The Foreign Service Journal, December 2009

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 89 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT Community colleges serve a wide variety of students and provide num- erous opportunities. To make the most of the experience, students are encouraged to take advantage of all available special programs and sup- port systems; plan their next steps by working closely with their academic adviser; forge ties with instructors who can help along the way; and pace themselves by not taking on too much work and other responsibili- ties. For those students who wish to transfer to a four-year institution, it is even more important to plan careful- ly, take honors courses if possible, get involved in activities on campus — and remember that academic perfor- mance counts. Despite the challenges the com- munity college system currently faces, it remains the gateway to opportunity for almost 12 million students a year, and that number is expected to grow. It is worth another look. ■