Should I go to a community college or University after High School?

Our advice here is not to go to a large University just because you have been granted admission. Many of us make the mistake of choosing to study in a large University simply because we have the GPA or because a friend got accepted. There is a belief out there that if you are smart you should attend University and if you don’t have the grades you go to College (here by the word College we mean a ‘small University” and one that offers first and second year University courses or offers limited number  programs). We think this attitude is wrong. Many of us would have chosen to go to College rather than University simply because community colleges are less intimidating and it is easier to score higher grades in community colleges. Many of those who choose to go to University cannot handle the competition, poor quality of teaching from uninterested professors or the fast pace and eventually end up scoring low grades. This usually translates into having a more difficult task to apply for  professional or graduate school.  We advise that students conisder attending a reputable community college after graduation from High School. We advise that students consider applying to community colleges that offer University transferable courses and eventually tansfer to their program of interest. s . Of course there are exceptions for every rule. If you one is granted early admissions to the University of California at Berkley’s Engineering school, then this is a no brainer, by all means go for it. What we are saying is that going to University after High School is worth it only if you want to enter a professional program right form high school. 

Should I choose an IV League School over a State School or Community College?

University education costs are rising on a yearly basis. The problem is more serious in the US than Canada but Canadian University Tuition fees have also been climbing. Studying in an expensive University therefore may become a liability rather than an investment. Many are lured to the Idea of studying in a top notch University or an IV league School. We think that this is a good decision if 1) tuition is not an issue, 2) the student has been awarded a prestigious scholarship from the institution.

The syllabus for most first year University courses such as Chemistry, Biology, Physics or humanities like Psychology 101 are very similar whether you are going to an IV league school or a state school. There is little point in spending $50,000/year for a Bachelors degree graduating with a $200,000 debt and finding out that at best job one can find after graduation is a $12/hr job. Again, if paying the tuition is not an issue then of course go for the name and choose a top notch college. But if you are planning to go into debt just so that you can brag about having received a BA from an IV league school then think again because the costs are staggering and you need to have a clear plan to pay back your loans after graduation.

The only situation where we think it may be worth going into debt and choosing a IV league versus a state school is if you have been accepted to a graduate program (MSc or Ph.D) or a professional program (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing). In such circumstances the investment may pay off as IV schools usually have the high caliber professors and researchers or even noble laureates. Enrolling in graduate programs in these universities will open doors and opportunities especially for those who want to pursue careers in academia.