Why Accreditation Matters: Securing Your Educational Investment and Future Career

It is no secret that college admissions are becoming more competitive. As the children of the baby boomer era enter their college years, the sheer number of applicants is overwhelming.

Since 2000, each year, we have seen record numbers of applications. For example, the University of California in 2007 saw more than 110,000 applications – a historically record-breaking statistic. According to NYU, their 2007 applications increased by 8.5% in 2007, which also marked record highs.

How can you stand out from the crowd of 4.5-wielding valedictorians, speech and debate captains, and decathlon champions? The answer is quite easy: get competitive with a college edge – a community college edge, that is.

Using community college classes to strengthen your application

College admission committees evaluate your application to answer one looming question: will this student be at our esteemed institution? Demonstrating your academic skills in high school classes, whether you are taking regular, honors, or AP courses, is undoubtedly essential. However, excelling at high school courses does not guarantee your ability to stay competitive at the college level.

Standing out from the crowd of applicants means demonstrating your academic prowess at a college level. You can easily make your application shine by taking courses at your local community college. With the variety of classes, you can take courses at night, online, or even on the weekend – making it easy to fit into your schedule.

You should speak with your

High School Diploma vs. GED

The lack of a high school diploma, or its equivalent, precludes a college education and is a substantial barrier to competing successfully in the workforce.

• For students in high school, it is essential to see it through until graduation.
• Those who have already dropped out of high school must obtain a GED to put their best foot forward in the workforce.
• This article compares high school diplomas and GEDs regarding their acceptance by colleges and universities, the business world, and the military.
• We also discuss how homeschooled high school graduates show that they have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Regular High School Diplomas

A high school diploma from a traditional brick-and-mortar school that requires attendance in a classroom is the gold standard in demonstrating high school completion and mastery of conventional high school skills.

• A high school diploma signifies that the holder has attended and completed all the courses required by the applicable school district.
• A transcript of the courses taken and grades issued, a common requirement for college and job applications, can be furnished upon request.

Colleges, universities, businesses, and each branch of the United States military accept a regular high school diploma.

• To attend college, a high school diploma or GED is required for admission.
• Students with a high school diploma and demonstrated good grades will often be able to get

With the dramatically rising tuition costs, many families are turning towards the financially savvy decision of starting on the higher education path first at a two-year community college. Many public and private universities have articulation agreements with local community colleges. Therefore, attending a community college for two years before transferring to a four-year institution can save significant money – while still providing you with an excellent bachelor's degree.

According to the College Board, for the 2007 – 2008 school year, community colleges' average tuition and fees were $2,360. This is in contrast to $6,185 at a public four-year institution or $23,712 for a private four-year institution.

This video looks at ways you can lower college costs.

Calculating the specific academic savings

For example, let us calculate the savings if you begin your academic career at Pasadena City College, which has articulation transfer agreements with the public UC campuses and the private University of Southern California.

If you are a resident of California and attend Pasadena City College full-time, which is based upon 12 units, then you have the following annual academic costs:

- Tuition and Fees: $508

- Books and school supplies: $1500

In contrast, at the private University of Southern California, you have the following full-time annual academic costs:

- Tuition and fees: $30,850

- Books: $1,000

At a public University of California campus, the annual full-time academic costs for a California

Many high school students go directly from high school to community colleges to begin their higher education. Many of these students still live with their parents for financial or other reasons. Many parents of these traditional students want to help their children transition from secondary school to college. This article discusses the instrumental role parents can play in encouraging a young student to move from high school into community college. The article contains tips for parents seeking to be supportive and suggests questions parents can ask to demonstrate their interest. Using these tips and suggestions, parents can support a child in community college without jeopardizing the child's new independence and responsibility as a college student.

Background

According to the latest statistics compiled by the American Association of Community Colleges, 43 percent of community college students are 21 or younger. Some are traditional students or students who proceeded directly from high school to college. Some traditional students attend community college to avoid the rising tuition costs at public and private four-year institutions. Some students are not ready to leave home and prefer to stay with or near their parents for the first two years of college. Unlike older students, traditional students may not have the maturity and savvy to enter a new environment.

Parents as "First Responders" When Community College Students Need Help

There is a well-founded concern about the low retention rate at community colleges. Students are likelier to drop out without interacting with other students, professors, and