Junior Colleges: Why is there a negative stigma?

College acceptances have been coming in the mail for many seniors and it is around the time where students decide where they want to attend.

Some students will decide to attend a 4-year, and some will attend a JC.

However, a couple months ago when I was at a college meeting, the speaker asked who would consider going to a junior college, no one raised their hand.

Why is that?

It seems that there is a negative stigma that surrounds going to junior colleges. Students seem to want to avoid going to a junior college because it’s not “as good” as going straight into a 4-year university.

“People think that going to a jc is bad because they think they’re getting not as good as an education even though you’re talking the same classes,” Senior Sophia DePonte said.

In Ripon High’s senior class of 2016, over 80 students ended up attending MJC.

“My dad encourages going to a junior college. I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” underclassmen Kaleb Hinrichsen said.

In other words, going to a JC shouldn’t be something to look down on and you should be proud to be getting your education nevertheless.