Community colleges serve a variety of students. There is no typical community college student. Most community college students fall into the traditional college-age group of under twenty-four; however, part-time students tend to be considerably older.

There are as many different types of people at community colleges as there are reasons for going to college.

Most community colleges offer opportunities for students to develop leadership skills, prepare for civic responsibility, explore diverse cultures and build a strong sense of college community. Many colleges offer an ambassador or peer advising program where students become more involved on campus. Ambassadors and peer advisers assist with campus outreach efforts, orientation, advising, and registration.

In addition, an official representative body of students represents all community colleges, usually student funded, student elected, and student regulated, functioning within a framework of policies adopted by the college. The student government group is the forum through which student concerns are channeled. Student government also plans, budgets, and coordinates activities for student enjoyment: free noontime concerts, lectures, recreational trips, cultural presentations, and comedy shows.

Every college offers a variety of clubs and organizations, and each college has different clubs depending upon the interests of the student body. Students are encouraged to broaden their horizons by participating in club activities.

California community colleges stretch up and down the length of California. Colleges belong to different athletic conferences, and colleges offer a variety of athletic opportunities. Colleges offer both men's and women's sports. Men may compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, water polo, and wrestling. Women may compete in basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, tennis, volleyball, water polo and golf. You should contact the college outreach office for a list of sports offered.

Many colleges offer competitive speech programs, vocal performance opportunities, as well as participation in orchestra, jazz band, string ensembles, and pep bands. There are also opportunities to be involved in theatre, both behind stage and on-stage.

Most students who attend community colleges live at home. However, a few colleges have housing on campus, and many colleges provide services for finding off-campus housing. Please visit the college's website or contact the college's admission office for housing information.