Stress-free college search: community colleges and free tools

The college search can be stressful, but there is free online help, and for many, the neighborhood community college is the best investment for freshmen.

Understanding why students switch majors eases some of that stress.

There is a high rate of students switching majors for solid reasons. Science shows the prefrontal cortex, the section of the brain for decision-making, not fully developing until age 25, which supports the high rate of students changing majors. Another reason is that when students attend higher education, they are exposed to a wider range of career choices.

The numbers show how common it is for students to switch majors.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) found that:

44% of students change their major at least once during their undergraduate studies.

16% of students change their major more than twice.

37% of students remain in their original major throughout their undergraduate career.

Some ambitious students may imagine designing a curriculum that aligns with future leadership goals.

A freshman may want to attend Duke University because it offers a unique opportunity to create one’s own course under Program II to prepare for a career as the next President of the United States.

A Leadership, Policy, and Democratic Citizenship for National Service Program would include courses in political science, history, economics, law, ethics, and communication, with practical skills like public speaking, negotiation, and policy analysis. The student may even create a policy proposal to add to a portfolio showcasing skills and real-world experience needed to become an informed, ethical, and effective national leader.

Community colleges provide transferable coursework to prepare students for advanced education.

Sandhills Community College offers supportive courses in political science, economics and government with its Associate in Arts University Transfer program.

Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) offers the same, but no political science.

Consider Cassidy Harris, whose experience at CCCC shows the impact of exploring and touring colleges.

Cassidy Harris was not sure about her career field in high school and considered the medical field, but a tour of CCCC’s Lasers & Photonics Technology Program changed her mind and her life.

Harris, a Moore County native and 2018 high school graduate, earned a laser degree from CCCC in 2020 and a BS in engineering technology from East Carolina University, while working full time, in 2024.

She has worked at MACOM in the Research Triangle Park for five years, receiving multiple promotions, including to engineer in 2023.

MACOM is a product development and research company pushing the limits of frequency, releasing over 150 new custom products yearly.

Read Cassidy’s full story here.

While community colleges may offer some of the same common programs, they are unique and need to be researched.

CCCC offers automotive restoration technology and motorcycle mechanics, which are career‑focused technical programs with track records of providing fast job placement with high wages. A new program is truck driving.

SCC has programs to earn a pilot’s license, a massage therapist and a radiography technician license, all high-wage positions.

Whether students aim for technical careers or four-year university transfer, tools like Appily can simplify the planning process.

Appily is a free planning platform to explore over 4,000 colleges, enjoy virtual tours, and receive personalized matches. It includes a scholarship database to find financial aid opportunities and a digital college planner, and quizzes to guide planning and timelines. Appily offers a Direct Admission feature where colleges extend admission and scholarship offers without the traditional application process. Because these features are free to use, Appily simplifies the college search journey.

Jan. 28, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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