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Read "U.S. Community Colleges — A Gateway to U.S. Higher Education for International Students" by Judith Irwin, Director of International Programs and Services for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).
Increasingly, international students are looking at community
colleges as their gateway to academic advancement. Like their
American classmates, they are discovering that many of these
unique schools have outstanding programs, transferable credits,
reasonable fees, and supportive environments. These factors
are so attractive that over 40 percent of the U.S. undergraduate
population can be found in the classrooms of America's two-year
colleges.
The number of international students at community colleges
has risen rapidly in recent years. With high-quality courses,
simplified application procedures, low costs, extensive student
support systems, committed teachers, and smaller classes,
community colleges offer a unique way to access many aspects
of U.S. higher education — from technical and vocational education
to continuing education to full degree programs. For many
international students, the quest for a U.S. bachelor's degree
will begin at a community college.
Community colleges are sometimes called junior or two-year
colleges, and there are more than 1,200 such colleges in the
United States. Most community colleges are public or state-supported.
A few are independent or under private control.
Like other postsecondary institutions in the United States,
two-year colleges are varied. There are large multi-campus
suburban systems with over 50,000 students and hundreds of
programs and facilities. There are also small, rural schools
with fewer than 1,000 students and a limited number of majors.
Even the students are diverse, coming from all age groups,
cultures, and economic backgrounds.
Programs of Study
Click here for information on two-year Associate Degree programs,
Certificate Programs, and Continuing Education.
Accreditation
School accreditation is a very important factor to keep in
mind when looking at community colleges. Here's why.
Transfer and Articulation
Agreements
This section contains information on transferring credits
and associate degrees to four-year institutions of higher
learning.
Admission
Most community colleges use "Open Door" admissions
policies, but there are still some minimum admissions requirements.
Costs
The economic advantages of community colleges are difficult
to ignore.
Financial Aid
While financial aid at community colleges is usually rare,
some assistance is available.
Student Life
The "community college student experience" is considerably
different from four-year schools in many significant ways.
The Classroom Experience
Community colleges are known for professors whose emphasis
is in teaching as opposed to research or writing articles.
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