UCLA Extension VS Community College - which one is better?
Asked by
ilovechoc (
142
)
September 20th, 2011
Hi,
Does anyone out there have taken any certificate programs at UCLA Extension before? If yes, do you mind sharing how does it differ from a regular Community College? Does it really offer practical (hands-on) knowledge instead of just theoretical classes that most Community Colleges usually offer?
This is because I’ve already attained my Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA, but I would like to learn new stuff particularly on Computer (and/or Web) Programming as well as Business Finance. However, I’m not so sure of how the quality of the classes offered there will be, and how much value will they have in the job market. On the other hand, another option of mine will be to go back to Community College, and get the Associate’s Degree.
Some additional info: I prefer practical knowledge, and I actually don’t really mind about the degree/certificate that I obtained by the end of the program. However, I just want to know which one of them will be more useful as such that the skills/knowledge obtained at the end will be more beneficial in the job market (provided that you have absolute zero knowledge at the beginning).
I will sincerely appreciate it if you can share your thoughts and help me out. Oh if you happen to know how the learning environment at UCLA Extension is like, please share it too! Thank you very much :)
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4 Answers
Both systems have their pros and cons. Community college is much less expensive, and in many cases, short-term and low-unit courses and certificates can be attained in a year or less. The issue becomes finding a capable CC that has a solid curriculum for the major/area of study you’re interested in. Programming is pretty abundant in the CC system here in SoCal, and many of the colleges here have options for single courses, low-unit certificates, but again, it’s a matter of researching the colleges individually. Make some calls, email department/program heads, and do a couple of field trips to get an idea of what you’re investing in…after all, you’re talking a considerable amount of time and effort.
In my experience, It can be really hard to get classes at CC’s and though you pay more at Extension, at least you’ll actually get into the class.
I don’t have the experience for this question. But, riddle me this. Say I work for Apple, and you show me your resume. And I see your UCLA B.S. and along with it your Certificate of Completion at say, Southwestern College (chula vista, california). That doesn’t bother me at all. Now, Someone else brings in a resume with a B.S. from UCSD and a Certificate of Completion from UCLA. I think the latter weighs more on the good side. Even though they are the same education perhaps, the fact that networked your way towards the UCLA route just gives it that extra umph. But lets say you have the UCLA B.S. and certificate from Community College but your portfolio is way more awesome, quality, and quantitively, obviously now this one is more attractive for a job employer. It all depends who you are seeking to please.
Check out the credentials of the course instructors, whether they are professional educators or educated professionals. By that I mean, go for CI’s that draw from the industry with real-world experiences to offer, rather than educators who draw from textbooks and theories.
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