Why SCC is the Best Community College in the World
I started attending Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC during the summer of 2002. I had originally planned to attend a university, but I’m so glad I changed my mind. SCC is the best community college in the world for several reasons. Founded in 1964, SCC was originally a technical school, but as time went by they became a community college and now offer 68 programs of study. But just what makes SCC in Sylva, NC the best community college in the world?
Instructors
At SCC, you will encounter several wonderful instructors, who are not only intelligent and great at teaching, but have real world experience. My Criminal Justice instructor Mike Burnette worked in the Criminal Justice field from 1976 – 1990. In November of 1990 Mr. Burnette joined SCC, in SylvaNC, as the head of the Criminal Justice program and he still teaches there to this day. He helped establish the Cyber Crime program at SCC. At the programs introduction, SCC was the only school in the country to offer the Cyber Crime program.
Other than experience, SCC instructors genuinely care if you succeed or not. They will go above and beyond to make sure you do well in their class. They are always willing to help you one on one.
Financial Aid
If it wasn’t financial aid, I wouldn’t be attending SCC in Sylva, NC. The staff members in the financial aid department are simply amazing. They have done everything imaginable to help me with my financial aid forms. In one case, they even called my mother and spoke to her directly so that they could quickly get my financial aid ready for the following semester. They also help keep me in line by reminding me that I must keep my grades up or I will lose my aid. There are times when I’d rather goof off than do my homework, but I know that if I do, I could lose my financial aid. This keeps on track. The financial aid staff members also care about how you’re doing; this is something you’ll see all over campus. People are always genuinely concerned and it really makes you feel good.
Courses
First of all, there is a wide variety of classes to take at SCC in Sylva, NC. Whether you’re interested in Literature or Mechanics, there is something for you to take. Some of the most interesting courses I have taken at SCC include: Health Psychology, Hardware Instillation and Maintenance, Technology Crimes and Law, Ethics and High Technology, and Introduction to Literature, which I’m taking this semester. The courses are well structured around what you want to do after graduating. The courses will honestly prepare you for the real world. For example, I took a course called REAL Small Business and spent the whole semester working on the different parts of a business plan. The final exam was to compile all of your work for that semester into a business plan and turn it in. This may sound like an easy final exam, but it took 6 hours to get everything together smoothly, but it taught me so much about what goes into the perfect business plan. The best part about SCC courses though, is their size. Most SCC courses have 12 students or less.
The Campus
The SCC campus in Sylva, NC is such a calming place. I always feel at peace when I drive onto the campus, even if it’s for a final exam. The landscape across the campus is beautiful and there is a walking trial all along the campus. I think SCC really does want its students to be happy and healthy. The walking trail is 1.87 miles long and after walking the trail 53 times (which roughly equals 100 miles) SCC students and faculty will receive a polo shirt and become part of the SCC 100 mile club. Students are welcome to bring friends and family along as well.
Besides the walking trail, SCC also offers several places for students to sit down, get a snack, and rest or study. These aren’t your average run down student lounges. SCC really takes care of their students by offering lounges that have TVs, leather love seats, and nice tables and chairs. There is also a wide variety or drinks and snacks to choose from. You can usually find a place to sit down and relax, at every building on the SCC campus. There are also computer labs found throughout the campus. I find that the best place to work on a computer is at the library.
The SCC library in Sylva, NC is one of the most relaxing places on campus. I’m a person who loves to read, so to be surrounded by all those books is soothing. Again, you’ll find friendly staff members who are willing to help in anyway possible. They have 24 computer workstations and there is always one available. There is also enough seating for 120 people, so you’re bound to find a quite corner for yourself.
Help
If you’re having problems with a class or just with writing a paper there are a couple options available to you at SCC campus in Sylva, NC.
The Learning Assistance Center At the SCC Learning Assistance Center you will find a staff that specializes in subjects ranging from math to English. They are there to help students who are writing a paper, need help with research, are having trouble with a math problem, etc. They are available on a drop-in basis, but I think it’s best to call ahead or send an email letting them know what you need help with and when would be a good time to stop by. But what if you need help in a course on a continuous basis?
Tutoring
Tutoring is available on the SCC campus and is usually done by students and teachers. Students who are tutors must have taken the course you need help with and have gotten an A to be able to tutor you in that subject. You will be able to meet with a tutor when it is convenient for you, you won’t be expected to try and find a tutor that is available. Instead they will find a tutor who can help you when you have time.
Online Classes
This is one of my favorite things about SCC. SCC in Sylva, NC offers lots of online classes and adds more classes on a continuous basis. I have taken probably 30 online classes at SCC and this is my first year taking classes at the actual campus. The online classes allow you access to teachers who are in another part of the state or in another state all together. It also allows you to attend more courses, find a decent job, and attend class when you have the time. Most of the online instructors are very good at teaching online courses, but some aren’t. Just like students, online classes aren’t for everyone and some instructors find it hard to get involved in the online classes. Other instructors are naturals, even those who have never taught online classes before. One of my favorite instructors at SCC, Kurt Berger, taught his first online class in 2005 and I was lucky enough to be part of that class. He is a wonderful online instructor and I hope he teaches more classes that I need in the future.
Students
Last but not least, there’s the students are SCC in Sylva, NC. The students are very diverse and there are a lot of them, especially since online classes were made available. SCC has online students who live on the other side of the state and in other states as well. There are more female students than male (66% to 34%). There are also older students who attend SCC. In fact, 51% of the students at SCC are 25 years of age or older. So if you’re intimidated about going back to school, SCC is the perfect place to go. Most of the students at SCC help make the school an interesting place; bringing their intellectual abilities to the classes and helping to expand the knowledge of their fellow students.
This is why SCC in Sylva, NC is the best in the world. They have great instructors, courses, students, and as you’ve seen, so much more. If you live in WNC, you should really look into attending SCC. Even if you plan on attending a university afterwards, SCC in Sylva, NC will help introduce you to college in a much less threatening way than a university will. You will never regret attending SCC, but you will be upset when your time there is over. When it’s time for me to move on from SCC I know it will be an upsetting day, because I don’t think any other college could offer the feeling you get from attending SCC in Sylva, NC.
