Help me understand how American Community College works
June 29, 2017 2:17 PM Subscribe
I'm a US citizen, but my education took place almost entirely in Ireland. I got my Fine Arts degree from an Irish college (actually an IT, if it makes a difference) about ten years ago. I'm interested in taking classes in several subjects for my own personal information - I am not interested in pursuing any further qualifications, but rather in learning for the sake of learning.
My local Community College offers several classes that I think sound interesting - introductory language classes, accounting, ceramics. There's a pretty broad range of things I think it would be fun to know more about. I work a full-time job with limited flexibility around my hours - I need to be present 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday, but I can tweak the time I clock in and out a little so that I can, for instance, work 7 - 3 instead of 9 - 5 if necessary. I think that will help to make time to attend classes.
How do I proceed from here? I have no experience with and no understanding of the American educational system. What kind of information do I need to gather to sign up for classes? How do I get in contact with the college to sign up for things? Will I need to get proof of my previous education or can I just pay my money and show up in class? How do I pay for a class, and can I expect them to be expensive? (Student loan expensive? Or just regular 'dang, that could be a nice laptop' expensive?)
I also don't know how classes actually work here. To be honest, if movies are an honest representation of what it's like to go to class in the US I'm kind of intimidated. My educational environment was mostly very small seminars and continual-assessment studio work. Even in Ireland I had a slightly unusual experience. I don't know how to do very basic things outside of that context - how do I find out where and when my class takes place? What should I bring?
Any guidance that you can offer will be welcomed, and even the most basic explanations of what to expect will be useful. It'll be hard to underestimate my inexperience here. I have NO idea how to get started, and appreciate being treated like a transfer student from the moon. Thank you all!
My local Community College offers several classes that I think sound interesting - introductory language classes, accounting, ceramics. There's a pretty broad range of things I think it would be fun to know more about. I work a full-time job with limited flexibility around my hours - I need to be present 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday, but I can tweak the time I clock in and out a little so that I can, for instance, work 7 - 3 instead of 9 - 5 if necessary. I think that will help to make time to attend classes.
How do I proceed from here? I have no experience with and no understanding of the American educational system. What kind of information do I need to gather to sign up for classes? How do I get in contact with the college to sign up for things? Will I need to get proof of my previous education or can I just pay my money and show up in class? How do I pay for a class, and can I expect them to be expensive? (Student loan expensive? Or just regular 'dang, that could be a nice laptop' expensive?)
I also don't know how classes actually work here. To be honest, if movies are an honest representation of what it's like to go to class in the US I'm kind of intimidated. My educational environment was mostly very small seminars and continual-assessment studio work. Even in Ireland I had a slightly unusual experience. I don't know how to do very basic things outside of that context - how do I find out where and when my class takes place? What should I bring?
Any guidance that you can offer will be welcomed, and even the most basic explanations of what to expect will be useful. It'll be hard to underestimate my inexperience here. I have NO idea how to get started, and appreciate being treated like a transfer student from the moon. Thank you all!
Best answer: Most community colleges offer two different kinds of classes. One are continuing education classes, which aren't for students who are interested in a degree. They're basically for adults who are seeking personal development. I've taken Bike Repair as a continuing ed student, for instance. For those, you basically just sign up. You should be able to do that on their website, or call and they'll walk you through it. My guess is that ceramics and possibly the language classes fall into this category.
There's another kind of class, which is primarily designed for students who are seeking a degree. Many of those students will get a two-year degree at community college and then transfer to a four-year college. Others are pursuing four-year degrees and take a class or two at community college. There are also people who just randomly take a class in this category, and that's fine. The admissions process for these classes is probably a little more involved. They may want evidence that you finished your secondary education in Ireland (so Leaving Cert results or something like that), and they may want a transcript from your Irish college. However, they should be really comfortable dealing with international students. I pretty much live in podunk, and a lot of international students attend the local community college, and many of them come from places that are way farther afield than Ireland. I am an ESL tutor for a guy who completed his secondary education in Sudan, for instance, and he didn't have trouble enrolling in the local community college.
