Sometimes you get what you pay for. Sometimes you get what's available…read more
Quality, however, is independent of cost and availability.
So if someone tells you a school is cheap therefore bad, or expensive therefore good; or tells you you have no choice, look them right in the eye and say, "I did not have brains with that woman."
Aims is a typical community college, offering vocational programs suitable for the region. Besides the usual automotive, agricultural, nursing, welding, business, etc., there are programs in oil and gas technologies, aviation (darned good if I say so myself), "fire science" (a better name might be anti-fire science, since we're not in the Fahrenheit 451 world yet), and a few others.
All the staff and teachers with whom I have dealt have been genuinely friendly and helpful when help was needed, to myself as well as to others.
If you are considering enrolling at Aims, and wonder about the social atmosphere, you might like to know that Aims boasts at least one racial-oriented club, one sexist club, and also at least one sex-club. From my experience, social life comes automatically in college; it's the academics you need to focus on. So if you are really obsessed with your hobby or avocation, whether that is nursing, Christianity, automobiles, or sex, then join the appropriate club promoted here at Aims. But if you want to focus on academics and avocation, you'll find that making friends and hanging out come very naturally. I was a little surprised to see no Islamic club or martial arts club, and disappointed to see no chess or hiking club listed among the offerings on the Student Clubs and Organizations. But not all groupings of people are interested in everything.
Aims is growing. I believe the quality of the school, administration, and course offerings are improving. If you're graduating high school and uncertain about college, a year at Aims will help you focus your aim in life. If you've been out of school for a while and wondering about a career change, Aims is one of the greatest resources to get the training you need in at least certain career plans.
Addendum: Aims gives no discounts for senior citizens. If you are a senior citizen and wish to audit a course, you are charged the full tuition. The University of Northern Colorado allows senior citizens to audit courses tuition free, although lab and other fees may have to be paid. I understand that Colorado State University (Ft. Collins) also welcomes senior citizens to audit classes tuition free.