Community College Alumni Takes on Community (Public Post)

[author_by_night]

So Community is on Netflix, and naturally I've been rewatching. It got me thinking about my community college years, and the reality versus fiction. Of course, I will be doing my comparisons keeping in mind that the show diverged from any semblance of reality pretty early on.

As this is a public post, I am keeping things pretty general. For all

Comments

[unbound_ophelia]

Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is the difference between a community college and a "regular" one?

[author_by_night]

Sorry for the late-ish comment, I was online all day.

First, here in the US "college" is just another word for university, although it's usually a smaller one. Sometimes there will also be colleges within a university - so a huge university might have a "college of medicine."

Community colleges CAN function as trade schools, like I said - they will have trade or skills related courses. However, those are generally separate from the regular school. Basically at a community college, you're not quite ready for university yet. Often it's less expensive, and you can get general credits out of the way. Most community colleges only offer two year degrees (Associate's), whereas a more "traditional" college or university will offer higher degrees.

I'm probably not explaining it too well, but I hope this sort of helps?

[rogueslayer452]

I never watched Community, however I do like that there's this statements that community college is actually a real college, since there is still this stigma against anyone going to community college and how it's not "legit" or whatever. I went to community college, and although I did drop out a bit later, it was quite beneficial for me at the time and I enjoyed it for the most part. And I like how community college is for everyone, it doesn't limit age groups. Someone who is middle-aged who is coming back to school are welcome the same as those who are just fresh out of high school.

[author_by_night]

And I like how community college is for everyone, it doesn't limit age groups. Someone who is middle-aged who is coming back to school are welcome the same as those who are just fresh out of high school.

Exactly! That was always nice. Four year schools welcome everyone, but you're still in the minority if you're older, whereas a community college really is for everyone.

It's sad that there's a stigma! I mean, I will say that Community does play along with the whole "not a real college" thing, but only once the show starts to drop any semblance of reality whatsoever. So it's less "this isn't a real college" and more "don't think about it." Did you ever watch 30 Rock? It's very, very much like 30 Rock.

[lyssa027]

I wish my parents would have let me take my gen eds at a community college before I enrolled in a 4-year college, I really think I would have done better in school that way

[author_by_night]

Oof, yeah. :/ It's a real shame.