by Mr. Johnson
Let’s face it, for various reasons you may face difficulty financing the cost of attending your college of choice. Also, you may not necessarily be ready to leave home or your job, or whatever. Your parents may be unsure if you have the drive and ambition to even graduate college and they fear you may waste their money.
Here’s a win-win proposal to pitch to your folks. Show them that you’re mature, responsible, economical, and worthy of their support. Express the following to your parents:
“I want to go to Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC). Going to ACCC allows me to keep my job because I like earning my own money and they offer evening classes which accommodates my work schedule. I will also gain the experience of budgeting my time and resources, especially now that I am legally an adult. Even if I don’t declare a major, I can at least begin taking the General Education courses required for most, if not all majors. I can go part time and take summer courses. Not only that, ACCC has credit transfer agreements with numerous NJ state colleges, so all my classes will count towards obtaining my bachelor’s degree from a state college or university. This is also the most inexpensive way to earn a college degree. The experience of managing my time while attending school and working prepares me for life on campus. I can be a commuter student and get my own place or live at home a little while longer. By graduating from ACCC, I earn an associate’s degree (which offers me even more employment choices), plus I am halfway finished my bachelor’s degree.”
My advice to potential ACCC college students is to go at your own pace, and ignore your so-called friends who attempt to dissuade you from attending. Do not feel that you have to go “full steam ahead” and take too many classes per semester. Just because your friends may be able to carry a full load of courses does not mean that you have to. In the end, even if it takes you ten years to earn your degree, your degree will be of the same value as someone who completes theirs in four years. So work at your own pace.
Disclosure Statement: I earned an associate’s degree from ACCC then transferred to earn a bachelor’s degree from Rowan University; and in the words of Keith ‘Guru’ Elam, “No shame in my game”.