This attitude about people who go to University

[McDreidel09]

I'm really getting sick and tired of people bashing others who decided to go to a four year right away, rather than do two years of community college. It's totally accepted, but if someone from a university says one little thing about community college, they get jumped all over. I'm tired of getting called a bad guy when asked why people have the impression that community college is somehow lesser and I give an answer that someone might give, but is not my opinion. If I get asked a question, I'm gonna answer it and the answer doesn't always reflect my views. I get this, even if I say "Well, this isn't my opinion, but..."

People choose what they choose for different reasons. Listed are my reasons for going to university.

1) The tuition. My school offers a program where people from the tri-state area can get in state tuition if their major is covered under the program. Both of my majors are covered under it, so I get in state tuition. I also get grants, loans, work study, and what have you. All of that pulls my tuition down to around the same as the CC where I live. This includes room and board, textbooks (since we rent them for about $70 a semester, no matter how many we need, and that is tacked onto our tuition bill), and all of the perks that go with being a student.

2) Living situation. My mom and I don't live well together. We are two extreme opposites and very stubborn. My mom still hasn't gotten the whole idea that I have grown up. When I do a lot of things for her, that I don't have to do, she doesn't show appreciation. She brings drama in my life that I don't need. Me going to CC and then having to live with her would not have worked out for the best and I don't want to move into my grandparents' home because they do so much for me already.

3) Getting the hell out of dodge. My hometown is a trap for people. People don't usually go to school, or if they do, they go to the CC for 1-2 years and then do nothing. While I do not feel that I am superior and what people decide to do with their lives is their decision, that was not for me. I want to get out and explore the world.

4) Integration into independent living. Being in a dorm is really helping me learn to be on my own. While I am getting help from my grandparents, I am living day to day on my own and making my own decisions.

5) The homey feel of the school. The very first day I stepped onto this place as a visitor, I felt a very home-like vibe from the place. Since my Junior year, I knew that this was the school for me. I didn't get that feeling from the CC I visited.

6) The opportunities. Even though we are a small school, we get great opportunities that the bigger schools get. I can't even begin to list them all! Plus, with this school in the state it is in, I am getting the most coveted teaching degree in the U.S. I am only looking out for my teaching career for that one.

So do those really sound elitist? Am I really a bad person for having those reasons?

[Greenday]

I stayed at my four year school for all four years because I knew I'd be getting a damn good education from some of the best in my field. You can't say that about the community colleges near me. I wouldn't have even gotten half the experience on instruments at CC than I did at my four year.

CC is great if you just don't have the money. You'll save tons. But you know what, in the end, I can afford to take out the loans and put myself in debt and go where I want to so that's what I'm doing and if anyone gets offended when I tell them that, that's their problem, not mine.

[McDreidel09]

I forgot to add that another reason I decided not to go is because all of my credits may not have transferred and I would have had to re-do those classes.

[jackfaire]

If I could go back and do it over again not sure what I would do but I can say this.

I would rather have done a 4 year university because I think living on my own would have made me a more serious student instead of feeling like High School the Sequel.

I am going back but at this point Communtiy College is what I can afford.

[Plaidman]

All schools are fine, if you can apply yourself and do the work. No-one should ever be insulted for going to school by choice, be it high school; collage, both community and/or university. My beef is with those that think I'm once again, a inferior person for going to a place that I could safely afford. I'm not working right now due to my hip which already makes me feel like scum, I don't need more grief by those who snicker and call my degree shit because it was from a community collage and not a /real/ school. Seriously, people want to act high and mighty? Why act like your still in High School and picking on others who didn't go to a fancy school like yourself. My degree is still just as a good as others, the job I want to get at (A major hospital in Portland) accepts the degree and the people who go to my school. I'm tired of people screaming that all my work will be for naught as no-one will take my credits, which is yet another lie. Yeah, some 4 year places won't accept some CC credits, but they do for mine, and that wasn't some bullshit lie my school claims, but real fact, like Oregon State, and University of Oregon accept our credits. Assuming I'd even get accepted there of course, which at this point, I don't know if I'll do it. I think I should, but I want to wait until I get my degree.

