Where Are Collingswood Graduates Heading After Graduation?
The most popular destinations are in-state for the class of 2012.
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Camden County College is the overwhelming college of choice among 2012 graduates of Collingswood High School, according to a survey the school conducted among CHS seniors.
As many as 73 graduates plan to enroll there following their graduation this month. By comparison, 35 other CHS seniors plan to attend an in-state school, and 42 will be attending college outside of New Jersey.
Another 10 Panthers are either enlisted or plan to enlist in a branch of the armed services, six will attend a vocational school and two plan to enter the workforce. The report also counts 16 students who either don't know or haven't reported their post-graduation plans.
Cost may be a factor in students' choice of college, wrote Collingswood Superintendent Scott A. Oswald in a letter to Patch this week concerning the state report card for the borough school system.
"Some of our very capable students attend Camden County College for two years because it makes sense to them and their families financially," Oswald wrote. "Those students, too, could often go anywhere they choose, as evidenced by their acceptance letters."
Collegestats.org lists Camden County College as the second-cheapest state school in New Jersey for in-state student tuition.
Keith Allen
9:55 am on Saturday, June 9, 2012
Congratulations to all the graduates! This is truly a great day in your lives!
Kevin
12:44 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
I'd love to know if these numbers are inline with years past or is this a dramatic shift in the numbers. What is the breakdown of the students by the towns they reside?
While it is great that a large majority of students are attending some level of post secondary schooling, I am shocked and a little concerned at such a high number heading to Camden County. Does Collingswood track what these students do after their 2-3 years at CCC?
I have a lot of questions and will be calling Collinswood BOE on Monday.
Lisa P
2:08 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
Why are you shockedand concerned that these students are attending camden county? Do you have any issue with the school? Or are you just assuming that because someone does not choose to attend a traditional four year college that they will lead a less than productive life? I really would like to hear your thoughts.
Keith Allen
2:49 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
As a graduate of CCC I have to agree with Lisa, what are your thoughts about community college?
Too many people tend to write off the value of an education at an affordable price.
Kevin
8:52 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
I have nothing against CCC in fact, I worked in their student services offices years ago, and have been in higher education administration for the past 18 years. I agree that county colleges are a great choice for many student for a variety of reasons including cost and the abilty to complete 100/200 level courses with transferrablity to local 4 year schools.
The reason I am concerned with the seeminly large number of students going to CCC, is because it becomes an extension of high school in many cases. County colleges struggle with retention with many students dropping out after 1 or 2 semesters. Some that complete their associates degree will often forego transfering to a four year institution upon graduation. Both of these are big issues because having a high school diploma or a diploma with an associates degree unfortunately isn't enough these days. For a person not in a trade industry, a bachelors degree is the minimum standard these days, with graduate work preferred.
When we look at the 40%, how many of those students will move on to a 4 year school? How many will drop out of CCC? How many will finsih school with just an associates degree? Let's look at these numbers in 4 years to see where the numbers really fall and how CHS is doing in preparing students for a successful college career (including those who may have withdrawn/dropped from non-CCC schools too).
Robb C. Sewell
4:07 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
It's not unusual for today's high school graduates to go to community colleges and there's nothing wrong with that. Tuition is lower than four-year colleges/universities and the quality of education is solid. The research center I work for just released a new report on how high school graduates are faring. The results are dismal. A whopping 44% of high school graduates are unemployed. Check out The New York Times' coverage here:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/dont-think-college-is-worth-it-ask-people-who-havent-gone/?src=busln