Читать книгу America's Best Colleges for B Students - Tamra B. Orr - Страница 15

The core philosophy of the community college in America can be captured in the phrase “access and excellence.” Community colleges, like all institutions of higher education, struggle to be excellent. But when it comes to “access,’’ there is no struggle at all; community colleges are the access institutions of the 21st century.

The community college has emerged as the institution of the second chance — even the third and fourth chance. Community colleges take great pride in their “open-door philosophy,’’ which means that any student who has graduated from high school or who has reached a certain age will be admitted. This philosophy and practice is remarkably different from those of most four-year colleges and universities. Historically, most four-year colleges and universities require that students meet certain criteria for admission, eliminating those who are under-prepared or unqualified to compete.

Community colleges are willing to give all applicants an opportunity to succeed regardless of their history. That does not mean that an unprepared student will be admitted into a very challenging program such as nursing or engineering technology. Instead, through assessment and advising, students who are not prepared for more challenging work will be guided into developmental education programs where they will receive special tutoring and courses in which they can develop the skills for more advanced work.

The focus of the community college — through its faculty and innovative programs and practices — is to help students succeed, regardless of their level of achievement when they enter.

— TERRY O’BANION, former president of the League for Innovation in the Community College

TUTORING: A variety of types of tutoring are available on virtually every campus. The only question is what format you prefer. You can check into peer tutoring from either a classmate or friend; faculty tutoring from a willing professor; in-depth tutoring from a teacher’s assistant or at special on-campus centers and clinics. While some tutors may charge a fee, most services tend to be free. When you speak with a college rep, ask what might be available if you should need extra assistance.

COUNSELING: While tutoring is helpful to understanding a certain assignment or class subject, counseling is a wider scope. A counselor will help you make bigger decisions like what major to choose, what classes to take and in what direction you should go to achieve your goal. An academic counselor will not only help you reach academic goals, but he or she also will often help you with emotional and mental stress. To do your best academically, you need to be in good shape mentally. Counselors can recommend resources, give suggestions and tips, connect you with helpful mentors or organizations and much more.

CLASS SIZE AND PROFESSOR/STUDENT RATIO: One of the biggest advantages of small colleges is their small class size. While many universities, even the really large ones, state that their average class size is between 10 and 30, a number of small colleges have fewer students per class. Instead of 22:1 student to professor ratios, they may have 5:1. This can be good because your professors are much more likely to be aware of you; if you are struggling or having a problem, they will be more apt to recognize it and reach out. Small classes mean you can ask more questions and discuss things on a deeper level. It also frequently means that participation will play a role in your overall grade.

“Getting the right college is not a game to be won, but a match to be made.”

— David Miller, director of college counseling at Stevenson School, Pebble Beach, California

There are many positive things about small classes, but some students might say that small classes have a negative side as well. For example, if you miss class, professors know (in a class of several hundred, it is a lot less noticeable, believe me!). If your homework isn’t turned in, it will be observed right away as well. Truthfully, these can be good things. Professors who notice you are getting behind can remind you to catch up before you’ve dug your hole so deep that it takes a miracle to pass the class.

Overall, small classes can make the transition from high school to college easier. You will not feel so much like a minnow floundering in a huge ocean. You will get to know your fellow classmates much easier and quicker if there are a half dozen in your class rather than hundreds. Smaller classes often create more of a sense of cooperation between students rather than competition. Instead of trying to do better than another person, you will only be trying to do better than you have done before — and that is the best kind of competition there is.

It’s important to go beyond the statistics when you look at the numbers you find for professor/student ratio. Ask students who attend the school how much they interact with their professors and how much of an effort the professors make to help their students. More important than the ratio of professors to students is how involved the professors will be in your studies.

TEACHING STYLES: Another question to look into when choosing your college is what different teaching styles the school may offer. What emphasis does it have on lab time? Is there a period of internship? How much of class time is comprised of hands-on activities for kinesthetic learners? How much is preprinted or written in forms that are student-friendly for visual learners? How much can be taped for auditory learners? Are there many field trips? All these options can make learning easier for many students. They are alternatives to the typical lecture/listen teaching format that has dominated your education up until now. Colleges offer new ways to learn and excel.

PASS/FAIL or CREDIT/NO CREDIT CLASSES: Not all colleges offer classes with pass/fail grading systems but a number of them have used it effectively, including the following: Millikin University, University of Iowa, University of Illinois, Ohio State University, Stanford University, Tufts University, University of California (Berkeley), Syracuse University, Pennsylvania State University, Pomona College and Grinnell College.

There are certainly a number of perks to this type of grading system. It often encourages students to explore classes that they might otherwise have ignored. For example, if you are an English major, you may not be brave enough to take an advanced math class because you will be surrounded by students who excel in math and competing with them might be overwhelming. However, if you know that you are only going to have to achieve a passing grade, you might be willing to go for it. With pass/fail, there is often less pressure on you; conversely, you may mistakenly think that you don’t have to try at all (then you are just wasting everyone’s time!).

In addition to regular classes, some types of learning fit the pass/fail system better than the traditional A, B, C, D and F. This is especially true for laboratory experiments, hands-on activities, thesis work and research.

Is there a downside to this type of grading system? Naturally. Some of these courses can’t be counted toward your major. While taking a class that doesn’t count toward your major may seem unwise, it can be a smart move. You might discover a new passion, interest or direction for your education. You might also discover that you are better at a subject than you had imagined. Pass/fail classes might even lead you to decide on a supplemental course of study, a double major— or you might even consider changing your major. Think of the pass/fail credit simply as an invitation to go down another new college pathway.

THE EMPHASIS ON FINAL EXAMS: Another option to explore is how much influence final exams have on your overall grades. If you are the type who suffers from test anxiety (more on that later) or just does not test well, you want to look for colleges that offer options to traditional testing. Maybe oral tests are possible. Maybe you can earn most of your grades through homework, class participation or other activities.

SUPPORT NETWORK AND LEVEL OF COMPETITION: Besides the formal support network provided by the school from tutoring and counseling, some colleges offer an informal support network. You will want to find out more about this. Do students tend to help each other or compete against each other? At some schools, students frequently work together on group projects or have study sessions together. At other schools, students work more independently. This is especially important if you learn better in a group environment.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS: Investigate what kind of special programs the colleges may offer. For example, some colleges offer co-op programs in which students are able to spend a semester gaining hands-on work experience with a company while earning credits. Most schools have study-abroad programs that allow some students to study internationally, but they vary in their size and scope. Special programs like these may appeal to you and may be just what you need to get motivated.

POSSIBLE AND POPULAR MAJORS: As you look through colleges listed in this book, take special note of the majors listed with each one. These are the most popular majors associated with the particular school. Why is it important to choose a college that features your major? It is just like going shopping. If you really want a pair of boot-cut jeans, you aren’t going to go to a shoe store. You want to go where the clerks know what you are talking about and can lead you directly to many choices that fit your needs, right? It’s the same thing with a college. If you want to be in computer tech, a college that specializes in art may not be the best choice. You want the school that is familiar with your major and can offer a strong faculty and curriculum in your choice.

You also want to check with a college rep for a school that interests you and ask if you can have a double major at that college (and not just CAN YOU, but will you get the support and guidance you need if you choose to) or can you create your own major. The more options you have, the better the chance of having a college education tailored to your unique needs and the stronger the possibility of overall success.

What if you are undecided about your major when you start your college search? Relax—you are far from being the only one. Make a list of the most likely areas you’d like to explore and then look to see which colleges offer them. It is a first step and that’s where every journey begins.