One of the best things about accounting is that there is no one singular path to finding success, and that’s because no one person has the same needs, background, or circumstances. For some, going to a state school might be the wave 🌊, for others an HBCU or HSI is where you see yourself, and then of course, the option of going to community college could also be the best route. If you decide it is, take a look at some of our tips on how to make sure you select the best community college program for you and ensure a seamless transition from a two-year to a four-year program. ✨When considering a community college, see if they offer some of these opportunities…
In addition to their foundational curriculum, do they teach strategies for working in a variety of positions and office locations, from public agencies to private industry? Programs like this can not only equip you with the knowledge to know what specialty you may want to intern in, but also give you a competitive edge on how to succeed on the job. Since a lot of community college students might be looking to go straight into the workforce, there’s often workshops on executive mentoring, networking, building your personal brand, office professionalism, and more. Imagine transferring, having this wealth of knowledge, and being ready to hit the ground running with internships? It’s giving a full-time job offer before graduation! Crazy, right?! Not for accounting. 😉 Don’t wait, get in tune with our advice on how to go from intern to full time accountant!
Does the program acknowledge the many intersections accounting has with different industries and the diverse skills required in the field? Some community college accounting programs do this by including lessons and modules that share knowledge and skills across economics, business law, communication strategy, and more.
What type of academic support do they have available? Some two-year institutions have resources like “Accounting Labs” where they participate in free tutoring sessions and computer tutorial programs that allow you to review material at your own pace.
Does the community college you’re considering facilitate opportunities for you to connect with other students, faculty, and professionals outside of class? Networking, as Jonathan Acevedo said, in its purest form is meeting people and getting to know them. Just like four-year colleges, a lot of community colleges have student-run clubs that bring in expert speakers to talk about resources, strategies, trending skills in the workplace and employment opportunities.
If I ultimately want to use accounting to become an entrepreneur, how can community college help me? There’s been a rise in the number of community colleges that offer free counseling services and one-on-one advising around information like accessing capital. Couple that with using your accounting skills to create financial projections to build a plan that clearly explains why you deserve to be funded. Now, that’s a win-win.
Ultimately, the preparation for transfer is arguably the most important consideration to have. What two-year institution is going to do everything possible to ensure you have a seamless transition? Thankfully, most community colleges have counseling programs that specialize in making sure you’re taking the appropriate courses and gaining the credits you need to transfer. Some programs even go the extra mile. For example, there are community colleges that have mandatory courses dedicated to learning college success skills.
There are no opportunities lost when going to a community college — there are actually some unique and nuanced opportunities gained. For example, you might meet a lot of students who decided to get some supplemental education after being professionals in the workforce for some time. And, what’s cool is they might have insights they’ve gained throughout their work experience that can help you get ahead of the curve. So, as you’re doing your research for schools, remember community colleges can be a great option to explore and get you on the right path to success. Want to hear from someone who’s taken that journey? Check out our virtual event where one of our guests shares his own story about how starting at community college helped him make his way to one of the top accounting firms in the world.