Basically, you should call up the admissions office and ask. And don't feel intimidated. Community colleges are not supposed to be intimidating institutions.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:26 PM on June 29, 2017 [4 favorites]
There's another kind of class, which is primarily designed for students who are seeking a degree. Many of those students will get a two-year degree at community college and then transfer to a four-year college. Others are pursuing four-year degrees and take a class or two at community college. There are also people who just randomly take a class in this category, and that's fine. The admissions process for these classes is probably a little more involved. They may want evidence that you finished your secondary education in Ireland (so Leaving Cert results or something like that), and they may want a transcript from your Irish college. However, they should be really comfortable dealing with international students. I pretty much live in podunk, and a lot of international students attend the local community college, and many of them come from places that are way farther afield than Ireland. I am an ESL tutor for a guy who completed his secondary education in Sudan, for instance, and he didn't have trouble enrolling in the local community college.
Basically, you should call up the admissions office and ask. And don't feel intimidated. Community colleges are not supposed to be intimidating institutions.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:26 PM on June 29, 2017 [4 favorites]
If you're taking night classes, it's going to be mostly older people, and it's pretty casual, and not nearly the same price as a state college.
posted by empath at 2:30 PM on June 29, 2017
posted by empath at 2:30 PM on June 29, 2017
Best answer: I used to teach at a Community College and one of the things that is worth knowing is that they are really set up for people who aren't really sure what "The college experience" is like. Where I taught most of our students er 1st generation college students. Here's the admissions page for where I used to teach. You can scroll down to "non degree students" (which is what you'd be) and see what they require. The big deal is that you register sort of late (to make sure there is room, degree students would take priority) and you have to have the prerequisites. Often you can "test in" to a class with prerequisites if they require, for example, something you have but didn't have in school (like, I don't know, basic algebra or something)
The most challenging thing you may need to deal with is bad software. There is probably a whole student management system that you will need to interface with but it shouldn't be awful. Usually you pay by the credit hour and there should be fairly standard statements of fees on the website or admissions materials.
Keep in mind there is also "adult education" in may places which are no credit classes you can just take for enrichment, sometimes these re continuing ed taught at CCs as A&C says above, and sometimes they are taught elsewhere. If you want something a little more informal, depending on how big your geographic area is, that might work for something like ceramics.
posted by jessamyn at 2:31 PM on June 29, 2017 [3 favorites]
The most challenging thing you may need to deal with is bad software. There is probably a whole student management system that you will need to interface with but it shouldn't be awful. Usually you pay by the credit hour and there should be fairly standard statements of fees on the website or admissions materials.
Keep in mind there is also "adult education" in may places which are no credit classes you can just take for enrichment, sometimes these re continuing ed taught at CCs as A&C says above, and sometimes they are taught elsewhere. If you want something a little more informal, depending on how big your geographic area is, that might work for something like ceramics.
posted by jessamyn at 2:31 PM on June 29, 2017 [3 favorites]
Costs are most likely going to be in the hundreds of dollars per 3-credit course, less for non-credit continuing education courses, more for professional programs and classes with labs. It varies state to state (and a bit within the state as well).
posted by mskyle at 2:32 PM on June 29, 2017
posted by mskyle at 2:32 PM on June 29, 2017
The price depends a lot on where you are. But that information should be easily available on the school's website.
posted by maurreen at 2:32 PM on June 29, 2017
posted by maurreen at 2:32 PM on June 29, 2017
Best answer: So let's say you want to take a beginning level Spanish class and you live in the Kansas City Area. First off, you would figure out which Community College in KC has the class you want to take...for pricing and ease of entry, I would focus on continuing education classes or something called life long learners.
The Metropolitan Community College has a program called "Community Education", and from there you can look through their classes. It seems that there is a beginning level Spanish class that starts in January for $79. It's from 6:30-8 on Tuesdays and runs for 6 weeks.
If you go the normal student but non-degree seeking, you will typically go through admissions and get admitted to the college. Then you would be required to pay per course hour, which for our example school of MCC would be $103 per hour if you are in the city. Typically most courses are 3 credit hours and would run for 15 weeks. So your intro to Spanish clash would meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:45-8:05 at the Longview campus starting in the fall 2017 semester. That's a lot more class than the continuing ed course, but you'd also pay a few hundred dollars for it.
posted by teleri025 at 2:40 PM on June 29, 2017
The Metropolitan Community College has a program called "Community Education", and from there you can look through their classes. It seems that there is a beginning level Spanish class that starts in January for $79. It's from 6:30-8 on Tuesdays and runs for 6 weeks.
