 Why attend college?
A college degree can provide your child with many opportunities in life.
A college education can mean:
Greater Knowledge
A college education will increase your child's ability to understand developments in science and in society, to think abstractly and critically, to express thoughts clearly in speech and in writing, and to make wise decisions. These skills are useful both on and off the job. Greater Potential A college education can help increase your child's understanding of the community, the Nation, and the world -- as he or she explores interests, discovers new areas of knowledge, considers lifelong goals, and becomes a responsible citizen. More Job Opportunities The world is changing rapidly. Many jobs rely on new technology and already require more brain power than muscle power. In your child's working life, more and more jobs will require education beyond high school. With a college education, your child will have more jobs from which to choose. More Money
A person who attends college generally earns more than a person who does not. For
example, in 1994, a person with a college degree from a four-year college earned approximately $12,500 more in that year than a person who did not go to college. Someone with a two-year associate's degree also tends to earn more than a high school graduate. Some of these benefits of college may not be obvious to your child. Even though he or she has to make the final decision to attend college, you can help in the decision-making process by learning about all aspects of college yourself and sharing what you learn with your child. What types of colleges* exist? *Throughout this document, the term "college" is used to refer to all postsecondary institutions technical colleges, junior colleges, community colleges, other two-year colleges, and four-year colleges and universities. More than half of all recent high school graduates in the United States pursue some type of postsecondary education. In many other countries, a smaller percentage of students go on for more schooling after high school. However, in America, recent surveys show that most parents want their children to get some college education. There is a wide range of higher education options in the United States. For this reason, your child is likely to find a college well-suited to his or her needs. There are two basic types of post-secondary education institutions: Community, Technical, and Junior Colleges Many kinds of colleges offer programs that are less than four years in length. Most of these schools offer education and training programs that are two years in length or shorter. The programs often lead to a license, a certificate, an associate of arts (A.A.) degree, an associate of science (A.S.) degree, or an associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree. Four-Year Colleges and Universities These schools usually offer a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. Some also offer graduate and professional degrees. Community, Technical, and Junior Colleges Colleges with programs that are less than four years in length are often called community colleges, technical colleges, or junior colleges:
Community Colleges: These are public, two-year colleges. They mostly serve
people from nearby communities and offer academic courses, technical courses, and continuing education courses. Public institutions are supported by State and local revenues. Technical Colleges: These are generally colleges that have a special emphasis on education and training in technical fields. However, although some technical colleges offer academic courses and programs, not all technical colleges offer two-year programs that lead to an associate of arts or science degree. Technical colleges may be private or public. Junior colleges and community colleges that offer many technical courses are often called "technical colleges." Junior Colleges: These are generally two-year colleges that are private institutions. Some junior colleges are residential and are attended by students who come from other parts of the country. Some programs at two-year colleges lead to an A.S. or A.A. degree in an academic discipline. These academic programs are often comparable to the first two years of a general academic program offered by a four-year college or university. In many cases, two-year degrees can be transferred to four-year schools and credited toward a B.A. or B.S. degree. Many junior and community colleges offer technical/occupational training, as well as academic courses. For example, many cardiovascular technicians, medical laboratory technicians, and computer technicians received their education and training at junior colleges, community colleges, and/or technical colleges. Many junior, community, and technical colleges offer technical programs in cooperation with local businesses, industry, public service agencies, or other organizations. Some of these programs are formally connected to education programs that students start in high school; they are often referred to as "tech-prep" or "school-to-career" programs. [Footnote: These "school-to-career" or "tech-prep" programs often provide students with an opportunity to learn new skills by working for a local employer and by taking high school courses that link with courses offered at local colleges.] Two-year colleges such as community colleges often operate under an "open admissions" policy that can vary from school to school. At some institutions, "open admissions" means that anyone who has a high school diploma or GED certificate can enroll. At other schools, anyone over 18 years of age can enroll or, in some cases, anyone deemed able to benefit from the programs at the schools can enroll. Application requirements at colleges with two-year programs and shorter programs may include a high school transcript -- a list of all the courses your child took and grades earned in four years of high school -- and college entrance examination scores as well. Some schools have programs that allow "open admissions," while other programs in the same school -- particularly in scientific or technical subjects -- may have further admission requirements. Since requirements vary widely, it is important to check into schools and programs individually. Four-Year Colleges and Universities Students who wish to pursue a general academic program usually choose a four-year college or university. Such a program lays the foundation for more advanced studies and professional work. Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees (the B.A. and B.S.) in most areas in the arts and sciences, such as English literature, foreign languages, history, economics, political science, biology, zoology, chemistry, and in many other fields. Here are the main differences between four-year colleges and universities: Four-Year Colleges: These are post-secondary schools that provide four-year educational programs in the arts and sciences. These colleges confer bachelor's degrees. Universities: These are postsecondary schools that include a college of arts and/or sciences, one or more programs of graduate studies, and one or more professional schools. Universities confer bachelor's degrees and graduate and professional degrees. When a student earns a bachelor's degree it means that he or she has passed examinations in a broad range of courses and has studied one or two subject areas in greater depth. (These one or two subject areas are called a student's "major" area(s) of study or area(s) of "concentration.") A bachelor's degree is usually required before a student can begin studying for a graduate degree. A graduate degree is usually earned through two or more years of advanced studies beyond four years of college. This might be a master's or a doctoral degree in a particular field or a specialized degree required in certain professions such as law, social work, architecture, or medicine. How can my child go about choosing a college? Colleges are located in big cities, suburbs, and small towns throughout the country. Some enroll tens of thousands of students; others enroll only a few hundred. Some are public; others are private. Some private institutions are affiliated with religious institutions; others are not. Some schools enroll only women, others only men. The type of institution best suited to your child depends on his or her individual needs and talents. Your child can begin focusing on the choice of a college by considering the following questions: Why do I want to go to college? What do I hope to achieve in college? Do I have some idea of what I want to study or for which job I want to prepare? Do I want to live at home or go away to school? Do I prefer an urban or suburban environment? Would I be happier in a small college or at a large university? In order to choose a college, you and your child should ask the following questions about the nature and quality of the schools in which your child has an interest. (Ask these questions when you meet staff in the admissions office of the colleges. You may also find answers to these questions in the colleges' catalogs or in reference books on colleges.) The Nature of the Education Offered What is the philosophy of the particular college, and what kinds of educational programs does this college offer? Ask about the college's specialties, which types of classes the school offers, and in which fields students can earn a degree or certificate. How many students study in each area, and what do they do when they graduate? How long does it take to earn a certificate or degree at this college? Students should know how much time it takes to complete a program before they enroll in it. Programs can last anywhere from a few months to several years. Also ask whether the time involved reflects full-time or part-time attendance. What do students do when they graduate from this school? Do they get jobs in the areas for which they were trained? Do they pursue further education? Job placement rates are particularly important for vocational programs. If a very low percentage of students are employed in their area of training a year after completing the program, there may be a problem. It can also be useful to ask about beginning salaries of program graduates and the institution's career advising and placement services for its students. Students who enroll in two-year colleges with plans to transfer to four-year colleges should inquire about the possibility of doing so and about the number of graduates who transfer each year. Students applying to four-year colleges may want to know how many graduates go on to graduate or professional education.
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