Why I chose a two year college

In the years I’ve been at Valencia as both a student and instructor I’ve had a chance to talk with many others about their thoughts regarding the two year versus four year debate. There’s certainly a lot of controversy about whether or not a two year degree is enough to prepare students for a job these days. Heck, there are even some professionals that think there should be a five year degree. So does your degree really make a difference? Students entering a two year degree program are often interested in the potential to pursue a degree which offers experience and prepares them to step right into a job after graduation. However, as many of our students have noticed – many employers often list a Bachelor’s degree as educational requirements. Luckily, many of our graduates have overcome this stigma locally.

This debate often reminds me of why I chose a two year college over a four year college. Several years ago I recall doing extensive research prior to moving to Orlando thinking, “Is it wiser to attend a two year college or four year college?” The stereotypical response is that a Bachelor’s degree is better than an Associate’s degree. But is it? You must learn more in a four year degree, right?

As I did my research I narrowed down these factors as to why I chose to attend Valencia:

• Guaranteed Transfer. Valencia guarantees admission into four year Universities in the state of Florida. This was a huge incentive for me because I did not want to rule out the possibility of earning a four year degree. Many other community colleges offer similar transfer programs.
• Flexible schedules. I was impressed that Valencia offered day, night, and weekend courses. This helped me complete my degree around my husband’s schedule.
• Affordable. At the time Valencia offered tuition that was at least four times cheaper than other universities in the area. Obviously most students aren’t made of money, nor was I. And I found cost to be one of the most influential factors in this decision. At the time I had just moved to Orlando and Jason and I were expecting our little blessing, Hope. So as much as I wanted to earn a four year degree I knew the cost to attend a university was almost like a luxury expense that I could not justify.
• Quality. I compared education programs extensively and was very impressed with course offerings and career programs available to students, especially for Graphic Design. I was equally impressed with Valencia’s high job placement rates which prepare students for competitive jobs and salaries.
• #1 in the Nation. I’ve got to admit that one of the biggest reassurances in my decision to attend Valencia after realizing all the benefits of a two year college was that Valencia had been named National Community College of the Year not long before I had made my decision.

I was worried that an A.S. Degree wouldn’t be enough to help me land a great job. And I must admit that before I made the decision to attend a two year college that I firmly believed I needed to earn a four year degree to be respected. I have since come to realize this is not totally true. In fact, I am proof of this. And there are many other alumni and professionals that would agree. Now don’t get me wrong, there are many careers which benefit from four year degrees (or higher). I by no means wish to claim that two year degrees are better than four year degrees. I just personally hate seeing this stigma against two year programs. A two year degree should not discount someone from a job so long as they demonstrate they possess the knowledge and skills needed to be functional in a job. Actually, you might hear some creative professionals claim that a degree holds little weight in whether or not they offer someone a job. Often times holding a degree might help you get noticed, but most employers also look for talent, experience, responsibility, dedication, motivation, and much more.

Why technical schools weren’t a factor
Of course there are technical schools that are also a part of the mix. You might be asking why I haven’t put too much focus on these schools. For me they were not even an option due to the high cost. I did not want to worry about hefty school loans that I would end up paying off until my daughter went to college. At the time I started school my daughter was so young that I also could not manage a schedule that would guarantee that I completed the degree in such a short time. Once I began school I did start to wonder if attending a technical school would help me find a job in the industry faster. But after starting courses I realized that there was no way I’d ever want to be forced to learn some of this highly technical information any faster.

Why a four year degree is still important to me
So I must smile as I write this, because as of this past year I’ve begun attending UCF, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Digital Media. I certainly believe a two year degree is enough to help someone land a job in many occupations, to include the creative industry. Regardless of my beliefs, I still realize the importance of learning and higher education. I realize that earning a Bachelor’s won’t necessarily make me a better person. And that a piece of paper doesn’t qualify me for a better job. In fact, I don’t expect a Bachelor’s to make me any smarter than I am today. It’s what I make of it – and what I take from it that will make the difference in how valuable this degree is to me. You see I thrive off of learning, and learning more each and every day. I’m constantly reminded of of the words of Mahatma Gandhi:

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

So for me, this degree is more about life long learning. No matter what choice you’ve made – just remember it’s not JUST about earning a degree that qualifies you for a job. And regardless of whether your pursuing a two year or four year degree, ultimately the biggest factor is not just your level of education. So make the most of every moment – in fact, I suggest you remember to never stand still. It’ll make all the difference, because it’s NOT just about the degree you hold.

I certainly welcome your feedback. What do you think?