If you go the normal student but non-degree seeking, you will typically go through admissions and get admitted to the college. Then you would be required to pay per course hour, which for our example school of MCC would be $103 per hour if you are in the city. Typically most courses are 3 credit hours and would run for 15 weeks. So your intro to Spanish clash would meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:45-8:05 at the Longview campus starting in the fall 2017 semester. That's a lot more class than the continuing ed course, but you'd also pay a few hundred dollars for it.
posted by teleri025 at 2:40 PM on June 29, 2017
How do I get in contact with the college to sign up for things?
Start by poking around on their website. As an example, here's the page for continuing ed (that is, non-credit, non-degree classes) for my local one, City College of San Francisco.
As for your work schedule, it's very likely that your local community college offers courses in the evenings. For continuing ed classes, you don't need to show any previous academic records (though for language classes, you may need to demonstrate that you're fluent enough for Spanish 3 and don't need to start in the beginners' class).
posted by rtha at 2:43 PM on June 29, 2017
Start by poking around on their website. As an example, here's the page for continuing ed (that is, non-credit, non-degree classes) for my local one, City College of San Francisco.
As for your work schedule, it's very likely that your local community college offers courses in the evenings. For continuing ed classes, you don't need to show any previous academic records (though for language classes, you may need to demonstrate that you're fluent enough for Spanish 3 and don't need to start in the beginners' class).
posted by rtha at 2:43 PM on June 29, 2017
Best answer: "how do I find out where and when my class takes place? What should I bring?"
The course catalog will tell you where and when each class meets ... what day/time and what building/classroom. If you are enrolling at a very large CC, there might be different campuses and multiple schedulings of the same class. Sometimes those will be referred to as "sections" of the class.
For example, the class might be Spanish 201 and there could be 5 "sections", each with a unique identifying number, that each meet at different times/places. (Not all schools call them "sections" but the concept is pretty common.)
So you could pick the section that takes place at Campus X that is close to your house or the one that meets at the certain day/time that fits your schedule. In some circumstances, there might be one section that meets for 1 hour 3x/week and another that meets for 3 hours 1x/week. All that information is going to be available in the online course catalog, and there will be someone at the college who can help you register if the website doesn't make sense.
As a general rule, community colleges are very student-focused and are used to dealing with first-generation college students, who are a huge part of their target audience. Not to discount your previous education credentials, I just mean that they will have a structure in place for helping people who don't understand "the system." They want you to be there ... they will help you!
Bring a notebook and a pen to the first class, and if you need anything else you'll find out when you get there. If the instructor wants you to have something special on the first day (a book or other specific materials) you will receive instructions via email or online course portal before the first class meeting.
Good luck and have fun!!
posted by mccxxiii at 5:29 PM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
The course catalog will tell you where and when each class meets ... what day/time and what building/classroom. If you are enrolling at a very large CC, there might be different campuses and multiple schedulings of the same class. Sometimes those will be referred to as "sections" of the class.
For example, the class might be Spanish 201 and there could be 5 "sections", each with a unique identifying number, that each meet at different times/places. (Not all schools call them "sections" but the concept is pretty common.)
So you could pick the section that takes place at Campus X that is close to your house or the one that meets at the certain day/time that fits your schedule. In some circumstances, there might be one section that meets for 1 hour 3x/week and another that meets for 3 hours 1x/week. All that information is going to be available in the online course catalog, and there will be someone at the college who can help you register if the website doesn't make sense.
As a general rule, community colleges are very student-focused and are used to dealing with first-generation college students, who are a huge part of their target audience. Not to discount your previous education credentials, I just mean that they will have a structure in place for helping people who don't understand "the system." They want you to be there ... they will help you!
Bring a notebook and a pen to the first class, and if you need anything else you'll find out when you get there. If the instructor wants you to have something special on the first day (a book or other specific materials) you will receive instructions via email or online course portal before the first class meeting.
Good luck and have fun!!
posted by mccxxiii at 5:29 PM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Yeah, call admissions or the registrar and ask; literally what they do all day is help people who don't know the US college system, have no family who have been to college, or have weird personal situations get all set up. If you don't want federal loans they don't need all that much of your information, but they certainly appreciate having it -- also for any classes with pre-reqs, they will probably want your transcript, it'll just save you the hassle of placement tests and so on.
