degrees are available. [Instructor note: can end the video at the 5:41 timestamp; information presented after this point may be helpful but is not necessary to complete the activity.]

Click and Explore

Here are some sites to check out for more information about what to expect: