Courtesy of westvalley.edu
West Valley College is Saratoga High’s closest community college.Community college is an often overlooked topic in conversations regarding higher education, especially in Saratoga, where 4-year universities are usually treated like the “default goal.” However, community college is definitely not a lesser option. For many students in America, it’s the reason why higher education is possible in the first place.
A community college is usually a 2-year public college that offers associate degrees, the opportunity to transfer and many potentially life-changing career paths for adults of all ages.
In California specifically, the community college pathway gives access for students to transfer to all UC and CSU campuses. This path is especially important for middle- and low-income students, working students, teen-parent students or adults looking for a second chance at a different career — for instance, a single mom who works in retail but aims to be a higher-paid nurse or a dental hygienist to support her children.
In many ways, community colleges are the hidden gems of California’s education system because they can help students save money, work a job and stay close to home, all while pursuing education to take up careers later in life. Through this, community college changes lives in ways that some larger universities can not directly do.
At the same time, they aren’t the best fit for all students. For many high school students with strong grades and high test scores, high parental support and the financial ability to attend a 4-year university, doing so may be the more efficient path to a viable career.
This is where I would like to acknowledge the privilege that comes with being able to do. Many SHS students are able to consider schools such as UC Santa Barbara, NYU, UC Berkeley, etc. with hefty price tags because their education and family resources make it possible.
Some private universities can cost upwards of $80,000 which is not realistic to be paying every year for most California families. For many students outside the Saratoga bubble, college is not a question of whether or not it is more exciting, but whether it is even possible.
For students who do have this privilege, a 4-year university is no doubt the more direct route toward a bachelor’s degree. Instead of planning to transfer credits or worry about whether credits will transfer to a new school, students can usually start at a university they intend to graduate from. This makes the overall process simpler.
A 4-year university may also offer a more consistent college experience. Especially in the first year, many students are able to live in on campus dorms, join clubs, attend campus events and build long-lasting friendships with other full-time students. A sense of community can exist anywhere, including at community colleges, where they can bloom through campus classes, sports and friendships. For students who are specifically looking for a residential experience, a 4-year university may offer a more traditional view to college life.
Depending on the school a major, some 4-year universities may have more resources that are easier to access for students already enrolled there full-time.
By no means does any of this mean community college is a bad path even for Saratoga High students. For many students here, it would be an affordable, realistic and flexible option as they discover more about themselves and their goals. Community college gives young adults a chance to take classes that interest them, the ability to transfer later and also gain skills for a future career. A student who attends a community college is not someone who is behind someone who attends a 4-year university necessarily; they are simply taking their own path that fits their circumstances better.
