1. What is the difference between a community college, a private trade school, and a university?
2. How do I choose which school is right for me?
3. How do I choose a career that is right for me?
4. What is a credit hour? Why are some classes more credit hours than others?
5. How much time will I have to spend studying or doing homework?
6. What is the difference between an AA/AS, AAS, and the certificates available
at a community college?
7. What is the AGEC? How does it apply to my program?
8. What is a catalog? Which catalog will I follow?
9. What is the difference between the catalog and the semester schedule book?
10. What I’m planning to transfer? How will this affect my program?
11. Will my courses transfer?
12. How many credits will I need to graduate? How long will it take?
13. What should I do if I have a disability or need special services?
14. What does it mean to drop a class? Will it affect my transcript negatively to drop courses? Is a drop different from a withdrawal? How do I withdraw from a class?
15. When should I sign up for courses?
16. What are placement tests?
17. Why do I have to take classes I don’t like? Don’t I get to pick my own schedule and classes now that I am in college?
18. How do I know what classes to take? Will someone tell me exactly what to do?
19. Is college expensive? How will I pay?
Q. What is the difference between a community college, a private trade school, and a university?
A. Community colleges generally offer two-year applied associate’s degrees, two-year transfer degrees, and one and two-year certificate programs. Community colleges are subsidized by state and local taxes to keep student costs low while maintaining high quality academic and occupational programs. Financial aid is also available, usually in the form of grants, scholarships, and work-study. An applied associates degree from a community college is well respected by employers and can prepare you for a successful career in a variety of high-skill, high-wage industries. Even if you are planning to attend a 4-year university, starting out at a community college will often provide you with lower tuition costs and smaller classes. Another plus to earning an associates degree first is that you can gain marketable skills you can use to help support yourself while you pursue your 4-year degree.
Like community colleges, private trade schools offer certificates and associate’s degrees. Some also offer bachelor’s degrees. These schools are not tax-subsidized, so student costs are often substantially higher. Check to see what financial aid options are available. If you are planning to transfer to a university from a private trade school, make sure that the university you plan to attend will accept credit from the trade school you are considering. If the school is not regionally accredited, your courses most likely will not transfer to another regionally accredited school.
Universities offer four-year degrees (bachelor-level) and graduate degrees (masters- and doctorate- level). State universities are subsidized by taxes, but these schools are still more expensive than community colleges. The three state schools (ASU, NAU, and U of A) have transfer agreements with Arizona community colleges. These agreements enable students to take up to the first two years of their bachelor’s degree at a community college for a substantial savings over attending a university all four years. Please see the transfer information below for more specific information.
Q. How do I choose which school is right for me?
A. No one can tell you exactly which school is right for you. However, there are several factors you should consider in making this decision.
- First of all, does the school you are considering offer a program that will prepare you for your chosen career? (If you have not yet made a career choice, see the next question.)
- How much education does your career choice require? (Did you know that an associate’s degree will prepare you for employment in many of the fastest-growing careers?)
- If you are planning on transferring from a community college to a university, will your credits transfer?
- How much will it cost to attend? (Remember that if you are planning to live away from home, you must also include the cost of housing and food along with the costs of tuition, books and fees.)
- Does the school offer financial aid? (See the financial aid question below for more information about financial aid and repayment options.)
- What is the school’s acceptance policy? (Most Arizona community colleges, trade schools and state universities have a liberal general acceptance policy, although acceptance to a particular program may be more competitive.)
Many students also enjoy visiting the campus they plan to attend to learn more about the college. If you are in a Tech Prep program, you may have the opportunity to travel with other Tech Prep students at your school to visit your local community college. Check with your instructor or local Tech Prep consortium for details.
Q. How do I choose a career that is right for me?
A. If you are unsure about your future career, there are several ways to help you narrow your focus. These include:
- Career interest and skill inventories: You can find these tools on-line and in your high school counseling office. If you’re not sure about your outcomes, your counselor can help you interpret your results. A great place to start is your career counselor's office. Here you can get a user-name and password to use the AzCIS career informtaion system for free (Arizona students).
- Enroll in career exploration courses offered by your school. High schools (and also many junior highs/middle schools) offer career exploration courses to help students make informed career decisions. In some areas, Tech Prep and your local community college will also offer summer programs for this purpose.
- Participate in work-based activities sponsored by your high school. Many high schools host career fairs, job shadowing experiences, guest speakers, field trips and more. Tech Prep students can also participate in cooperative education courses in a real work environment to give them an up-close look at a future career.
- You should also do career research to find out what type of employment is available in the area where you plan to live, how much education and training are required to enter the field, what the working conditions are, potential earning, and overall job outlook in the field you are considering. Remember that you need to be flexible in your career plans—your future career may not yet be invented!
Q. What is a credit hour? Why are some classes more credit hours than others?
A. A credit hour is a unit of instruction. Classes range from 1 credit up to 12 or more. A one-credit course meets fifteen hours during the semester and a three-credit course meets 45 hours. More credit hours mean a bigger workload.
Q. How much time will I have to spend studying or doing homework?
A. Study guidelines indicate that for every credit hour taken, a student should plan to spend two hours outside of class studying EVERY WEEK. Some challenging classes may require even more time than that. Keep this in mind when you sign up for classes and plan your schedule. Successful students schedule study time into their school day.
Q. What is the difference between an AA/AS, AAS, and the certificates available
at a community college?
