Studying at a community college
Why study at a community college?
At a community college, you finish the first two years of an American bachelor’s degree. A program at a community college offers a number of advantages over a four-year bachelor’s program. Perhaps you don’t want to study in the US for four years right away, but rather prefer to do a shorter program first. At a community college, you can take a two-year program, with the option to then possibly move on to the third year of a bachelor’s program at a larger university. Admission to a community college is less selective, which can be an advantage if you are interested in studying in a particular location. Furthermore, the cost of studying at a community college is often lower than the cost of a four-year degree.
What does education at a community college look like?
At a community college, you can take several types of courses.
The Associate of Arts degree (AA) is a broad, general education program. This is similar to a liberal arts education. Each semester you put together a package of up to five courses, ranging from subjects such as English writing skills, a foreign language, history, and sociology, to natural sciences, computer science, etc. This gives you the opportunity to develop broadly at a community college.
At a community college, much attention is given to guidance, understanding, and student success. This is possible in part because the teachers associated with community colleges do not do academic research, with the accompanying pressure to publish academic papers and raise funds; instead, they can focus entirely on teaching.
You can also specialize in a particular field earlier.
The Associate of Science degree (AS) is very similar in structure to the Associate of Arts degree, only now you choose subjects such as chemistry, math and physics.
The Associate of Applied Science program (AAS) is a vocational program. The courses you choose within this program are considered preparation for pursuing a profession. These courses can be, for example, to become a mechanic, musical instrument maker, dental assistant, among many other vocations.
What are the biggest differences, in comparison to the Netherlands?
- The education
The liberal arts system places a greater emphasis on general education than an education in the Netherlands, where you specialize in a specific field or subject from the beginning. Also, the American education system has no distinction between HBO and WO. You can study in America for two years for an associate’s degree, or four years for a bachelor’s degree.
- The application process
Applying for a study program in America takes a bit more time and effort than applying for a study program in the Netherlands. For example, as a foreign student, you often have to take an English language test to prove that you have a sufficient command of English.
- Financing your study program
Studying in America is relatively more costly than studying in the Netherlands. It is important to find out on time about financing options for your studies and where you can find any possible scholarships.
Which community college can you attend?
Because community colleges are more often focused on educating local students, not every community college is equally experienced in hosting and mentoring international students. Pay close attention to whether a college has a campus, for example. Most students at public community colleges live at home, so the colleges often do not have a campus with housing. A large number of private community colleges do have a campus. Especially for non-US students, this can be an important consideration in choosing a particular college.
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the umbrella organization of all 1,108 community colleges where you can find more information about application procedures, costs, and statistics for each community college. When applying, make sure the community college accepts applications from international students.
How does the selection process work?
A community college works with open enrollment, which means that you can enroll provided you meet the requirements. In that sense, the admission process is similar to enrolling in a degree program in the Netherlands. However, a community college may have requirements for your prior education, grades, and English proficiency.
What is your degree equivalent to?
An associate’s degree in the US is usually equivalent to an associate’s degree you can earn in the Netherlands. Your foreign degree will be accredited in the Netherlands. More information is offered by the Rijksoverheid.
Transferring
Many community colleges have transfer or articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities. Often these are institutions in the same state or region, where you can automatically advance into the third year of a bachelor’s degree program after achieving good academic results at your community college. Want to advance to a bachelor’s program after your associate’s degree? You can often find more information on the community college’s website about existing transfer agreements with other institutions.
Webinar
Would you like to hear from a community college? Watch the webinar below by Hillsborough Community College in Florida.
Ready to take it on?
Finding and applying to a suitable community college is a fun and exciting process, but it also requires good preparation. Ideally, you should start preparing between one year to six months before departure. Keep in mind that US college deadlines are earlier than what you are used to in the Netherlands.
The following 5 steps offer you a practical chronological guide to realizing your studies in the US.