newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

It's back to school time again, and many students will be entering college for the first time. For these students to be most productive during their time at college they need to choose a school which suits their needs and one where they will feel the most comfortable.

One option they shouldn't overlook is that of a two-year community college. Four-year colleges are more high profile, but community colleges offer open enrollment, accepting students who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Raymond Yannuzzi has been president of Camden County College since February 2007. "Camden County College is a very comprehensive two-year school, "said Yannuzzi. "We currently have nearly 17,000 students enrolled in degree programs."

Yannuzzi sees students entering Camden County College at an earlier age. "The average age of our students used to be 26 or 27. Many come in right from high school, and are 18 to 21 now."

Victoria Lees of Stratford was older than that when she decided to go back to college. "I was really nervous about returning to school," she said. "Camden County College took the fear out of it for me."

She had more to worry about than nerves. The mother of five children had twins in second grade when she started classes. The Blackwood campus location became an advantage for Ms. Lees, as it was about twenty minutes from her home.

Yannuzzi seems quite proud of CCC's sense of community. "We have summer camps for kids; training for teachers, and concerts. Camden County College is also a meeting place for public issues and we encourage civic involvement. And we offer courses in GED instruction in Camden and Cherry Hill, and basic skills education in Camden."

He says CCC is quite comfortable. "Moving away can be intimidating to younger students, but we have flexible scheduling and night classes are available."

Dena Gadaleta of Laurel Springs transferred from Camden County College to Rowan University. She is a public relations major who is preparing to enter the Public Relations Students Society of America. "Camden County College was very convenient; it was ten minutes away from home."

Chanelle D. Robinson took night classes in order to work during the day. "Camden County College went well for me," she said. "It allowed me to make a smooth transition to Rowan University."

She is a Center-based teacher at Acelero Learning Early Head Start-Camden at the former YMCA in Camden. Chanelle earned an associate's degree at Camden County College, then transferred to Rowan University to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Writing Arts. She received an NJ STARS scholarship for her first two years at Rowan University and used student loans to attend during her final year.

Yannuzzi says one of the biggest advantages to a community college is the lower costs. "A year's tuition runs about $2850, which is far less than a senior college." Victoria Lees adds,"Camden County College was much less expensive than the University of Penn. I wouldn't have been able to afford Penn on my own. Classes encompassed a lot more there and required a lot more books."

Ms. Gadaleta reminds students of an important financial advantage they can obtain by entering community college. "Some car insurance companies will give students a break if they live within a five mile radius of Camden County College."

But how do the class sizes and quality of instructors compare, and can a student receive enough individual attention where necessary? Yannuzzi believes his school offers good quality courses, and has smaller classroom numbers. Chanelle D. Robinson felt that class sizes were about the same at both.

"The instructors at Camden County College were good and very helpful. At both schools, individual attention was based on your effort in class and communication with the teacher. If you're concerned about your progress in a class and express those concerns to a professor, you received more individualized attention from your professors, regardless of class size."

Dena Gadaleta says,"I learned a lot more at Rowan. They have more qualified professors with more experience in their field."

"Professors at Camden County knew their material, and they taught the entire text of their courses. Penn required four years of a foreign language, and I wrote lots of papers in foreign languages," added Victoria Lees.

She wrote a lot of them well, achieving a 4.0 grade point average in Camden County College, was editor of the school newspaper, and vice-president of the National Honor Society. "There was about three times as much work at the University of Penn," she said.

Ms. Robinson says the workload was heavier for her at Rowan because the work was more major specific. At CCC, most of the classes I took were general education, with four to five classes being specific to my major. At Rowan, the classes I took were more in-depth, and required more work. "

Yannuzzi says when students are finished with classes at a community college it has become easier for them to transfer their credits to a senior college. "Camden County Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt sponsored a bill which required four-year colleges to accept a community college's credits as long as students completed the necessary courses. Some senior colleges wanted them to repeat certain courses in the past."

But students are not always set on career goals immediately. Yannuzzi says community college gives students two years to sort through their options. "Camden County College is a good start for students who are uncertain of a career path, and there are more programs for students to explore."

Students want to ask themselves a lot of these career questions. The final choice of a college will be yours, and you'll have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages facing your own individual situation. Just don't rule out the possibility of attending a community college. There are many diverse four-year and community colleges across our area, and if you take the time to shop around, you'll find the one that's the right fit for you.