In this episode we are joined by Michael Pham, a community college student, who will help us describe the differences between going to a community (or junior) college and going to a 4-year university. As the school year comes to an end, many students find themselves needing to decide between going straight to a 4-year university or a 2-year college. This is a very important decision to make that can have very impactful consequences. We’ll discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages to going to a 2-year college as opposed to a 4-year university right out of high school. We’ll also talk about some unique qualities of 2-year colleges that put them ahead of universities for some students.

Things mentioned in this episode:

• Community college as a “second chance” to strengthen academic record and transfer to university
• Community college can help refine study habits before going to university
• Going to community college can allow students to still make progress towards a four-year degree while getting an easier transition to the rigors of college
• Class sizes are generally smaller than they are at universities
• Community colleges might offer more classes throughout the day, which can add flexibility to your schedule
• Due to the lower tuition costs at community colleges, students can better explore different disciplines and studies
• Community colleges do tend to have less advanced facilities in comparison to four-year universities
• The coronavirus pandemic has made asking questions more difficult
• Students typically go to local colleges and live at home

Your hosts: David Chuong and Julian Vu

Featured guest: Michael Pham

Music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar is licensed under a Creative Commons License.