My CC district is $140/credit hour, so a 3-hour class runs you $420.
In many community colleges there's a cap on how many classes you can take for credit, because the tuition is subsidized by state and local taxes and they want to make sure kids who are moving towards degrees can get their classes. But there's generally no cap on "audit" or "personal development" students (who may sign up later after credit students have had a chance, or only receive a pass/fail grade, or similar).
At some point they will tell you where the classroom is -- feel free to ask the registrar when and how you get that information! (Where I was, it was on your registration confirmation, and visible in your online account.) In a lot of places you go to the college's bookstore to see what you have to buy for the class (it's labeled on the shelves) -- but again, ask when you register! And you can always e-mail the professor. And having taught a lot of CC classes, plenty of students turn up on the first day with no idea what texts they need to go acquire and go get them after the first class period when they get the syllabus.
Bring note-taking materials to the first class, either computer or pen-and-paper, and be prepared to get paper handouts!
Acquire a mini-stapler to keep in your bookbag and you can be the class hero who can staple everyone's papers, professors hate paperclips and there is a WEIRD DEARTH OF STAPLERS in the world these days.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:21 PM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
My CC district is $140/credit hour, so a 3-hour class runs you $420.
In many community colleges there's a cap on how many classes you can take for credit, because the tuition is subsidized by state and local taxes and they want to make sure kids who are moving towards degrees can get their classes. But there's generally no cap on "audit" or "personal development" students (who may sign up later after credit students have had a chance, or only receive a pass/fail grade, or similar).
At some point they will tell you where the classroom is -- feel free to ask the registrar when and how you get that information! (Where I was, it was on your registration confirmation, and visible in your online account.) In a lot of places you go to the college's bookstore to see what you have to buy for the class (it's labeled on the shelves) -- but again, ask when you register! And you can always e-mail the professor. And having taught a lot of CC classes, plenty of students turn up on the first day with no idea what texts they need to go acquire and go get them after the first class period when they get the syllabus.
Bring note-taking materials to the first class, either computer or pen-and-paper, and be prepared to get paper handouts!
Acquire a mini-stapler to keep in your bookbag and you can be the class hero who can staple everyone's papers, professors hate paperclips and there is a WEIRD DEARTH OF STAPLERS in the world these days.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:21 PM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Some terminology. There are credit (often 3-credit) classes like English 101 etc that lead to a two-year transfer or technical (e.g. nursing) degree, and non-credit, also known as Workforce/Continuing Education, (e.g. a 2-hour intro to computers class, but also some cool short programs leading to technical certifications). In our system, they have separate applications, but in both cases you do two things:
1. Apply
2. Register
When I came here from another country I didn't understand that, in that they seemed synonymous, but they are not. Applying is telling us who you are. Registering is picking the class(es) you want to take. The non-credit application is one page. The credit application is longer (in part because of federal reporting requirements). If you are taking credit classes you have to typically take placement tests to make sure you're up to Math and English, and you have to provide transcripts of previous education.
However, we are open admission. We will accept you and turn nobody away.
One thing that continues to frustrate me about many of our college web sites is that few of them answer your question, i.e. "I want to take a class. What do I actually do?" so I do sympathize.
The shortest answer is to email / contact the advising center or admissions. They love helping people like you.
Classes are typically smaller than a 4-year institution and significantly cheaper. Classes are taught by both full-time professors and adjuncts (people with other jobs who teach one or two courses). Given the massive oversupply of PhDs in this country, you could have some really interesting teachers.
A major difference from my undergraduate experience is that if you take a credit class, everything (papers, quizzes, discussions, etc.) you do may get graded and your final grade in the class is the total of your grades throughout a semester. Your GPA is the average of the grades in the classes you've taken.
You do not have to apply to a program to take credit classes. If you want to take that 3-credit History class, you can apply as a credit student, but not to a specific program, and just take that particular class.
