You’re getting the exact same quality of education for introductory classes at a community college, state school, and private school.
I know because I teach the same suite of classes at all 3 as an adjunct. Same book, same syllabus, same schedule, same assignments. The only difference is the price tag, and I’m hardly alone in that.
Actually, scratch that. You’re getting a better education at the community college because the people in charge there bother to remember that I exist and treat me as an equal.
I got degrees from both a community college and a major research university. The two don’t share instructors, but on average, the quality is much better at the community college.
Community college instructors are there to teach. They go to continuing education classes to learn how to do it better. Some classes at a research university are taught by similar, dedicated instructors, but some are taught by the professor who drew the metaphorical short straw that semester, and who’d rather be focusing on her research. She will put in her best effort, don’t get me wrong, but her first priority is research.
That is to say, for anyone thinking about a degree, don’t overlook the value of community college.
(ETA: I work at a research university now; the research professors who also teach are some of my co-workers.)
Academia, USA.
You’re getting the exact same quality of education for introductory classes at a community college, state school, and private school.
I know because I teach the same suite of classes at all 3 as an adjunct. Same book, same syllabus, same schedule, same assignments. The only difference is the price tag, and I’m hardly alone in that.
Actually, scratch that. You’re getting a better education at the community college because the people in charge there bother to remember that I exist and treat me as an equal.
I got degrees from both a community college and a major research university. The two don’t share instructors, but on average, the quality is much better at the community college.
Community college instructors are there to teach. They go to continuing education classes to learn how to do it better. Some classes at a research university are taught by similar, dedicated instructors, but some are taught by the professor who drew the metaphorical short straw that semester, and who’d rather be focusing on her research. She will put in her best effort, don’t get me wrong, but her first priority is research.
That is to say, for anyone thinking about a degree, don’t overlook the value of community college.
(ETA: I work at a research university now; the research professors who also teach are some of my co-workers.)