Being the mom of a high school senior, college is at the top of our minds right now. This article caught my attention as a reminder of the obstacles our children face today. Community College is the only 0ption for many, but it seems that even that is now difficult to achieve.
As reported in the San Jose Mercury News, 3000 students are currently on a waitlist. While some will attempt to switch campuses, they will likely be met with similar situations.
Unlike the state University’s, community colleges cannot cap their enrollment. The current economic situation and cutbacks at the universities have made many turn to the two year institutions for their bargain prices – but the surge of students is straining their capacity.
Enrollment at the state’s community colleges grew 10.2 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008, according to a preliminary survey. The state provided funding for only 2 percent enrollment growth during that period.
Although enrollment is up, funding is down. To keep up with the increased demand classes have been moved off campus or are held online. Other classes are eliminated completely. According to the San Jose Mercury News, De Anza cut 152 classes; Foothill cut 99 classes. Some waitlists for high-demand classes in the sciences are double, even triple, the size of the class.
If you are considering college be sure to register as early as possible. Since many take the summer off you may have a higher chance of getting into a class by attending the summer term. Know what classes you need, start with the less popular courses and be sure that you are on wait lists for classes that are in higher demand. Being a college student now requires patience, just be prepared to wait.
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