FWIW our average credit student is a 28-year old woman. 30%+ of our courses are online or hybrid (e.g. one meeting a week with other work online) which might be a good fit for your schedule.
posted by idb at 6:32 PM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
1. Apply
2. Register
When I came here from another country I didn't understand that, in that they seemed synonymous, but they are not. Applying is telling us who you are. Registering is picking the class(es) you want to take. The non-credit application is one page. The credit application is longer (in part because of federal reporting requirements). If you are taking credit classes you have to typically take placement tests to make sure you're up to Math and English, and you have to provide transcripts of previous education.
However, we are open admission. We will accept you and turn nobody away.
One thing that continues to frustrate me about many of our college web sites is that few of them answer your question, i.e. "I want to take a class. What do I actually do?" so I do sympathize.
The shortest answer is to email / contact the advising center or admissions. They love helping people like you.
Classes are typically smaller than a 4-year institution and significantly cheaper. Classes are taught by both full-time professors and adjuncts (people with other jobs who teach one or two courses). Given the massive oversupply of PhDs in this country, you could have some really interesting teachers.
A major difference from my undergraduate experience is that if you take a credit class, everything (papers, quizzes, discussions, etc.) you do may get graded and your final grade in the class is the total of your grades throughout a semester. Your GPA is the average of the grades in the classes you've taken.
You do not have to apply to a program to take credit classes. If you want to take that 3-credit History class, you can apply as a credit student, but not to a specific program, and just take that particular class.
FWIW our average credit student is a 28-year old woman. 30%+ of our courses are online or hybrid (e.g. one meeting a week with other work online) which might be a good fit for your schedule.
posted by idb at 6:32 PM on June 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Keep in mind that, depending on where you live, local four-year colleges may also offer what is called "continuing education" or "adult education" or similar in the form of night or weekend classes. In areas where there are both, I think you'd generally expect to find professionals looking for enrichment in four-year adult education classes, whereas community college enrolls more nontraditional learners working towards degrees. But that could definitely vary from place to place. On average, you're likely to find a higher baseline level of education (i.e., more university graduates) and higher expectations at a four-year's continuing education class than at a community college night course. On the other hand, a community college is likely to be cheaper and may offer less "academic" subjects (like ceramics) that a four-year school might not. And I don't think one could begin to generalize about comparative quality of instruction in the two options.
While some four-year schools offer various certificate/credential programs in their adult education divisions, in general you can enroll in single classes by themselves. There aren't any sort of entrance exams or qualifying processes; really, there's no application process at all. Courses with prerequisites (not common except in languages and STEM) will be labeled. There aren't caps on the total number of courses you can take. While courses may be given a credit value, that's mostly (a) to denote how much work is required or (b) for the benefit of those doing some kind of credential.
posted by praemunire at 7:37 PM on June 29, 2017
While some four-year schools offer various certificate/credential programs in their adult education divisions, in general you can enroll in single classes by themselves. There aren't any sort of entrance exams or qualifying processes; really, there's no application process at all. Courses with prerequisites (not common except in languages and STEM) will be labeled. There aren't caps on the total number of courses you can take. While courses may be given a credit value, that's mostly (a) to denote how much work is required or (b) for the benefit of those doing some kind of credential.
posted by praemunire at 7:37 PM on June 29, 2017
Best answer: I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that community colleges have geographic districts that they serve. Depending on where you live, you may be near more than one community college, but you would be "in district" for only one of them. You could attend classes at any community college, but you will pay more if you are not "in district."
Community colleges will often coordinate programs with other CCs in their area to avoid duplication. For example, one CC might offer a dental hygiene program and a nearby CC will offer automotive technology. Each CC's residents can take the program at the other college at in-district rates. But it sounds like this won't apply to you, as you're not interested in a complete program of study.
posted by Joleta at 9:19 PM on June 29, 2017
Community colleges will often coordinate programs with other CCs in their area to avoid duplication. For example, one CC might offer a dental hygiene program and a nearby CC will offer automotive technology. Each CC's residents can take the program at the other college at in-district rates. But it sounds like this won't apply to you, as you're not interested in a complete program of study.
posted by Joleta at 9:19 PM on June 29, 2017
Best answer: I'll just go on down the list:
How do I proceed from here?
Most CCs are free to apply online for credit courses. Once you submit your application and have received your "congrats, you're in!" info, then you can proceed with registering for classes. Some CCs (like the one I work at) require new students to complete orientation (online or in-person) before meeting with an advisor (again, online or in-person) to determine your educational goals, etc. before they'll allow you to register for classes. You may be asked to declare a program of study even if you are just in it for the learning--it's a metrics thing.
