The admission requirements for community colleges are very simple, as long as they graduate from high school. Students need to take math and English assessments after entering school. Those who fail to meet the standards must attend cram schools before they can take courses that have certain requirements for mathematics and English. In fact, cram school is a kind of make-up class for students with poor grades in high school, and it is also a flexible way for more students to meet the college entrance examination standards. For various reasons, many adult students do not go to college directly after graduating from high school. When they want to go back to school after working for several years, community colleges are usually the first choice. Of course, there are also some students with good grades in high school who choose community colleges for economic reasons. Some elderly people also go to community colleges to fulfill their college dreams after retirement.
Differences between community colleges and American universities, colleges and universities
Universities and colleges in the United States are collectively called "colleges", and American higher education institutions have many different systems.
Community college:
The so-called "community colleges" in the United States, that is, "community colleges" or "community universities" or "two-year universities" (hereinafter referred to as "community colleges"), are mostly public schools. This is an education system that Asian countries do not have (by no means a "street college" for Chinese translation), and you may not be familiar with it; It provides two years of general university education, and the school will award an associate degree. You can transfer to a four-year university or college to continue your studies, and many credits are recognized by the university. There are many programs to strengthen Chinese or other subjects in community colleges, which can help you choose some lighter courses and lay a solid foundation for your study before attending general university courses. Especially for foreign students with poor language skills who need to "catch up" on English first, or those who can't apply for universities, community colleges are a good choice. Therefore, community colleges can be said to be a springboard to enter universities, and the requirements for English and subjects are not as strict as those of universities or colleges. Community colleges offer professional technical and vocational training courses. Community colleges have another biggest advantage. Tuition is quite cheap, much less than that of universities or colleges. Some community colleges are as big as universities, with tens of thousands of students.
There are public and private community colleges in the United States, and public colleges account for the vast majority, about 85%. Each community college has the cultural and geographical characteristics of the area it serves, and at the same time, they also have many similarities. Most community colleges offer three types of courses: language training ESL course, bachelor transfer course, livelihood education (that is, vocational and technical education) and community service. The latter includes adult continuing education and industrial and commercial training and retraining.
University:
Universities are public and private. Literature, science and professional courses are usually offered, including undergraduate and graduate schools, and you can go all the way to doctoral programs and research. Generally speaking, universities are usually large, with a large number of students, up to 50,000. Universities generally have student dormitories, and they can also rent houses off campus, so the choice of accommodation is more flexible.
College:
Most colleges are private schools, and a few are public schools. Offers four-year education courses, usually in the field of literature, and does not offer master's or doctoral degrees. Get a four-year degree from an accredited institution and you can go to any university for further study. Student dormitories and off-campus rental houses are usually provided.
Disadvantages of community colleges
Of course, community colleges are not without their shortcomings. Due to limited funds, the number of books in community college libraries is lower than that in other libraries.
Students from American community colleges
Less, less, and the experimental equipment is relatively old. Due to the uneven level of students, sometimes teachers have to lower their learning requirements in order to take care of some students. In order to reduce costs, community colleges employ a large number of part-time teachers. The level of part-time teachers varies, some may be retired professors from famous universities, and some may be company employees with no teaching experience. Some part-time teachers are very responsible, while others just want to earn some extra money. Because there are many students who work and study, the phenomenon of students' absence from class is also very serious.
Nevertheless, the contribution of American community colleges to American economic development and the benefits brought to ordinary students are obvious to all and widely recognized by society. Open attitude, constant adjustment and gradual accumulation make American community colleges develop and be full of vitality.