Jr college vs. regular college/university?

I will most likely be going to a jr/community college my 1st year and then transfering to a Liberal Arts Women's College my shophmore year; with that said I am wanting to know more about life at a jr college. What are the classes like? Are they easier/harder or the same as a regular College/University? It's cheaper right? How is it different or the same as a non jr college? Is it more laid back? What are some pro's and con's?





also is there any advice/warnings you could give me..maybe something you wish someone had told you b4 u started?


Any thing at all is good, thanks every1 and have a wonderful day!! =D

Jr college vs. regular college/university?
I am only answering from my personal experiences in jr college, so I realize my experiences will probably be different from other people who answer.





Now I went to a top 10 university straight out of high school and graduated. Now I am back in school to get a second degree and I am taking prerequisite classes to apply to Nursing school. I have to say that if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone to junior college before I went to the larger university.





At the bigger school, I had many many issues with my general education classes. They were usually the larger classes with many people, one professor you never saw outside of lecture and TAs who were not always willing to help out as much. So I suffered and scraped by on those classes. I had to retake a bunch at the college I am at and junior college classes overall have smaller classes. That helped A LOT. I could get individual attention when I needed it. In some classes I received a C or D at the University, I was pulling As and Bs and understanding the material a lot easier.





That being said, I don't believe junior college classes are any harder or easier then big school classes. This all depends on teachers. Now back when I first went to school RateMyProfessor.com wasn't even made yet. Now I use it to try to gauge my profs before I sign up for a class. I've had teachers who had no CLUE how to teach, and even in jr. college I suffered. But then I've has some teachers so great in their game, they truly prepared you for higher level courses. For example, my biology teacher made us do lab reports, the kind you might find in scientific journals. She still gets emails to this day from past students who thank her on their knees because that exercise prepared them for a higher level university class.





Classes are definately cheaper. I went to the university about a decade ago and I was paying around 15 grand a year for tuition alone. I think I paid about 3 for my tuition this year.





Another thing about a smaller school is that you can get more personalized attention. Plus it's a bit less strict in the way classes are done. Once you enter a large university, you can only take certain classes if you are a registered major. At the junior college, you can take more random and fun classes (like say you want to take an art class, you can!). This helps in my opinion because learning can be a bit less stressful if you have a fun outlet.





One con of junior college is that classes may not always transfer over. There is a website that can help you figure that out or you can ask an adviser. Also keep in contact with your next college to make sure you are taking the right classes.





Another con is that the social life will be different at a junior college then at the larger university. It will probably be more laid back and less social (in comparison to a school where all the students live in dorms and where they probably have way more clubs) but that might be a good thing because it starts to ease you into being more independent.





I think junior college is a TERRIFIC idea for getting your general education requirements out of the way, and to start exploring the field you are going to enter. Or even if you are not sure, you will not be paying so much while you figure out what your next step is.





Whatever happens, just try to keep an open mind and have fun!
Reply:Why are you going to a junior college first? Is it just to save money, or are you trying to get better grades? If you try to transfer after one year, you'll be applying with only one semester's worth of grades to show for your junior college experience - that's not going to convince them you can do better if your high school GPA is low.
Reply:The classes vary at a jr/community college. Some classes may seem like high school while other classes are more like well college classes w/ a professor who doesn't baby you. Generally at a jr/community classes are the same as challengingly as a 4year. Usually these colleges are cheaper some are like only 2,000 a year while others are 14,000(similar to some state school tuition). At a jr college the students are more focused on getting there degree and transferring or entering the workforce since many are adults. So unlike a 4year there is not so much focus on extra-curriculum's. The pros of going to a jr college is that it is cheaper, you get to save money and if you didn't do well in high school it well help you into getting into a good 4year. The cons are sometimes the students can be a little immature ( still act like they're in high school) or too mature ( having classmates like 50 or 60). A word of advice is to work really hard there like you would at 4year b/c it will pay off well. Don't take it for granted b/c it is a jr college.


Hope this helped
Reply:I would rather you wait 2 years then transfer into a senior college. You will need an associates degree before moving from 2 year to 4 year.
Reply:My advice is to ensure the course you enroll in has guaranteed transfer arrangements with the university you eventually want to go to. These are sometimes called 2 Plus 2 guaranteed transfer plans:


http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2007/may/...





Thanks


Bill