CHOOSING A JUNIOR COLLEGE OPTION.
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you” - B. B. King
Junior colleges (JUCOs) are what many people refer to as “community colleges.” Whereas four-year schools offer (at minimum) bachelor’s degrees and participate in higher-visibility athletic associations such as the NCAA and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), JUCOs typically offer associate degrees and have a lesser-known athletic association all to themselves: The National Junior College Athletic Association, or NJCAA. In both academics and athletics, JUCOs are generally thought of as a step on the path to bigger, better things.
The traditional four-year college experience is not for everyone. Some students are not sure what they want to study, while others are looking for a more affordable education. Many students study for two years at junior college before transferring to a four-year college, saving significant money on tuition. Plus, students interested in some fields can expect to earn real money with an associate degree, and junior colleges afford job training and certificates that can be extremely valuable.
JUCO’s offer great opportunities for not just students but for student-athletes as well. There seemed to be, at least in the past, a misconception about these schools: Know that Junior Colleges are not a free-for-all where athletes do not need to go to class or maintain their grades. While at a JUCO, students DO need to maintain certain grades to be eligible to continue competing.
ATHLETIC BENEFITS
There are three types of student athletes who make up the majority of JUCO athletes.
· Athletes who need more time to develop as students.
· Students who need more time to develop as athletes.
· Student-Athletes whose financial situation does not allow them to play at a four-year college.
Academic, athletic, and economic issues often overlap. Nobody falls neatly into one category. If your fall into one or more of these categories, you should consider a JUCO. If you fall into two or three of the categories, junior colleges may be the best option for you.
COMPETE RIGHT AWAY FOR PLAYING TIME
The biggest reason to go to a junior college is to be able to get playing time competing against others just like you: College athletes. Although the transfer portal is changing college athletics, it is still currently true that at four-year colleges many athletes spend their freshmen and sophomore years being groomed for positions. They may receive only small amounts of playing time or even no playing time their first couple of years.
JUCO’s have two distinct advantages. First, they typically have smaller rosters than four- year schools. With fewer players, more playing time could follow. The second advantage is that everyone is a freshman or sophomore. This means all players are closer in physical development and muscle mass. A two-year difference may not seem like a lot, but a 22 year-old is 20% older than an 18 year-old. This is a massive difference in physical, mental, and emotional maturity, plus the added advantage in length of talent development.
Understand too though that the competition level at many JUCO’s is getting tougher and tougher every year. There is definitely no guarantee of playing time.
EXPOSURE TO 4-YEAR SCHOOLS
When considering playing at a JUCO, ask the coach about their network with four-year coaches. Ask for examples of kids they have placed in four-year programs. You can do this on your own too: many JUCO athletic programs will post their matriculation list or “alumni” on the athletics page. Consider avoiding, if possible, a junior college where there is little network, and few go on to play at the next level. However, when you find a coach who places players in four-year programs, this can be a great situation.
NON-QUALIFIERS
Additionally, student-athletes who are not NCAA qualifiers have the ability to compete at a JUCO immediately.
ELIGIBILITY
The NCAA allows a student-athlete five years to play four seasons. So make sure you understand the transfer rules and the eligibility if your goal is to move on from a JUCO to a four-athletic program. Once you are playing JUCO, your eligibility clock has started.
OTHER TRADITIONAL BENEFITS
AFFORDABILITY
Attending a junior college for two years enables you to get possibly all of your basic classes out of the way while saving a significant amount of money. This, in turn, reduces the amount of money you will have to borrow when you transfer to a four-year school. And you can still apply for scholarships and financial aid for junior college, which will further lower your attendance cost.
ACADEMIC FLEXIBILTY
Attending a junior college can be a good way for students to ease into the world of higher education and learn at their own pace. This is especially true for students who struggled in high school or anyone who is unsure if they want to make the significant time and money investment in college.
PERSONALIZED ATTENTION
Many junior colleges offer smaller class sizes than larger schools, meaning students can find more personal attention and one-on-one time with instructors. This can be a plus for students who like to learn at their own pace and ask plenty of questions as they go.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES
Career progress is often tied to advanced degrees and skill development, usually through costly graduate school programs. But junior colleges provide professional and short-term certificates in many fields, including information technology and electronics, and also in such niche fields such as fire safety.
For athletes, this route can give them an opportunity to continue careers and play at the college level while also getting a professional certificate at the same time in their profession of choice.
Always do research on every college you are interested in when making a college choice. Do not forget to schedule tours and get on the campuses personally. You will know without a doubt which college will be your perfect future home.
JUNIOR COLLEGES ARE THERE TO HELP GIVE YOU A QUALITY EDUCATION AT AN AFFORDABLE COST, ALL WHILE GIVING YOU A FULL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.
