Applying to Community College

There are almost as many community college programs in the US as there are student interests. This variety of options means a variety of application requirements, since community colleges can be private, public, independent or faith-affiliated institutions. Some have limited-enrollment programs with competitive admission, others offer open admission on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, minimum entrance requirements can vary greatly depending on the school and the program.

In terms of admission requirements, students applying to community colleges in the United States may be asked to apply to the institution in general rather than to specific departments or programs. However some community and technical colleges allow students to apply directly to a particular major. In general, community colleges are there to make learning as accessible as possible, but institutions -- particularly private versus public - may differ in their competitiveness. Some community colleges have an open admissions policy, requiring only that applicants have a high school diploma or GED, while others will have specific course requirements needed for admission to the program (such as a 'C' grade or better in English and math courses).

Depending on the size and values of the college, admissions criteria can vary from the formulaic and objective to more subjective factors regarding the student's "fit" for the school. More competitive schools will look at overall academic grades and GPA, grades related to their intended major, SAT or ACT score, personal statement, personal background and experiences, and information provided by the high school counselor or pastor (for faith-affiliated schools). You may be asked to participate in an interview or meet with an admissions counselor, and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) may be recognized by some schools. Different colleges will give different weight to these criteria, and in some cases, preference may be given to students from the institution's state.

The application process involves submitting an online or print application form directly to the college by a specific deadline, and having your official high school transcripts sent directly to the institution from your high school. In addition, an assessment/ placement test is often required. You should be prepared to pay a non-refundable application fee of about $25-$50, although some colleges have free application. In some cases students are actually required to also apply for financial aid as part of the application process, while others have scholarships that you have the choice of applying to or not.

Community college semesters generally start in August or September for fall term and January for the winter term, and the application process itself usually begins in your senior year of high school. In a process similar to that for universities, some states have implemented a community college common application system. This means that you can use one application for any of the state's community colleges. Further, rolling admission is used by some schools with a large number of applicants; it means you can apply any time between the fall and spring and get your result a few weeks later. You therefore don't have to apply to all of your schools at the same time, but be aware that it also means earlier applicants get first acceptance. So apply as soon as possible to your rolling admissions schools.

No matter which way you apply, two things that are not required but highly recommended are a campus visit and interview with admissions counselor. Knowledge is power, so be sure to seek out the people and resources that can help you get as much information as possible before you apply to your desired community colleges.