Marin Voice: It’s time to dispel stigma of community colleges in Marin

The pressure on high school juniors and graduating seniors has amplified this month as they navigate their academic futures. High school students in Marin County are misguided about the advantages of community colleges due to outdated norms, parental expectations and socio-economic stigmas existing throughout Marin.

Today, community colleges are often perceived as the lowest tier in the hierarchy of educational institutions, often considered a fallback option, discouraging students from considering them as viable educational options.

In contrast, Caitlin Beard, a 2023 graduate of Redwood High School and current student at College of Marin, decided to enroll in classes at the Kentfield campus at the end of her senior year, despite skepticism from her community.

“There were all these preconceived notions … that Redwood students had taught me (about COM) … because of what their parents (or) college counselors told them,” Beard said.

Marin is ranked the sixth richest county in America according to the U.S. News and World Report. This data shows that our community is affluent, and this affects the prejudgment that students similar to Beard face, thus impacting students’ decisions to avoid community college.

At Redwood, only 9% of students attend two-year institutions, according to a 2022 demographic report. While this percentage might not initially raise concerns, it prompts students like Beard to fear potential stigmatization regarding their college choices. This concern extends to events like “college day,” where students represent their chosen schools, and the senior map in the school newspaper, displaying their college selections.

Similarly, financial circumstances often play a role in the perception of community college as a family’s socioeconomic status directly influences the choices that students make concerning higher education. This aligns with Beard’s perspective.

“(Many students at Redwood) don’t even consider COM because they can afford to go to a four-year (college),” Beard said. “Why would they consider COM when they have the money to basically buy a more prestigious title at a school?”

Due to the common belief that lower acceptance rates indicate greater achievement, academically driven students don’t fit into the stereotypical image of a two-year institution attendee. Beard, from a school with an 80% Advanced Placement participation rate, reflects on Redwood’s educational environment.

“(I) fit into this very specific mold of a very high-achieving student. I’d taken all the AP (courses) that the culture had (influenced) me to take,” Beard said. “I had stuffed my schedule with extracurriculars. I was on track to go to all these top, high-performing schools, and when I rejected all (of) that, everyone was kind of confused.”

Furthermore, many students who can afford “elite” universities are often unaware of the benefits a community college presents.

University of California, Berkeley alumni Zoe Ives attended COM during her first two years of college after graduating from San Marin High School. Ives has directly experienced the benefits provided by community college.

“When I transferred, I was terrified,” Ives said. “I was like, ‘OK, it’s probably been easy at COM. It’s going to be hard at Berkeley.’ But it was a smooth transition academically; COM really prepared me.”

While community college may not offer the traditional “college experience,” it provides affordable access to diverse associate degree programs, smaller classes and flexible schedules, providing an effective and engaging learning environment for all students.

Furthermore, COM has established a strong partnership with four-year schools through the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. This initiative ensures admission at six UC schools for all California community college students, excluding the Los Angeles and Berkeley campuses.

Becky Bjursten, the specialist in Redwood’s College and Career Center, regularly informs students about the resources available at community colleges.

“There are also more benefits than just the (TAG) program, which is a great path to a UC school,” Bjursten said. “You can save a lot of tuition by going to community college for one year and becoming a transfer student.”

Despite the prevailing misconceptions associated with community colleges, students must recognize that affordability should not be misconstrued as a compromise on quality. Doing so alleviates the pressures set by outdated societal norms and empowers students to redefine their educational pathways.

Redwood High students Lynette Ki and Aurora Sreba are part of the school’s advanced journalism arts and media program.