The Community College of Philadelphia

Date: Apr 17 2010
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
I am an older student who has attended CCP for the last 2+ years full time.

The Good:

it is a good value for the money. Seriously, you can do your 2 years here and then transfer to another college and save ALOT of money. You do have to pay those loans back you know.

They have so many transfer agreements that it makes transfering really easy - plus you can get special merit scholarships by transferring from CCP to another school.

Alot of the faculty will go out of their way to help you! They know what community college is all about and want you to succeed. Of course there are some bad professors but most have been really great. (Check out RateMyProfessors.com before you select classes)

After your first semester, you can register for all classes online.

Diverse student body.

Great nursing, dental hygiene program, Bimedical Tech Program and many more…

The BAD:

The other faculty (financial aid, admissions, etc…)many of them will treat you like crap. You are just another number in the system and will make you feel stupid for asking for help, or give you the run around by passing the buck. Go in knowing this, and it will be easier to bear.

Dont even think about making a call for any kind of information to anyone at CCP because you will never get a call back. I have never gotten a call back, ever. (go to the ccp website with a fine tooth comb)

In the beginning of the semester, if you have to change classes, talk to financial aid, you will have to wait in line, for hours!!! Clear your schedule. Bring a magazine. God forbid you wait in the wrong line…

The bathrooms arent great and the escalators work only half the time.

The student body is mostly made up of young and clueless people. I saw this one girl who had highlighted every word in her entire text book, why…

Its not terribly easy to make friends unless you have gotten into a specific program, like nursing. If your like me and going for Culture, Science and Technology, you rarely see the same students twice.

Final Note:

I have had all of my tuition paid through grants and living expenses with Stafford loans. If you don't have money, don't let that discourage you.

Be strong, getting into CCP from the beginning is daunting. CCP is a stepping stone for people who would not be able to get into other colleges (for bad grades or financial reasons) and I would definitey do it again. Get all you can out of CCP. Finish school, you will never regret it!