People often ask why I chose to study at BMCC, a 2-year community college that offers an associate’s degree. 

Honestly, this decision was one of the most important and smartest choices I’ve ever made, and I know it’s not something most people would do. I turned down a substantial scholarship from a 4-year university in favor of attending a community college. Why?

Here’s the answer:

Most people might say, “Well, it’s New York City—there are plenty of opportunities, you can work after classes to make some money, and community college isn’t that hard.” But that’s exactly the kind of thinking I wanted to avoid. I even had to explain my decision during an interview with the U.S. Embassy visa consular. What I was really aiming for was the 2+2 program: study for two years at a community college and then transfer to a 4-year university (I’m considering Rutgers, Stony Brook, YYYY University, and my previous school, which kept my full scholarship if I decide to return). Plus, being in NYC means access to incredible internship opportunities, which you just don’t get in suburban or rural areas.

Before I transferred to BMCC, I had my doubts and mixed feelings—worrying about what people might think or if they’d judge me for this choice. But then I realized they don’t know my goals; they’re just making assumptions based on what they know. That doesn’t make them right. After discussing everything—academics, life at BMCC, internship opportunities—I was 100% confident in my decision.

Here’s what I’ve gained since starting at BMCC:

— Partial scholarships (tuition is only around $8k, and I received some scholarships)

— A paid marketing internship through CUNY CareerLaunch

— The best supervisor I could ask for at my job, who supports me both professionally and personally, and motivates me to be my best—a true source of energy

— The Transfer Network Program, which invites students to prepare for transferring to top schools in the U.S.

— The BMCC Honors Program, where I can choose my own honors classes. These classes are different from standard courses, offering more rigor, in-depth learning, and even a research requirement.

— A strong community: People at BMCC say I’m always helpful to others, and that’s built me a solid network. Whenever I’m on campus, even the Vice President or someone I don't remember says hi and strikes up a conversation. It’s not about being popular, but about having a sense of belonging—which is one of the most important things.

✅P.S. What you assume about me doesn’t define what I stand for, or what I’m striving toward, because you can’t truly understand what I’m doing.

✅Another P.S. Would I recommend someone from Uzbekistan to apply to BMCC? No, because you weren’t in my situation, and there are many great universities that offer what you’re looking for, including scholarships.

✅Final P.S. I enjoy writing things like this. Should I keep going