So you're graduating high school soon, and some of your friends are moving on to traditional four-year private schools, some are heading to community colleges, and some are taking advantage of your state's college system and going to state schools. What's right for you? If you're not quite ready to jump right into college, or if you're considering a career that doesn't necessarily require a four-year degree, you may want to research junior colleges.

Junior colleges are synonymous with community or two-year colleges. They provide pre-traditional college preparation and offer many advantages if you're not ready for the big leagues quite yet. Take a look at three things junior colleges do best.

Offer Smaller Class Sizes
Junior colleges are great for small class sizes, which means you get individualized attention. Because you're not fighting for valuable time with the prof, you may get more out of a class at a junior college than you would at a larger, four-year school. You'll also have more of an opportunity to get hands on, early on. If you're a theatre major, for instance, you may get a pretty good part in a production in your first or second semester, while those theatre students at, say, NYU will be probably be fetching the director coffee the first few years.

Provide Specialized Training
Junior colleges are ideal for those who know they'd like to get into a specific career. Future mechanics, carpenters and electricians, for instance, can skip right to junior and vocational schools to get specialized training their fields. Unlike four-year institutions, junior colleges offer specifically structured programs that allow you to get your hands dirty in your chosen field right from the begining.

Boast Flexible Schedules
Since many students that attend junior colleges work at least part-time, flexible class schedules are a major plus. Many classes are offered in the evenings and on weekends to accommodate the working college-goer!

If you're hesitant about making a four-year commitment right out of high school, consider junior universities and colleges and you'll find a flexible college lifestyle that suits you.

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