Being a University Student and a Mom

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This thesis is based upon research done on randomly selected two-year college institutions in various states in America like Santa Barbara City College in California to St Louis community college in Missouri. This research has as well touched on various four-year college institutions in America like the University of Michigan. The aim of this research is to compare and contrast two-year and four-year college institutions and identify their similarities and differences. It will scrutinize student life and the general cost incurred by the student in pursuit of his study then compare and contrast. The impact of a student from a two-year college to a student in a four-year college in their field of study. It also studies the scope of their opportunities after school as well.
Students who go to community or two-year colleges are those who would wish to go directly into a particular trade or vocation after graduating from college, also those students who could not meet the threshold of a university entry prerequisite seek to do so through these community colleges. There are others who cannot afford the tuition fee of a four-year college and, therefore, seek to save money through a general education before transferring. However, an exceptional student may not feel challenged in a two-year college courses and, as a result, may end up being bored and lose interest in the courses altogether. On the contrary, students in a four-year institution are those that desire an all-rounded education.

From school spirit to dorm living, from athletics to sports, and homecoming to student life and a flexible degree. These degrees that they are conferred with give them a wider platform of choice in the job market.
A 2-year college student’s main focus is the general pre-requisite courses that have a possibility of transference into a four-year institution or course in the desired field. Since these colleges are linked to the industries in the areas where they are, students can choose courses that blend with the local job market.
In a four-year college it’s the opposite, students get to take everything from mathematics to languages to history for the first two years of general courses and then for the next remaining two years they get to specialize by taking electives in whichever field.
When it comes to opportunities, two-year college students get to do internships and apprenticeship within the locality. They also get to interact and gain valuable connections that they could use to land a job after graduating. As for a four-year college student, the institution offers great opportunities in on and off-campus learning opportunities. On campus would include cultural events, staged performances, host guest lecture sessions, clubs, and societies. Off-campus events would include study abroad trips, exchange programs, field trips and service learning programs
Regarding the cost factor, this is where the two-year college outshines the four-year colleges. Most two-year colleges are designed for commuters. Most students get to find their housing and, as a result, they can avoid the high boarding costs .two-year colleges are also cheaper in tuition fee than four-year colleges. This is because they are partially funded by taxes of the local citizens. Hence, it becomes their objective to subsidize the cost of college fees and maintain these fees for the demographics they serve at a reasonable rate. For instance Santa Barbara city college, total tuition fee translates to $2000 for a single academic year.
Four-year College even though partially funded by the government through taxes still tends to be relatively costly due to particular expenses like on campus housing, tuition, and research. For instance an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan will cost $75 as application fee, tuition fee: resident $13856, non-resident $43476, room and board $10, 554, books and supplies$1048, the total cost translates to $69009 per academic year. The advantage of a four-year school fee is that there are scholarships that one can apply for financial support to further their academic dream and this can reduce the financial burden significantly.
There is a major difference in the class sizes too. Two-year community college classes do not exceed 30 students per class. Hence, there is a smaller student to professor ratio. For example, the Santa Barbara City College (ca) has a class average of 28 students .most public four-year college have classes that accommodate more than 100 students hence a very high student to professor ratio. However, this may not be the case in a private four-year college because it tends to have fewer students because of the high costs attached to it. Besides the class population, four-year colleges tend to have very large school population that makes one blend in and be part something huge.
The degree types between a two-year college and a four-year college vary greatly. Two-year college degrees do range from certificates and diplomas .these are mostly platforms of career advancement and also for transference into a four-year college. Degrees offered in a four-year college include a bachelor’s degree and can advance to a master’s degree or a doctorate.
Four-year colleges usually have a wide variety of organizations and clubs that offer exposure; this is due to the presence of a larger and a more diverse population from around the globe. They are known to have majority students of ages 18-25.community or two-year colleges also have activities, but their focus is to provide what appeals to the student body and in line with the community. These two-year colleges serve ages that range from 16 to 65+. Therefore the activities that the two-year college undertakes factor this aspect of age.
The location can influence the types of subjects under study, especially in a two-year college. A college in the rural area may offer more agricultural classes while in an urban setting the college may have technologically oriented classes. Vocational programs also vary in that in a two-year college programs like mechanics and nursing can be offered. These programs allow students to take these training as they are linked to specific careers. In a four-year college, the same classes may be offered but the difference is that you will earn a degree instead of going straight to a certificate.
Some students prefer the comfort of their home and others have a spirit of adventure and are inquisitive and would love to travel. For the adventurous, four-year colleges tend to have very remote campuses but again within large communities, however, two-year colleges are found within communities and are spaced all throughout the country in rural and urban communities
Besides all the comparisons, contrasts and differences between the two-year colleges and the four-year colleges, there are many more similarities between these two types of learning institutions.
For a student in a four-year college and a student in a two-year college, often the first two years of their education mirror each other. Two-Year College students complete their general education requirements with an intention to transfer, during a four-year college student also finishes the general education requirement in the first two years before starting to in co-operating major courses specific to the degree they are seeking.
Though the specific degree varies with the type of college, both two-year colleges and four-year colleges let students earn carrier-focused degrees and certificates. A student in a two-year college can earn a two-year vocational degree in marketing or accounting during a four-year college student can and a bachelor’s degree in almost the same field such as an area like business administration or entrepreneurship.
Two-year and four-year colleges both have experienced the shift to online education. These online classes help students greatly because of conveniences in that someone can attend the class where they are, they are also flexible because someone can plan when to have his or her class and these classes also very cost effective as there are no accommodation, activity or transit charges incurred. Both types of colleges have now a growing off-campus learning community.
Two-year and four-year colleges both have prerequisites for admission. They both tend to require the applicant to be a holder of a high school diploma or certificate while others may require a letter of recommendation. Both the two-year college and the four-year college have a student body of the age bracket 18-22 years who did start college after high school.
A person who wishes to enroll and pursue a degree while at the same time juggling with other responsibilities like work or raising children and would like an institution that will enable them to continue with their responsibilities uninterrupted ,the 2-year community college would be an ideal choice this is because of the many highlighted advantages such as commuter option, online studies and proximity to place of residence and place of work, a wide age bracket that it caters for up to 65 years.
For someone who would wish to give in to studying in depth do research, explore and concentrate on learning to attain prowess in a particular field 4-year college would definitely be ideal for them. This is because of the chance to select field of specialization after two years of general studies, availability of on-campus accommodation which allows for full concentration on the study being undertaken. There is also the advantage of exposure to various cultural diversities as one interacts with different types of people. Therefore these two types of colleges are important in grooming a person wholesomely depending on the direction that one feels free to lead in life.
Work cited
“Santa Barbara City College.” Cappex.com. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://www.cappex.com/colleges/Santa-Barbara-City-College>.
“Home | Undergraduate Admissions.” Home | Undergraduate Admissions. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://admissions.umich.edu/>.
“U.S. Two-Year Colleges.” U.S. Two-Year Colleges. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. <http://cset.sp.utoledo.edu/twoyrcol.html>.
A Year-round College Calendar: Advantages and Impediments: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Children and Families of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session, on Examining. Washington: U.S. G.P.O. : 2004. Print.
“Life on Campus.” Alice Lloyd College. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.