~ January Issue ~
 

Leaving the Nest: Community Colleges in California
By Lauren Stabile, Editor       

Berkeley City College

        Located in Berkeley, Berkeley City College is only a few minutes from University of California Berkeley and 15 miles from San Francisco.  It is a two year college that offers associates degrees.  BCC's sister colleges offer degrees that are not offered there, which provides a wide range of majors for such a small school.  BCC, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College offer over 75 majors total, from "Architectural and Engineering Technology" to "Landscape Horticulture". With only 1500 undergraduates, BCC would be ideal for anyone looking for a small school atmosphere at a low cost.  At $690 for in-state tuition, BCC is extremely affordable.   

Los Angeles City College

        Go to class in the morning, shop in the Garment District in the afternoon and then head home: this could be a typical day as a student at Los Angeles City College.  Only a few minutes from the heart of downtown LA, LACC is close to home, yet is still an hour's drive from El Segundo.  LACC is a public, 2 year community college that offers associate degrees in a wide array of subjects.  It hosts nearly 6600 students and offers dual enrollment, ROTC, study abroad and weekend college.  While not studying, there are ample opportunities for socializing, including choral and dance groups, film societies, music ensembles, and a student newspaper.  It is a bit more expensive than BCC, running about $714 for in-state tuition, but offers more in terms of activities and sports. 

Merced College

        Merced College is unlike BCC and LACC, for it is located in a rural setting.  While this can seem scary for some students, it may also be enticing for others.  Merced is in central California on highway 99 and is only about 65 miles to Yosemite National Park.  Merced boasts numerous agricultural and business degrees.  Of the 6400 undergraduates, 97% are from California.  There are many counseling programs to help students succeed, including honors programs, internships, study abroad, remedial instruction and tutoring.  While it does not have as many social activities as LACC, Merced College is surrounded by beautiful countryside, which is sure to keep anyone occupied.