Once you're registered for classes, you should make sure you've paid for them which is, fun fact, nearly always a separate process from simply registering for classes. Normally you can do this online with the student login info you'll have received with your acceptance letter and stuff. Keep an eye out for anything called a "student portal" or "MyCC" or something like that--this login area will have info/links to most of the stuff you need online.
Once you've applied, been accepted, registered and paid for classes, and completed any CC-specific requirements, you can order your textbooks and kick back until classes begin. Oh, and follow your CC on social media! :)
What kind of information do I need to gather to sign up for classes? Will I need to get proof of my previous education or can I just pay my money and show up in class?
Photo ID and standard form stuff, I think--contact info, mailing address, etc. For most CCs, the entrance requirements are a) over the age of 18 and b) possessed of a high school diploma, GED, or similar level of experience. If you're applying for financial aid, they'll probably want you to complete the FAFSA before anything else can occur, so you'll need your recent tax stuff.
For credit classes, you'll want to send an official transcript from your post-high school institution otherwise they'll probably want you to complete placement tests and may require a bunch of intro classes you don't want to take. For non-credit classes (normally found under the headings "community education", "workforce training", "continuing professional development", etc.), you can absolutely just pay online and show up.
How do I get in contact with the college to sign up for things?
Whenever possible, try to call the office that most directly deals with what you are trying to do rather than a general switchboard number. Admissions is usually a good bet for calling and receiving general info on enrolling and registering. If you have a question that isn't answered by the website, reaching out on social media can even be a good way of getting some quick facts.
How do I pay for a class, and can I expect them to be expensive?
Community colleges are specifically priced to be accessible and affordable. Depending on your area, what associated fees you might have, and how expensive your textbooks turn out to be, budgeting about $500 a class is probably a safe estimate, but it will probably be less than that. Definitely more "oof, that'd be a nice laptop" expense than student loan territory, depending on your finances.
Also: I recommend checking the school itself for scholarships after your first semester. CCs don't usually have a lot of upfront scholarships, but many of them have options for current students. Could be worth a look!
How do I find out where and when my class takes place? What should I bring?
If you're able to carve out a day sometime before your classes start to attend an in-person orientation event or open house or something, I recommend it. They usually include a campus tour as well as other useful info (where to get a student ID card/parking pass, student life offices, etc.) This will help answer a lot of your questions about the facility itself, I'm certain.
As far as class times/places go, that information will be available in the catalog when you're registering for classes. Pretty much all classes have the days of the week, time, and classroom determined way ahead of time, so it'll be accessible from the student portal for you to check out whenever you need it later. You should also be able to see the textbook requirements either in the portal or through the school's bookstore. (Do NOT buy books from the bookstore except as a last resort--Amazon.com or Chegg.com are often cheaper, and I definitely advocate renting rather than buying textbooks wherever possible.)
Bring to class whatever you like to take notes with, your textbook, maybe a bottle of water if it's allowed. :)
I also don't know how classes actually work here. To be honest, if movies are an honest representation of what it's like to go to class in the US I'm kind of intimidated.
I studied abroad in Northern Ireland for a semester, mostly history classes. I don't know how similar the set up would be between your uni and the one I went to, but these were the things that were very different from my US college experience and my experience with taking CC classes:
-The TOTAL LACK of smaller homework assignments along the course of the term was simultaneously refreshing and terrifying. Yay for no useless busy work, boo for "oh my god, that midterm is worth HOW MUCH of my grade??"
-The grading scale is quite different. The first time I got a paper back in a class, I about had a heart attack when I had a 76/100 and was expected to believe that that was a "pretty good mark", like a B/B+ in the US. That score would mean a solid C in any US classroom. Your syllabus will have the specific grade scale for whatever classes you're taking, but rule of thumb is 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, anything below that, don't even bother, it's not a passing grade.
-I thought it was really weird that I had to go to a separate, non-classroom location to turn in my term papers or essays, but this could also have been because I went to a small college and was used to just handing assignments in in class. Maybe bigger US schools also do this? But I think most CCs expect you to hand assignments in directly to the instructor.
