CONTRIBUTED: Former criminal justice major at Kirkwood Community College, and now police officer, Austin Whiting, shared the advantages of going to a community college instead of a university. Whiting said he chose a community college over a university due to the cost being more affordable. He also liked the flexibility. With a busy schedule, he said students can go to community college and still be able to have time to do other things, like working a fulltime job or having the time for hobbies.
During his time at Kirkwood, Whiting said he worked full-time and went to school part-time. He finished in three years and was able to get a job in law enforcement immediately after graduating. During his first two years of college, he lived with his parents, about a twenty-minute drive from Kirkwood. He said it was nice being so close to college and to be able to live at home. During his final year at Kirkwood, he moved into his own apartment, which was a bit closer to Kirkwood, allowing him to save on gas. His job was also close to Kirkwood, making the commute from work to school convenient.
As an Eagle, Whiting’s favorite classes were Comp 1 and 2. Despite dreading them, his professor made an enormous difference. He added that his professor was outstanding, making Comp 1 and 2 his favorite classes.
Whiting added that he believes community college helped him with his career because he was able to afford college while working a full-time job. He could also choose his classes and finish his degree at his own pace. “The biggest benefits are the price, flexibility and the opportunity to do other fun things that you would not be able to do at a four-year institution,” said Whiting. “Simply put, community college is a great option.”
Categories: Contributed, Feature
