Society often constructs artificial differentiations between that which one could consider ‘prestigious’ and anything that falls short of that honor. One of the most profound examples of this dichotomy is in the common conceptions of attending a four-year college versus attending a community (two-year) college. In fact, it is almost considered a universal truth that the quality of education received at a two-year college is inferior to the standards of a four-year university.
Many high school students begin their quest to apply for college in a meeting with their counselor their junior year. Students are given an opportunity to sign up to meet with representatives from a variety of colleges. It is hoped that a combination of external influences and internal support will help a student to generate some semblance of an idea about which direction they ought to move toward claiming their future. What many people don’t realize is that most of the campus visitors are from four-year universities. While junior colleges do have campus information sessions, for the most part they aren’t as necessary. Many students would prefer to attend a more prestigious university, but academic criteria and finances often force their hand to stay closer to home or choose more economically. Interestingly enough, beliefs about the differences between universities and junior colleges appear to be fostered initially before a student even enters the college setting.
In addition to the college evaluation process students undergo, another clear illustration of the separation between two and four-year colleges is the practical distinction between the two. Most students attending two-year colleges utilize statements like, “I’m just going there to get my basics out of the way.” or “I’m going there for two years, then I’m going to transfer to XXX University.” Two-year colleges are seen as a stepping-stone between high school and serious colleges. For many students, they’re like training wheels to help prepare for a more competitive college experience. The whole tone of a junior college tells you everything you need to know about these types of places. Students are very calm and collaborative, professors are lenient, and the entire experience feels like relaxed learning. It’s hard to tell if these mindsets and attitudes are the product of the stereotypes or vice-versa, but one thing is for sure: all involved recognize a difference in the atmosphere and continue to perpetuate it through their actions.
On top of the ‘means to an end’ paradigm of two-year colleges and the high school perceptions created by those helping a student decide where to go, there are a variety of other modern trends that have shaped the belief that they are less prestigious. Graduation announcements and assemblies rarely recognize students earning scholarships to local or community colleges. Part of the ‘college experience’ is moving away from home, not remaining in the same community. Community colleges cater to many non-traditional students, forcing students right out of high school to question the validity of their academic journey compared to those of their peers. Perhaps the most telling trend is that community colleges are constantly striving to grow, to offer four-year degree programs, to expand their campus, to increase their enrollment, and let’s not forget to increase the cost of their tuition.
So who’s to blame for the stereotype? We all know on a pragmatic level that taking English 101 in a junior college setting probably isn’t all that different from taking it at the University level. The same core concepts exist in both environments, the same written rules apply. With that said, everyone behaves as though the two are night and day. These beliefs are not linked to a single action or statement. They come from the initial exposure to colleges that high school students receive, the attitude that two-year colleges are a rung on the ladder to reach a four-year college at the top, and finally, the trends fostered by students, community members, and even the colleges themselves. In the end, though prestige is probably less important than practicality. Resisting how others define your experiences is the only way to experience things for yourself. I've been through my fair share of experiences, and know that the truths we take for granted can just as easily be uprooted tomorrow.
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