-Most US colleges and CCs will not divide up classes into a lecture day and a seminar day--classes typically meet in the same place all the time and will have roughly the same format, which will probably be a PowerPoint presentation/lecture + maybe some class discussion.
I can't speak to all community colleges, but at least the ones I have been involved with typically have fairly small class sizes, maybe between 10 and 30 students each. It is highly unlikely you'll end up in one of those massive lecture halls with like hundreds of students at a CC, if that helps with the anxiety.
Also: CCs have a lot of first generation college students, non-traditional students, etc. and usually have a lot of resources specifically to help put students who may feel a little overwhelmed by all of the college bureaucracy at ease and help them be successful in their classes. Student success coaches, counselors, etc. are all great people to make appointments with if you want someone to show you the ropes in a more hands-on way.
Some final tips:
-If you run into trouble, your instructor will be happy to help answer questions!
-If you're having trouble keeping up in a class, most CCs have in-person or online tutoring for certain subjects. A lot of them are called "Learning Commons" now. Also, hit up the library!
-Not all classes follow this format, but typically you can expect a midterm assignment or test, a final exam/project/assignment, and several smaller homework assignments/projects/readings, etc. along the course of the term.
-Most professors recommend devoting at least an hour per credit per week to studying/preparing for a class (3 credits = 3hrs studying/working per week for one class). This is a fairly safe bet, depending on what class you're taking.
-Depending on what classes you want to take, online classes can be a good way to make sure you get the flexibility you want.
-Registration for the following semester classes usually starts around midterm time. Keep an eye out for this date and register for your next semester classes quickly or you might not get in to the course you want later.
Apologies for the small book on the topic. Please MeMail me if you have any other questions--it is LITERALLY my job to answer questions about CCs on the internet, haha.
posted by helloimjennsco at 2:05 PM on July 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
How do I proceed from here?
Most CCs are free to apply online for credit courses. Once you submit your application and have received your "congrats, you're in!" info, then you can proceed with registering for classes. Some CCs (like the one I work at) require new students to complete orientation (online or in-person) before meeting with an advisor (again, online or in-person) to determine your educational goals, etc. before they'll allow you to register for classes. You may be asked to declare a program of study even if you are just in it for the learning--it's a metrics thing.
Once you're registered for classes, you should make sure you've paid for them which is, fun fact, nearly always a separate process from simply registering for classes. Normally you can do this online with the student login info you'll have received with your acceptance letter and stuff. Keep an eye out for anything called a "student portal" or "MyCC" or something like that--this login area will have info/links to most of the stuff you need online.
Once you've applied, been accepted, registered and paid for classes, and completed any CC-specific requirements, you can order your textbooks and kick back until classes begin. Oh, and follow your CC on social media! :)
What kind of information do I need to gather to sign up for classes? Will I need to get proof of my previous education or can I just pay my money and show up in class?
Photo ID and standard form stuff, I think--contact info, mailing address, etc. For most CCs, the entrance requirements are a) over the age of 18 and b) possessed of a high school diploma, GED, or similar level of experience. If you're applying for financial aid, they'll probably want you to complete the FAFSA before anything else can occur, so you'll need your recent tax stuff.
For credit classes, you'll want to send an official transcript from your post-high school institution otherwise they'll probably want you to complete placement tests and may require a bunch of intro classes you don't want to take. For non-credit classes (normally found under the headings "community education", "workforce training", "continuing professional development", etc.), you can absolutely just pay online and show up.
How do I get in contact with the college to sign up for things?
Whenever possible, try to call the office that most directly deals with what you are trying to do rather than a general switchboard number. Admissions is usually a good bet for calling and receiving general info on enrolling and registering. If you have a question that isn't answered by the website, reaching out on social media can even be a good way of getting some quick facts.
How do I pay for a class, and can I expect them to be expensive?
Community colleges are specifically priced to be accessible and affordable. Depending on your area, what associated fees you might have, and how expensive your textbooks turn out to be, budgeting about $500 a class is probably a safe estimate, but it will probably be less than that. Definitely more "oof, that'd be a nice laptop" expense than student loan territory, depending on your finances.
Also: I recommend checking the school itself for scholarships after your first semester. CCs don't usually have a lot of upfront scholarships, but many of them have options for current students. Could be worth a look!
How do I find out where and when my class takes place? What should I bring?