The work is just as much. Homework is hard and alot of it from each class. However, teachers are very caring, very helpful. There are other people you can call to get tutored, and it doesn't cost a thing. You can get more aid, tons of grants and funds you can get. (I got a grant. It was only like, $1200, but that still helps).

Basically, no, your not scum or a badguy if you go to a university rather then a community collage. You are however a badguy, if you choose to insult those that do go, be it say there it isn't a real school, or that no-one would ever accept their degree or any other thousand little insults one would do to make them feel superior.

[Hobbs]

The economy professor I had at my CC was awesome, and her husband was a Nobel-prize winning economist to boot. My Uni economy professor was an idiot and I hated his class with a passion.

I second Plaid's last statement. I don't judge 4-year people, so why the hell judge me for going to CC for a couple years?

[McDreidel09]

Personally, I would never judge anyone for going to a CC. I have heard good stories about some. The one near my hometown is actually one of the top 5 in the country. My mother is going to technical college part time to get her degree in Criminal Justice, since she can't go to school full time.

I just hate getting called elitist for deciding to go to a Uni, even though I am going to a smaller branch of it. Hell, I didn't know that my teaching degree from here would be that awesome until the middle of the year.

Just because some people do judge, doesn't mean we all do.

[Plaidman]

Then those that insult you for doing so, just smile at them, and say "I thought that once out of high school and into collage, you'd understand that we're all here to learn, not act childish and drama. That's over. Get back to class.

[AdminAssistant]

Luckily, I've never gotten too much grief over my (very extended) academic career. The only nagging question is, "When are you going to finish?" Trust me, I wish I knew. I'll get back to you when I have a diss. topic.

McD, we went to University for the same reasons. I didn't just leave my hometown, I escaped. Whenever I graduate, I'll have a lot of different options open to me. Back home there are pretty much three job opportunities for women: 1) stay-at-home mom, 2) K-12 schoolteacher, or 3) grocery store/convenience store clerk. While there isn't anything wrong with any of those choices, none of those were what I wanted to do. So I took the necessary steps to make a better life for myself. Even though I haven't done as many "adult" things as those I graduated high school with (marriage, kids, house), I feel like I've grown as a person in a lot of different ways that wouldn't be possible without going to a university.

[protege]

There may be good CCs out there. However, we don't have any locally. Instead, we have CCAC...which is widely regarded as a joke. It's always been seen that way, simply because of their admissions policies--they take everyone, no matter how poorly you did on the entrance "exam." Yes, I took the exam. At the time, the idea was, to take the classes that I didn't do so well in during high school...and then transfer the credits to a 4-year school.

But, after doing some reading...I found that the credits wouldn't transfer. Instead, I told CCAC to fuck themselves, and went to the 4-year school immediately following high school. Granted, I had to take their summer program, but oh well. Why waste time and money if I didn't have to?

[jackfaire]

Protege our CC is like that but the exam isn't to keep you out but to place you. If you don't score college level courses you have to take classes until you get to that level.

[Rageaholic]

Personally, I would never judge anyone for going to a CC. I have heard good stories about some. The one near my hometown is actually one of the top 5 in the country. My mother is going to technical college part time to get her degree in Criminal Justice, since she can't go to school full time.

I just hate getting called elitist for deciding to go to a Uni, even though I am going to a smaller branch of it. Hell, I didn't know that my teaching degree from here would be that awesome until the middle of the year.

Just because some people do judge, doesn't mean we all do.

It's funny because those people who judge you for going to a university are doing the same shit that they hate. They're saying their way is the best way and that there is something wrong with people who do things differently. So I guess I'm a failure at life and you're an elitest.