Out-Of-Class #3: Another Good Example

Nov. 17, 2016

College Options

            For many high school seniors, choosing a college experience can be stressful. As more and more graduates have decided to further their education, college and university opportunities have expanded to meet growing needs.

            While there are a handful of college options, the majority of students choose a higher education experience through a private university, a public university, or a community college.

            Each of these options include both positive and negative aspects. Campus life – and college life – can differ greatly, depending on the path students choose.

            For Eliza Bengala, a student at Lansing Community College, choosing a local school was all about convenience.

            “Looking at it, you might get scholarships for a university,” Bengala said. “But your credit hours are so much cheaper at a community college.”

            Bengala lives with her family in Howell. In her spare time, she works at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. In order to juggle work and school, Bengala looks to her school for support.

            “For me, it was convenient because LCC has a campus right in Howell, and you can take all of your prerequisite classes there,” Bengala said. “Plus, trying to go to work is easier because community colleges work around your schedule and teachers are usually pretty flexible.”

            Bengala also enjoys the benefits of living at home during her college years – though she admits there are drawbacks.

            “The biggest part about staying at home is saving money,” Bengala said. “The biggest problem is that I’m twenty-years-old 20 YEARS OLD, PER AP STYLE. ALWAYS USE FIGURES AND ONLY USE HYPHENS FOR AGES EXPRESSED AS ADJECTIVES BEFORE A NOUN OR AS SUBSTITUTES FOR A NOUN nd I live at home. It’s hard for me to go out, because my parents like me to be home before I go to bed. I don’t have as much freedom as everyone else. People who live on campus can do whatever they want.”

            Dr. David Winters, a professor of education at Eastern Michigan University, agrees that choosing a community college – even for prerequisite classes alone – can provide a financial boost.

            “During the first two years of college, you’re probably taking your general education courses anyway,” Dr. Winters JUST WINTERS; DO NOT USE TITLES ON SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT REFERENCES, PER AP STYLE said. “You might take one or two classes in your major, but most people get into those when they get to be juniors and sometimes sophomores. The two year programs are usually cheaper per credit hour at community colleges.”

            Dr. Winters JUST WINTERS; DO NOT USE TITLES ON SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT REFERENCES, PER AP STYLE argues, however, that having a full college experience is also important.

            “At a four HYPHEN HERE year institution, you really get that experience,” Dr. JUST WINTERS; DO NOT USE TITLES ON SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT REFERENCES, PER AP STYLE Winters said.

            Gabriel Seck, a transfer student at Michigan State University, is currently enjoying that experience.

            “I have friends who were in private universities and community college, and I went to community college over the summer. For me, while I love my family more than anything, I do think you need to move away from home to start your life,” Seck said. “I know I became a completely different person.”

            Seck, who originally began her higher education experience at Western Michigan University, believes that attending a public university is a learning experience – even outside the classroom.

            “With community college, it’s typically everyone you went to high school with and the same people in your town. But with a public university, you get everyone,” Seck said. “You learn so much about different cultures, different people, different religions. It’s completely immersing yourself back into everything.”

            In addition, Seck describes public university campuses as communities of their own.

            “Private universities are very, very nice,” Seck said. “But they are only in a certain area. MSU is like a town. It was the same thing when I lived in Kalamazoo and I went to WMU. It was like a little town. It’s your own little city, in that sense.”

            Kayla McClain, a student at Baker College, is learning just how nice private universities can be.

            “Class sizes are really small, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go there,” McClain, who transferred to Baker College from Grand Valley State University during her freshman year, said. “You get more one-on-one time with the teachers. There are no big lecture classes.”

McClain also finds that building relationships with professors is far easier at a private university.

“I had one lecture while I was at Grand Valley, and it was like you were watching the class from a distance,” McClain said. “You’d have a hundred people. I never felt comfortable asking the teacher for anything.”

            Having experienced both public and private schools, McClain has carefully noted the distinctions between the two.

            “There are a lot of differences,” McClain said. “For one, the size and population. There are more students at GVSU, so there are bigger buildings and more of a campus life. At Baker, when you commute, you go to class and go home.”

            McClain commutes to Baker College from her home in Howell, where she lives with her family.

            “I just didn’t like campus life,” McClain said of her time at a public university. “I didn’t like living where I have to go to school. You can get away from all of it when you commute. You have to pay for gas and you have to drive, but it’s not too big of a deal for me. It’s worth it.”

            McClain also points out that Baker College is a special type of private school.

            “Baker is technically a private school, but it’s also known as a career school,” McClain said. “It’s like a trade school, and its main purpose is to get you ready for the real world. They give you a lifetime guarantee and promise to help you get a job if you graduate. It seemed more practical for me to go there.”

            Despite the differing experiences of herself and her friends, Seck insists that high school seniors must make a decision for themselves.

            “There’s no wrong choice for high school students,” Seck said. “It’s economically what you can do and where you feel most comfortable. If you’re not ready to leave home, go to community college. You’re going to save a lot of money and meet a lot of great people. At a public university, you’ll have great experiences.”

            For Seck, the ultimate choice is not what college experience to have, but to choose college in the first place.

            “No matter where you go,” Seck said,” You should be proud that you are going to further your education.”

Word Count: 1040

Sources

Eliza Bengala

Student at Lansing Community College

(517)-918-2375

Kayla McClain

Student at Baker College

(517)-518-2392

Gabriel Seck

Student at Michigan State University

(248)-880-3299

Dr. David Winters

Professor at Eastern Michigan University

(978)-888-8534

ASSIGNMENT GRADE: (GRADE REDACTED)

INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS: NICE OVERALL JOB. WHILE WE HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE ISSUE (STUDENTS) AND A GOOD NEUTRAL EXPERT (AN EDUCATION PROFESSOR), WE ARE MISSING PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE ISSUE: SCHOOL OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY ADMISSIONS OFFICIALS. WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? WHO ARE THEY CATERING TO? STILL, NICE OVERALL STRUCTURE AND REPORTING.