Susan H. Stafford

Community College:
Is It Right for You?

Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2006


Community College: Is It Right for You? Helps you answer that question realistically.

A practical alternative to more expensive four-year colleges and universities, community colleges are hot! At community colleges, you can get fast-track training for high-demand jobs; earn a certificate or an associate’s degree; build your skills, confidence, and college credits before transferring to a four-year institution; enhance your abilities for your current job; or re-tool for a career change. Over 11 million students of all ages and backgrounds enroll in community colleges every year. Should you join them?

This one-of-a-kind guide helps you decide. It describes the community college experience and covers the benefits of attending a community college, how to apply, how to afford it (including the scoop on financial aid), where a community college education can lead, and more. Whether you’re considering community college as a springboard to further education, a launchpad for a promising career, or a way to enhance your skills for today’s competitive job market, you’ll learn what to expect and what to do if you decide community college is right for you.

Packed with practical information, this book includes:

Snapshots--Profiles of and interviews with community college students

Real-Life, Expert Advice--Insights and tips from community college students, faculty, and staff

Fast Facts--Surprising tidbits of information about community colleges

Reality Checks--Helpful questions to ask as you consider your options

Community College: Is It Right for You? could be one of the most helpful educational books you’ll ever read!

_________________


“Community college is becoming the preferred option for a growing number of students -- especially those seeking to do battle with soaring tuition rates at four-year colleges and universities. Community College: Is It Right for You? does just what the title says. It explores the practical issues involved in enrolling in a community college, including how to ensure that academic credits are transferrable to four-year institutions. This book should be in every high school guidance and career training office.”
-- Edward B. Fiske
Editor, The Fiske Guide to Colleges


“Community colleges are a masterpiece of American ingenuity. They have blossomed over the last four decades because they were needed, and they have served admirably. Here, Susan Stafford offers both an authoritative and user-friendly guide to community colleges. Prospective students of any background, or any age, 16 to 80 or so, will benefit from this information-packed book.”
--Jerrold K. Footlick
Former Education Editor and Senior Editor, Newsweek

“Dr. Susan Stafford, a keen and inside observer of both private and public education, has given us a comprehensive and realistic survey of the role of community colleges in our country. When the overwhelming majority of our young people choose to attend community college for part or all of their higher educations, it is important for us to know the value of these institutions to our nation’s literacy--as you hear in the many individual voices of students in this fine, well-researched work. A helpful book for parents, students, and anyone truly interested in education.”
--Ceil Cleveland
Author and former professor of English, New York University, vice president at Stony Brook University and Queens College, and senior administrator at Columbia University

Selected Works

K-12 Education
Challenging Students with Math at J.E.B. Stuart High School
Average students make the grade in an advanced mathematics course
Small Academies Help Students Make the Grade
Bridgewater HS revamped its educational format and got results.
Tough Times, Tough Measures: Funding strategies that work
The Cincinnati Public School system has found a pathway to fundraising success.
Burlington School Food Project: A recipe for school and community partnership
Drawing on all sectors of the community, the Burlington School Food Project is a national farm-to-school model that has united this Vermont school district, community organizations and businesses, and parents to bring healthy eating into the school system.
One Small School Making Big Dreams Come True in Wyoming
Ft Washakie Charter High School in Wyoming helps Native American students turn their dreams of graduating from high school into reality.
Granger High School Grapples with the Basics - and Wins
An inspired principal with a disciplined, but personal, approach to education helps a rural high school break the chokehold of failure.
Travel Articles
Expect the Unexpected on the Wild Side of Peru
Lose yourself in the beauty of the Peruvian Amazon aboard La Amatista.
Cruising the Wild Side of Peru
Take a voyage to the hidden wonders of the Peruvian Amazon.
Embracing Love at the Seaside in Lima, Peru
The colorful Parque del Amor is filled with the poetry of love.
Deck the Malls: Christmas in Dubai
The Wafi City Mall in Dubai offers the author an unexpected encounter with Christmas.
Under the Stars of the Kalahari
The comfort of a tent with running water, or a night out under the stars?
Jack’s Camp in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana
Enjoy a unique twist on the standard safari with a sojourn into the Kalahari.
Alexandria’s Washington Monument
There’s more than one Washington Monument in the D.C. area and Old Town Alexandria’s got it!
Architecture
The Luis and Ethel Marden House: Adventure in Restoration
The Luis and Ethel Marden House is a privately owned architectural gem, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for National Geographic photographer, Luis Marden, and his wife, Ethel.
Books
Research Papers Unzipped
A short, informative guide that unzips the mystery of how to write a research paper for students of all ages. August 2007, Peterson's.
Community College: Is It Right for You?
First-of-its kind comprehensive guide for prospective community college students of all ages and backgrounds.