I was raised on the idea that my education meant everything. My senior year of high school I applied to every university I could think of. I spent my last spring break touring everywhere I had been accepted to, so I could make my big decision. I had been planning on going to a four-year school my whole life. It wasn't until the end of my last high school semester that I realized going off to a university was not going to be as simple as I thought. Consequently, I last-minute decided to stay home and attend my local community college. I was initially devastated, but overtime I've learned that staying home was the best decision of my life. Here's why:
1. I get to spend more time with my family and friends.
During high school, I was always busy with seven classes of homework, after school clubs to attend and other extracurricular activities. This past year I have had the opportunity to spend quality time with the people I love more than ever. Additionally, by living at home I still get to see my younger siblings grow every day.
2. There is more one-on-one instruction.
Since the class sizes are much smaller than four-year colleges, professors are more available for guidance. Questions are always allowed if not encouraged. In fact, pretty much every class is treated like an open-forum. There's always plenty of room for discussion.
3. Everyone is extremely easygoing.
Due to the student to teacher ratio, as mentioned before, classes are very relaxed. The students are already fairly laid-back, so with professors getting to be more personal with students, this makes for an all around calm environment.
4. My GPA will never be below a 4.0.
The professors are exceptionally understanding. If I voice that I am struggling with the criteria, the professor will immediately slow down and get me back up to speed. Even the classmates will chime in to help. Because everyone recognizes that we're all in this together, students are always eager to help one another. Every class feels like a team by the second or third week. So your grade essentially comes down to as long as you show up and are engaged in the course material; it's nearly impossible to get below an A. It's not complicated.
5. I'm cutting my student loan debt in half.
I was generally aware college was a costly investment, nonetheless, it wasn't until I was months away from going to college that I realized how insanely expensive it all is. According to the College Board, the cumulative price tag for an in-state public college for the 2015-2016 academic year averaged to $24,061. Likewise, College Board continues that this amount raises to $47,831 a year for private colleges. Sadly, most families do not have an extra $25k sitting around every year (or at least mine didn't). My only feasible option was loans, loans and more loans. So of course, staying home, going to school locally, and saving money has made the most sense for me. I've found a lot of comfort in knowing I won't have nearly as much debt after school than what I originally expected.
6. I wasn't ready to go off to a four-year school.
Going to a university is more than just classes. The student social life was a huge part of every school I was interested in. I expected to go out every weekend and enjoy myself. However, now that I'm hearing from old friends from high school about how this is severely affecting them, I couldn't be happier that I stayed home. Even the thought of juggling a social life and a decent GPA at a rigorous institution sounds mentally draining. I was, and probably am still, not nearly mature or responsible enough to be managing my time between studying and partying. 18-year-old me off at a college campus deciding between studying for a midterm or going out sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Although going straight off to a university would've been fun and exciting, I wouldn't have been nearly as successful. Sure I don't have as many crazy college stories, but I'll be on track to enjoy that social life later. Besides, there's nothing in the world that makes me happier than spending quality time with loved ones, dedicating myself to my work and maintaining my academic plan. I'll probably be going off to school by next fall, but for now, I'm happy where I am.
