Dear President Trump,
On March 29, while you were giving a speech in Ohio, media quoted you as making the statement: “We don’t know what a ‘community college’ means.” As a current community college student, I wanted to share what a community college means to many undergraduates today.
According to The Atlantic, “Preliminary federal data suggests that roughly 9 million undergraduates were enrolled in community colleges in the 2015-2016 school year.” These students chose to further their education at a community college rather than a university. This can be due to a number of reasons.
Some students choose to further their education at a community college first due to financial practicality. Universities can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but community colleges are much more affordable for low and middle class families.
According to Savingforcollege.com, “For the 2014-15 school year, students paid $3,347 in tuition and fees to attend a local community college, versus $9,139 for a four-year public in-state university and $31,231 for a private college.” These lower costs make community college much more accessible than other schools.
Money isn’t always the deciding factor when choosing a community college. Students at the top of their class often choose a community college due to its unique opportunities. At community colleges, students can receive rigorous academic courses, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and memberships to organizations that complement or continue at the university level.
Many community colleges also offer trade school classes. According to The Atlantic, “One of Trump’s stated goals is to ensure that every American knows ‘the dignity of work, the pride of a paycheck, and the satisfaction of a job well done.’” Many community colleges teach courses that teach these values. In fact, community colleges all over the country teach vocational courses so students can learn a trade.
At community colleges, student prepare for university, the workforce and life. Community colleges are a misunderstood and underappreciated part of education. President Trump, we as students would like to welcome you to visit our colleges so you can see first hand what we do at them. We believe you’d be impressed with what you find.
Sincerely,
A Community College Student
by Baylee Walter
