Finding Out Information About Your Community College: Orientation and Who You Should Talk To

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Get a Head Start on Orientation

Some community colleges have preview sessions for high school seniors who intend to enroll at the college the following fall. Montgomery College (Maryland), for instance, offers "How to Succeed in College: The Ultimate New Student Pre-College Experience" in six sessions during the summer. You can get a jump-start on planning your academic program, get a sampler of classes and on-campus activities, and sort out the mysteries of financial aid, as well as brush up on and learn new study skills and how to manage your time.

Adult students should check out the community college's office of adult services to see if there's a special orientation program for returning adults.

To Whom Should I Talk?

There are various people to whom you should talk in order to find out more about community college. Good sources of information include the college's recruiter, professors, and students"as well as people in the admissions and financial aid offices.

Talk to a Community College Recruiter

You might not think that community colleges make an effort to recruit students, but they don't take it for granted that you'll necessarily turn up on their doorstep just because they're in the neighborhood.

Lea Ann Knight, Director of Counseling and Recruitment at Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Mississippi), outlines her college's strategies: "Our goal is to be the school of choice for high school seniors. We want to try to get the best students from the best high schools in the areas to consider Copiah-Lincoln as a first step and then transfer to a four-year school when they graduate. We also recruit heavily for our Career-Technical program, which prepares students for the workforce after one or two years of training in one of the 21 different programs we offer. Four-year colleges aren't our only competition. There are two community colleges within 40 miles of us, which are within driving distance for many of the students who are eligible to attend them for no additional fee."

Her office conducts regular outreach activities to the 21 high schools in the seven counties served. In the fall, staff members participate in high school college fairs and conduct college prep workshops in each senior English classroom.

"In the spring, we go one step further and invite students from all 21 high schools in the area to come to campus for our high school days. We also follow up with seniors who have indicated they might or will attend the college. In addition, we identify students with strong academic records who might qualify for scholarship funds. Our staff is special in that everyone has attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College. It's easy to sell something you believe in," says Mrs. Knight.