The Community College Career Track: How to Achieve the American Dream Without a Mountain of Debt (Paperback)

I The Best Higher Education Value in America 1

1 Why Community College Is the Smart Choice for Almost Every Student 3

2 Affordable for All: Paying for Community College and Lowering Your Total Higher Education Costs 7

3 Scholarships and Financial Aid 17

4 It’s Not Where You Study, It’s What You Study: Why Everyone Should Consider a STEM-Related or Health CareRelated Career, and Why Community College Is the Best Place to Start 29

II Great Community College Options—and You Can Choose More Than One 47

5 The Smart Start to a Bachelor’s Degree: How to Use Community College as a Stepping-Stone to a Bachelor’s Degree 49

6 Two-Year Degrees and One-Year Professional Certificates: Gateway Credentials to Great Jobs and Careers 69

7 On Campus or Online? 81

III Getting Ready for Community College 95

8 What You Should Do to Prepare for College-Level Work if You Are Now in High School 97

9 What You Should Do to Prepare for College-Level Work if You’re Going to Community College as a Career Changer 109

10 The Placement Tests That Determine Where You Start in College 121

IV How to Succeed in Community College 135

11 If You’re Going to Community College Directly from High School as a Full-Time Student 137

12 If You’re Going to Community College as a Career Changer: Juggling Classes, Homework, Your Job, and the Rest of Your Life 145

Conclusion 159

Appendix: The Higher Education America Needs: Win-Win Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Employers 161

Appendix: Additional Resources 175

Appendix: ACCUPLACERs Sample Test 183

Notes 213

Acknowledgments 217

Index 221