If you're able to carve out a day sometime before your classes start to attend an in-person orientation event or open house or something, I recommend it. They usually include a campus tour as well as other useful info (where to get a student ID card/parking pass, student life offices, etc.) This will help answer a lot of your questions about the facility itself, I'm certain.
As far as class times/places go, that information will be available in the catalog when you're registering for classes. Pretty much all classes have the days of the week, time, and classroom determined way ahead of time, so it'll be accessible from the student portal for you to check out whenever you need it later. You should also be able to see the textbook requirements either in the portal or through the school's bookstore. (Do NOT buy books from the bookstore except as a last resort--Amazon.com or Chegg.com are often cheaper, and I definitely advocate renting rather than buying textbooks wherever possible.)
Bring to class whatever you like to take notes with, your textbook, maybe a bottle of water if it's allowed. :)
I also don't know how classes actually work here. To be honest, if movies are an honest representation of what it's like to go to class in the US I'm kind of intimidated.
I studied abroad in Northern Ireland for a semester, mostly history classes. I don't know how similar the set up would be between your uni and the one I went to, but these were the things that were very different from my US college experience and my experience with taking CC classes:
-The TOTAL LACK of smaller homework assignments along the course of the term was simultaneously refreshing and terrifying. Yay for no useless busy work, boo for "oh my god, that midterm is worth HOW MUCH of my grade??"
-The grading scale is quite different. The first time I got a paper back in a class, I about had a heart attack when I had a 76/100 and was expected to believe that that was a "pretty good mark", like a B/B+ in the US. That score would mean a solid C in any US classroom. Your syllabus will have the specific grade scale for whatever classes you're taking, but rule of thumb is 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, anything below that, don't even bother, it's not a passing grade.
-I thought it was really weird that I had to go to a separate, non-classroom location to turn in my term papers or essays, but this could also have been because I went to a small college and was used to just handing assignments in in class. Maybe bigger US schools also do this? But I think most CCs expect you to hand assignments in directly to the instructor.
-Most US colleges and CCs will not divide up classes into a lecture day and a seminar day--classes typically meet in the same place all the time and will have roughly the same format, which will probably be a PowerPoint presentation/lecture + maybe some class discussion.
I can't speak to all community colleges, but at least the ones I have been involved with typically have fairly small class sizes, maybe between 10 and 30 students each. It is highly unlikely you'll end up in one of those massive lecture halls with like hundreds of students at a CC, if that helps with the anxiety.
Also: CCs have a lot of first generation college students, non-traditional students, etc. and usually have a lot of resources specifically to help put students who may feel a little overwhelmed by all of the college bureaucracy at ease and help them be successful in their classes. Student success coaches, counselors, etc. are all great people to make appointments with if you want someone to show you the ropes in a more hands-on way.
Some final tips:
-If you run into trouble, your instructor will be happy to help answer questions!
-If you're having trouble keeping up in a class, most CCs have in-person or online tutoring for certain subjects. A lot of them are called "Learning Commons" now. Also, hit up the library!
-Not all classes follow this format, but typically you can expect a midterm assignment or test, a final exam/project/assignment, and several smaller homework assignments/projects/readings, etc. along the course of the term.
-Most professors recommend devoting at least an hour per credit per week to studying/preparing for a class (3 credits = 3hrs studying/working per week for one class). This is a fairly safe bet, depending on what class you're taking.
-Depending on what classes you want to take, online classes can be a good way to make sure you get the flexibility you want.
-Registration for the following semester classes usually starts around midterm time. Keep an eye out for this date and register for your next semester classes quickly or you might not get in to the course you want later.
Apologies for the small book on the topic. Please MeMail me if you have any other questions--it is LITERALLY my job to answer questions about CCs on the internet, haha.
posted by helloimjennsco at 2:05 PM on July 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
The best thing to do is to call or email someone in the admissions department (you can find their contact info on the school's website) and let them know what classes you'd like to take and they'll be able to give you clear direction and info.
Some places will have large lecture halls, others will be smaller classrooms -- again, it depends on the class and the school. The admissions department will be able to answer all of these questions as well. If you still have concerns, they will usually be able to connect you to a current student or alumni to answer more specific class / student life related questions.
You'll be fine. Have fun!
posted by ananci at 2:24 PM on June 29, 2017 [3 favorites]