I remember as a high school senior being asked, "Where are you going to college?" and getting many different reactions when saying that I was going to attend a community college. Some people thought it was a good decision...while others seemed to look down on me for it. I had even received the reaction, "Well, that's not a real college." It has been four years now since I was a senior in high school and made the decision to abandon my original plans to go straight to a four year college, and to attend a local community college instead. Four years later, I do not regret my decision at all. In fact, if I had the chance to do it all over again I would not change a thing. Here's why...

1. Community College is a Money Saver!

By attending any community college, I saved a tremendous amount of money. After receiving financial aid and scholarships, most people pay very little, or even nothing at all for their degree. I still got an education...just for alot less than most people end up getting their education for. Also, most people who attend community colleges commute instead of staying on campus, which is what I got to do. This is also a money saver! It cost me so much less to live at home while attending college than it would have to live in a dorm or an apartment.

2. A Degree is a Degree.

What I mean by this is yes, community colleges are "real colleges" and you can get a real degree from one. A degree is a degree no matter what college it comes from and it still shows that you persevered and chose to continue your education after high school. In the two years I spent at Penn Highlands Communnity College I obtained an Associate Degree in one subject area, a Diploma in a different subject area, and it prepared me to take and pass a certification exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant. No matter what happens in the future, no one can take those things away from me.

3. The Class Sizes

The classes at a community college are much smaller than ones at most universities. All of the classes I took in my first two years of college had less than thirty people in them. Because of this, every instructor I had knew my name, my major, and what I was struggling with. It made it easier to keep my grades up and I was more comfortable going to them with any problems that I was having. Luckily at the university I am currently attending, there are also very small classes and it is the same type of environment but that is not the case for most of them. I prefer a small class where I have more freedom to ask questions and get help over a class of 300 students where the professor won't even know my name.

4. It Is Still Possible To Go To a University.

When I finished my degree at Penn Highlands Community College I was not planning on continuing my education. I thought I was finished and I was going to get a job and that would be it...so that is what I did for a while. I got a full time job as a Medical Assistant and soon realized I was not happy and wanted to continue my education. Because I already had an Associate Degree from a community college, I was able to enter a degree program at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown which I would not have been able to otherwise (the program requires you to already have an Associate Degree to obtain this degree.) Also, the majority of my credits transferred meaning that I will only have to continue in school for two years instead of four. When I am finished with my education I will have a Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Management/Administration. Because of Penn Highlands this will cost me about half as much as it would have if I would have gone straight to a university after high school.

I am aware that community college is not exactly the popular choice among high school students. Most will still choose to go straight to a four year school after high school and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone is going to have their own opinions and everyone has to make the decision they believe is right for them. In the end, I am glad that I ignored all of the negative comments like, "that's not a real college," because community college was definitely the right choice for me.