Many students decide that although college is the path they want to pursue, attending a 4-year university is not for them. Its not uncommon for students to feel pressured into attending a prestigious college or university, but today more than ever, students are seeing the benefits in choosing a junior college first. Junior colleges, such as CBT College in Miami, offer challenging courses and have prime locations throughout the city that afford students the opportunity to engage in water sports, outdoor adventures and trips to the beach.

Lets take a look at why so many students are choosing junior colleges as a precursor to their academic careers.

Smaller Class Sizes

At junior colleges such as CBT College, class size is a priority. While larger colleges have lecture halls that can hold hundreds of students, especially with general education courses, junior colleges have much smaller class sizes. In fact, some classes are as small as 30 students, which is less than what most high school classrooms have.

Smaller class sizes mean more one-on-one interaction with the professor, as well as more meaningful classroom discussions. Students attending junior colleges favor these informal classes that offer more opportunities to be an active participant instead of a passive one. Furthermore, students agree that when theyre involved in the classroom, they are more likely to understand the information and apply the lessons to real-world applications.

Easing the Transition to a Major University

Students attend junior colleges for a variety of reasons. No matter where you fall in the scheme of things, know that by attending a junior college, youll be easing the transition to a larger university. Junior colleges are not placeholders as some have stigmatized. Since these schools are designed to be precursors to a higher institution, their credits can be transferred to most universities. Even if you choose not to attend a university directly after completing your associates degree, the credits can be transferred at a later date.

Most importantly, by attending a junior college such as CBT College, youre laying the groundwork to be accepted into your school of choice. Those that already have their associates degree are more likely to be accepted into the program than those fresh out of high school that may have had poor grades or SAT scores. And if you werent sure about attending college in the first place, your years at a junior college will prepare you for the college world.

More Time Means More Opportunities

Lets face it: Most students dont know what they want to do with the rest of their life straight out of high school. And in a job market where it is especially difficult to find stability, its important to be well-rounded and take on jobs both within and outside your major. By attending a junior college, youll be allowing yourself ample time to discover what you want to do. General education courses will be the bulk of your studies, and there will be time to work, conduct internships and get the hands-on experience you need to dabble in different fields.

Some schools such as CBT College in Miami specialize in various fields, leaving more opportunities for students of all ages. For example, if you have a specialized field of study you want to pursue, you can skip the 4-year university, save money and only take the classes you need to become certified. An example is medical assisting, where a 4-year degree is not necessary, but instead the proper coursework and certification. By attending a junior college, courses can be completed within a few short years so you can jumpstart your career.

These are just some of the advantages of choosing a junior college in Miami. Saving money, testing out different career paths and access to local campuses are a few others that can make a difference in the school you choose. Know that by attending a junior college, you are giving yourself the opportunity to further your education, keep relevant in a competitive job market and set yourself up for future success.

Amy Russell is an independent college counselor who enjoys helping others achieve their educational goals. She typically discusses topics such as the benefits of attending a junior college, such as CBT College in Miami. Being a Miami Florida local, she tends to refer students in the area to among other competitive schools to choose from.