Graduating from high school and immediately moving on to a four-year university was daunting for me. So when I heard about how a community college could help me not only get used to the college lifestyle, but also get the education I need for two years at a much cheaper price, I applied right away and did not regret it.

Here are five reasons why you should consider doing community college before moving on to a university.

1. You learn to be better about time management.

The transition from high school life to college is a huge jump. Unlike high school, where almost everything is given a due date, university (or college) is completely different. Once the professor assigns work, it's up to you to manage your time, because you are an adult now, so all the decisions you make are important. For me, it was very tough my first year. I was granted so much freedom that I didn't really take the time to do any academic work. I was lazy, and as a result, I failed to turn in work. I realized then why teachers warned us about college. It wasn't about the professor or school work, but time. If students are not careful about how they manage their time, it's going to cause LOTS of problems. Being in community college is great for students to learn about how to manage time. Since classes are much smaller, professors can frequently remind them about work until the students realize that they need to start to take initiative during their free time.

2. You spend less money.

Being able to spend less for education is always great, and a community college does exactly that. With more affordable classes, community college students can pay for their education for two years (instead of four) and earn an Associates degree at a much affordable price, rather than at a university. It worked out well for me. I was able to finish off my GED by not only spending less money but also by earning my A.A degree.

3. Classes are flexible.

High school graduates will need to work while at a university. Community college schedules are much more flexible than those provided by a university. Students can find out what schedule works well with them and go with it. This way, once they transfer to a university, students have a much better feel with how they want to schedule for their respective classes for the future. Thanks to community college, I was able to get a good grip on what time and day I should place my classes once I got into a university.

4. You get more time to think about what you want to do.

Even after high school, some students still don't know what career they want to pursue and in turn they don't know what university to attend. Community college is great for students who don't know what career they should aim. It gives them more time to find something they're passionate and build up on that while still getting an education without wasting large amounts of money.

5. It's a great confidence booster.

Once you finally go to a university, you'll have lots of college experience under your belt and have a much easier time adjusting. Students usually struggle once they enter a university due to how different it is than high school, but with a community college experience beforehand, you'll be able to have a much easier time adjusting because of what you learned before. You'll feel more confident in what you do and will know how to plan things accordingly!

The jump from high school to university is challenging for most graduating students, but community college can give you the experience you need to get ready for it.