In considering how we market our school to students, one important question comes up: Why GCC? Students in the L.A. area have no shortage of colleges to choose from, and the choice doesn’t always come down to whichever is closest or most convenient; in fact, you’ve likely had students commuting from all over the L.A. area to attend GCC over other schools. If we can articulate what makes GCC so special, maybe we can also help potential students to see the value in a GCC education. So while it would be important to ask our students themselves why they chose GCC, it’s also valuable to see how our faculty and staff would answer that question.
My first responses include the following:
Why GCC?
* Measures a student's ability to move up two or more income quintiles. GCC beat all the UCs, USC, Harvard, etc. See: https://news.berkeley.edu/2017/01/18/berkeley-among-top-u-s-universities-for-upward-mobility/
GCC's noncredit program is the 2nd largest in LA County (as reported by the Chancellor's Office). The programs are rigorous and purposeful with the majority culminating in state approved certificates. Students can enroll anytime during the year tuition free and start taking career classes; courses are designed to improve math, computer, basic education, writing, and language skills for a vocation, personal development or intellectual growth.
My son really wanted to go to UCLA or UC Berkeley after high school, but he didn't get in. His choice was to go to UC Riverside or try again after finishing his A.A. in political science here at GCC. He had 35 AP units from high school; GCC gave college credit for all but one these classes, so he only needed one year before he could transfer to a four-year institution. This would not have been possible had he gone to a Cal State or another UC.
More importantly, the classes he took here at GCC remain his favorite as they were much smaller than the ones he later took at UCLA. Further, unlike his UCLA professors and TA's, who were rather unapproachable, his professors and counselors here were always available and showed an actual interest in his development
Because of their encouragement and everyone's hard work, and because the state law requires UC's to reserve seats for community college transfers, Nick was able to transfer to UCLA and later graduate summa cum laude. We all agree this probably wouldn't have happened without his first coming to GCC.
And the Governor's proposed budget includes a 2nd year free. So, if it survives the budgeting process, that means students will have TWO years of college tuition free!
We offer a variety of Counseling and support from Academic, to Career and Major interest, to Mental Wellness. In addition, we provide a variety of Counseling courses to help students understand the complexities of the transfer process to a university, or assisting in achieving student's personal goals.
We have incredible college programs for high school students that provide access and opportunity:
Jumpstart Dual Enrollment
www.glendale.edu/dual
Early College Academy @ Hoover High School
Where high school student can earn both a high school diploma and complete 2 years of college in the time it takes to go to high school!
www.glendale.edu/earlycollege
Early College Acceptance Program (ECAP)
Students receive: priority registration & $500 For books! (ECAP students who enroll in 12 units for Fall 2019 & Spring 2020 will receive a $250 voucher each semester).
www.glendale.edu/ecap
& more!
OUTREACH
www.glendale.edu/sos
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