A. Many career-training programs are available at your local community college. Check your college catalog for specific information on degrees, certificates, and requirements in your area. In general, an AA (associate of arts) or AS (associate of science) degree is a transfer degree that prepares you to go on to a 4-year school and complete a bachelor’s degree in your chosen field of study. An AAS is an associate of applied science. This degree is designed to prepare you to begin working in your field without additional study. Certificate programs are shorter and more focused. These programs prepare you to work in a specific type of job. See a college advisor to decide what program is best suited to your needs.
Q. What is the AGEC? How does it apply to my program?
A. The AGEC (Arizona General Education Curriculum) is a core of general education courses and courses related to your major. If you complete the AGEC, these courses will transfer directly to any of the three major universities in Arizona. Ask your advisor what courses you need to complete the AGEC. By completing this core of classes, you will generally have to take fewer courses after you transfer to a university.
Q. What is a catalog? Which catalog will I follow?
A. Most community colleges publish a general catalog each year. The catalog lists courses, programs, requirements, and information about what the community college offers. The catalog may change from year to year; program requirements may change, but if you are continuously enrolled you may follow the catalog from the year you began (unless for some reason YOU choose to follow a later one.)
Q. What is the difference between the catalog and the semester schedule book?
A. The catalog is published yearly and lists all the programs offered by the community college, the requirements for the programs, and other important information about attending the school. The schedule book comes out every semester and lists all the courses offered during that semester with times, teachers, room numbers, and other information you need to set up your schedule.
Q. What I’m planning to transfer? How will this affect my program?
A. Universities have very strict guidelines about what credit they will accept towards graduation.
If you are planning to transfer to one of the three state universities in Arizona, you will need to complete a core of general education courses as well as specific courses related to your major, but these may vary by school. Be sure to tell your advisor that you are planning to transfer and ask your advisor what 2-year program will best fulfill the requirements of the 4-year program your plan to pursue. In most cases, your advisor will suggest completing an AGEC (transfer) degree. Remember that some community colleges may not offer all prerequisites for all programs. In order to avoid taking additional courses when you transfer, be sure to plan ahead and work closely with your academic advisor.
Most students find that they have saved quite a bit of money by taking the first 2 years at a community college.
Q. Will my courses transfer?
A. Most community college courses with a number of 100 or higher will transfer to a four-year university. Check ahead of time with your community college advisor or the university you plan to attend for specific requirements so you will not have to take extra courses after you transfer. Students also find transferring easier if they have completed a transfer degree (see AGEC Degree) instead of trying to transfer just a few individual courses.
Q. How many credits will I need to graduate? How long will it take?
A. An associate’s degree is usually 64 credit hours. Generally, full-time students graduate in four semesters; however, the amount of time required to graduate depends upon many factors. If you start out in courses with numbers below 100, or if you take fewer than 16 hours a semester, this will lengthen the time needed to graduate. Also, if you do not pass your classes or if you withdraw from classes, this will obviously keep you from graduating on time.
Q. What should I do if I have a disability or need special services?
A. The most important thing to do is make sure that you have a current evaluation before you graduate from high school. The college will not pay for you to be evaluated. Then, call or visit the Special Needs office at the community college you plan to attend well in advance to arrange for the accommodations you will need to be successful at college. Services are available to help you, but you need to take the initiative.
Q. What does it mean to drop a class? Will it affect my transcript negatively to drop courses? Is a drop different from a withdrawal? How do I withdraw from a class?
A. At most colleges, you can add or drop classes during the first week of school. A course that you drop during this week will not show up on your transcript. After Add/Drop week, you must WITHDRAW from a class. Withdrawals show up on your transcript and may affect your GPA. Check with the college for withdrawal policy details. If you simply stop attending, you most likely will fail the course.
Q. When should I sign up for courses?
A. Most community colleges have a schedule similar to the high school calendar beginning each fall—although students can usually begin taking classes in any semester. Catalogs and Fall Semester Schedule Books are usually available in the spring, giving you ample time to plan your classes. Most schools allow new students to sign up for fall courses beginning in late spring. Check the schedule for specific dates. Do not wait until the week before school begins to register, or the classes you want may already be full.
Q. What are placement tests?
A. Most community colleges require students to take placement tests. These tests measure
your math and English levels so you are placed in classes suited to your needs. After completing the tests, you can see an advisor who can help you select classes and guide you through the process of registering at your new school.
Q. Why do I have to take classes I don’t like? Don’t I get to pick my own schedule and classes now that I am in college?
A. You get to choose your major, or your course of study. After deciding what you plan to study, you must follow program requirements. All students must take general education courses including math and English, so even if you did not like these courses in high school, you may need to take them again in college. Try to be positive. You are learning skills that will help you the rest of your life.
Q. How do I know what classes to take? Will someone tell me exactly what to do?
A. College catalogs describe each program and requirements. You will also have an advisor to answer questions and guide you. Remember, however, that your college experience is your responsibility. Read the catalog, ask questions, and find out what you need to know.
Q. Is college expensive? How will I pay?
A. Getting your education at a community college is relatively inexpensive when you compare it to the cost of going to a university or an out-of-state school. However, expenses will still add up. You will pay tuition (a per credit hour fee for your classes) and you should expect to spend several hundred dollars on books. You should also consider living expenses or travel costs. The good news is that there is FINANCIAL AID available. Many students qualify for grants. Grants are money provided by the Federal Government that does not have to be paid back. The only requirement is that you maintain good academic standing and are enrolled as a full-time student. There are also low interest loan programs and scholarships. Some students work while attending college or participate in work-study programs. If you choose to do this, make sure not to overextend yourself. For information on federal aid programs, visit www.fafsa.ed.gov. And be sure to contact your Financial Aid Office early!