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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Keep Your Options Open: What Can a Community College Do for Me? | |
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| What Are Community Colleges? Open Doors and Opportunity | |
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| Areas of Education | |
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| Some Background on Community Colleges | |
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| Community Colleges and Four-Year Institutions | |
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| Some Reasons to Consider Community College | |
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| Reality Check: Is Community College Right for Me? | |
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| Know Your Classmates: Who Goes to Community College? | |
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| A Kaleidoscope of Diversity | |
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| Diversity in Age and Life Experience | |
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| Diversity in Gender, Race, and Ethnicity | |
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| Diversity in Academic Background | |
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| Well-Known People Who Have Attended Community College | |
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| Know the Choices: What Can I Study? | |
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| Options! Options! Options! Paths to Achieve Your Goals | |
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| Preparing for College-Level Courses | |
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| Preparing for Transfer | |
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| Preparing for the World of Work: Vocational/Technical Programs | |
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| Learning for Life and Work | |
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| Additional Food for Thought | |
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| What Can I Earn? | |
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| Know Before You Go: How Do I Find Out About Community College? | |
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| What Should I Consider? | |
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| Accreditation | |
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| Range of Programs Offered | |
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| Convenience of Classes: Location and Class Time | |
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| Financial Aid | |
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| Technical Training Facilities | |
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| Student Support Services | |
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| Student Life | |
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| Transfer Options with Four-Year Colleges | |
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| Reputation | |
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| How Can I Find the Information I Need? | |
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| Visit Your High School Counselor | |
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| Get A Head Start While You're in High School | |
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| Get a Head Start on Orientation | |
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| To Whom Should I Talk? | |
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| Go to the College Fair | |
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| See the College Campus With Your Own Eyes | |
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| Take the Campus' Pulse at Open Houses and Other On-Campus Events | |
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| Make an Electronic and Virtual Visit | |
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| Final Deciding Factors | |
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| Drive It | |
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| Trust Your Instincts | |
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| Knock, Knock: How Do I Get In? | |
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| What Do I Need to Be Admitted? | |
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| Papers, Papers, Papers | |
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| Residency Requirements | |
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| Need Shots? | |
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| Admission to Specific Programs | |
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| Testing, Testing | |
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| Testing Out | |
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| Get Credit for What You Already Know | |
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| Credits Earned Through Examination or Certification | |
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| Credits for Nontraditional Programs and Life Experience | |
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| Credit by Transfer | |
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| Check Out Financial Aid, ASAP! | |
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| How Will I Know What Courses to Take? | |
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| Choosing a Program of Study | |
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| What You'll Need to Take | |
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| Transfer Considerations | |
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| Getting Help Making Decisions | |
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| Use Your College Catalog | |
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| Be On Time: Know the Schedule and Deadlines | |
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| Talk to the Experts-Academic Advisors | |
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| Visit the Career Center Now! | |
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| Get Oriented! | |
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| Be Admitted and Get Enrolled! | |
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| Registration for Non-Credit Courses | |
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| Students with Disabilities | |
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| International Students | |
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| Keep the Costs Down: How Will I Afford It? | |
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| What Does Community College Really Cost? | |
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| Tuition and Fees | |
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| Room and Board | |
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| Books and Supplies | |
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| Travel | |
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| Personal/Family-Related Expenses | |
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| Unraveling the Mystery of Financial Aid | |
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| Go See the Experts | |
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| Understanding Available Types of Financial Aid | |
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| Federal Student Aid in Brief | |
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| What Types of Federal Student Aid Exist? | |
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| State Aid | |
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| Scholarships | |
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| Sources of Funding | |
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| Eligibility Criteria | |
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| The College Connection | |
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| Scholarships Especially for Community College Students | |
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| More Transfer Scholarships-for the Future | |
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| Go for the Gold! | |
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| When to Begin the Process | |
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| What is FAFSA? | |
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| What You Can Get in Your Package | |
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| Applying for Scholarships | |
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| Still Short? Here's What to Do! | |
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| Community Service | |
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| Employer Assistance | |
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| Just Plain Work-But Not Too Much! | |
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| Consider a Private Loan | |
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| The Military Option | |
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| Get a Break! A Tax Break, That Is | |
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| Get Credit for Learning | |
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| Know the Ropes: What Can I Expect in Community College Classes? | |
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| What Can I Expect in the Classroom? | |
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| Who Will Be My Instructors? | |
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| How Large Will My Classes Be? | |
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| Who Will Be in My Classes? | |
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| Where Will My Classes Be Held? | |
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| How Challenging Will My Courses Be? | |
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| What Will Be Different from High School? | |
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| What Will My Instructors Expect from Me? | |
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| How Busy Will I Be? | |
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| Keep on Course: How Can I Be Successful in Community College? | |
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| Realize That You're in Charge! | |
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| Set Goals and Priorities for Yourself | |
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| Balance Your Personal, Work, and Academic Life | |
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| Take Responsibility for Understanding the College's Requirements | |
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| Get to Know People | |
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| Make a Connection with College Staff | |
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| Introduce Yourself to Your Professors | |
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| Make a Connection with Other Students | |
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| Tips for Academic Success | |
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| Be There! | |
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| Speak Up! | |
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| Know How to Write-as Well as to Speak-Your Piece | |
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| Avoid an End-of-the-Semester Pileup! | |
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| Be a Neat Freak! | |
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| Make the Grade | |
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| Mind Your Manners | |
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| Hands off Someone Else's Work! | |
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| Study! Study! Study! | |
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| Challenge Yourself with Honors | |
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| Know What Resources Are Available to You | |
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| Get Help When You Need It | |
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| Other Campus Resources for Academic Success | |
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| A Special Note about Support Services for Disabled Students | |
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| Keep Engaged: What Else Is There to Do on Campus and Beyond? | |
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| What Types of On-Campus Activities Are Offered? | |
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| Why Should You Participate? | |
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| Honors Societies | |
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| Connecting Beyond the College Campus | |
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| Internships | |
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| Cooperative-Education Programs | |
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| Service-Learning Programs | |
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| Study-Abroad Programs | |
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| Keep Your Future in Sight: What's Next after Community College? | |
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| Employers Will Want You! | |
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| Use Your Career Center | |
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| Network, Network, Network! | |
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| Four-Year Colleges Will Want You! | |
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| Start the Transfer Process Early | |
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| Get Expert Advice | |
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| Check Out Transfer Agreements | |
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| Timeline for Transfer-By the Credit | |
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| Stay Connected! | |
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| Continue to Learn and Enjoy The Campus | |
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| Join A Circle of Alumni | |
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| Give Back! | |
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| Reach for the Stars! | |
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| Notes | |
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| Talk the Talk: Terms You Need to Know | |
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| Index | |