14 CapitalPress.com
May 11, 2018
Tips for choosing a school that’s right for you
U.S. Department of Education
The many types of schools
and colleges that are available
to high school graduates can
make choosing the right one
for you difficult. Here are
some tips:
Public or private?
Public schools are oper-
ated or funded by state and
local governments. Private
schools are not affiliated with
a government organization.
They may be nonprofit col-
leges, such as those run by
private foundations or reli-
gious denominations. Or they
may be for-profit businesses,
such as many career, online
or technical schools.
Since private schools re-
ceive less (or no) money
from state and local govern-
ments, they usually cost the
same whether you live in or
outside the state. This cost is
often higher than the cost of
attending a public school in
your state.
Because costs can vary
significantly from school to
school, you should make sure
to research the schools you
are interested in.
Any school that partici-
pates in the federal student
aid programs is required to
provide information on its
cost of attendance on its web-
site. The school is also re-
quired to provide a net price
calculator which will give
you an idea of how much a
program may cost after sub-
tracting any financial aid.
College, university
Students who attend a
four-year college or universi-
ty typically earn a bachelor’s
degree once they have suc-
cessfully completed a pro-
gram of study, which usually
takes about four years.
A college usually offers a
four-year bachelor’s degree in
the arts (such as English, his-
tory, drama) or the sciences
(such as agriculture, biology,
computer science, engineer-
ing).
Some colleges also offer
advanced degrees, such as
master’s or other graduate
degrees, after you’ve earned
your bachelor’s degree.
Universities offer bache-
lor’s, master’s and doctorate
degrees, and sometimes have
professional schools such as a
law school or medical school.
Universities tend to be
larger than colleges, may have
larger class sizes, and often
focus on scholarly or scientif-
ic research.
Community colleges
Community colleges award
associate degrees once stu-
dents have successfully com-
pleted a two-year course of
study. Some two-year colleges
grant diplomas or certificates
of completion to students who
have met course requirements
and are ready to practice in
their career fields, such as nurs-
ing. Community and junior
colleges are similar, except that
a junior college is usually a pri-
vate school.
Because costs are often low-
er and admission is more open
at two-year colleges, many
students begin their college ca-
reers here.
If you plan to start at a com-
munity or junior college and
later transfer to a four-year
college, you should make sure
your community college cours-
es will transfer to those col-
leges you are interested in and
that your courses will count
toward your bachelor’s degree.
Many community colleges
have “articulation agreements”
with four-year colleges under
which the course work taken at
the community college trans-
fers into the four-year degree
program. Be sure to ask about
the types of articulation agree-
ments the community college
has, with whom, and for what
programs of study.
interests, from welding or agri-
culture to many other fields.
Technical schools teach the
science behind the occupation,
while vocational schools focus
on hands-on application of
skills needed to do the job. You
may earn a diploma or a cer-
tificate, prepare for a licensing
exam, or study to begin work
as an apprentice or journey-
man in a skilled trade.
Career schools
Some schools offer distance
learning, which allows you to
access lectures or course ma-
terials online or through other
electronic media. Since not
every distance learning course
or online degree is accredit-
ed and/or eligible for federal
student aid, check with the
school’s financial aid office to
find out whether you can re-
ceive federal aid.
Career schools, also known
as technical, vocational or
trade schools, may be public
or private, although many are
for-profit businesses. They also
typically offer programs that
are two years or less, and pro-
vide students with formal class-
es and hands-on experience
related to their future career
Distance learning
Chemeketa building regional agriculture hub
business Management, Horti-
culture and Community Agri-
culture programs. It will also
be the home of Oregon State
University’s Marion Coun-
ty Extension Service, Master
Gardeners and the 4-H Service
District. The site in the south-
west section of the Chemeketa
Salem Campus is already home
to the Marion-Polk Food Share
Youth Farm.
Elements of the project:
• The classroom/office
building will feature shared
spaces and resources to en-
hance partnering tenants’ oper-
ational efficiency and collabo-
ration.
• An attached greenhouse
and conservatory will enable
the free flow of learning be-
tween the classroom, laborato-
ry and field.
• Multiple agricultural,
garden and landscape areas
will serve various academ-
ic and research activities,
including:
• Woody Ornamentals Lab
for cultivation research.
• Pollinators Lab.
• Urban Fruit Forest Lab.
• Organic Vegetable Garden.
• Other specialty garden and
landscape areas to support aca-
demic achievement.
“Agriculture is changing,
and Chemeketa, in partnership
with the agricultural communi-
ty, intends to continue to play
a vital role in its future,” Sand-
rock concluded.
Chemeketa invites addition-
al input from the agriculture
industry. Email your questions
and comments to agsciences@
chemeketa.edu.
Chemeketa’s Agriculture Sciences program has served generations of farmers.
AgEd18-2/106
To serve the immediate and
future needs of the Mid-Wil-
lamette Valley’s agriculture
industry is the emerging mis-
sion of Chemeketa Commu-
nity College’s Agriculture
Complex.
“Input from industry and
partners is driving our develop-
ment,” said Jessica Sandrock,
director of agriculture sciences
at Chemeketa. “We’re explor-
ing opportunities, workforce
training, farm succession, ag
technology, agri-tourism, and
the farm-to-fork movement,”
Sandrock continued.
The Agriculture Complex
is a $12 million investment by
the State and Chemeketa in the
region’s farming community.
Opening in fall 2020, the com-
plex will expand classes and
facilities for Chemeketa’s Agri-
AgEd-1/101