For this Blog, I have asked Anne Boyer from North Iowa Area
Community College (NIACC) in Mason City, IA to share some of her insights when
it comes to preparing for and choosing a college. Anne has participated in many presentations
with ICAN through her work at NIACC and also MC-CAN. Even though it is a very busy time of year
for Anne, she was very gracious in providing answers to the following
questions.
Thank you!
John - ICAN Waterloo and Hiawatha Centers
Brief Bio:
My name is Anne Boyer and I have worked as an Enrollment
Advisor at North Iowa Area Community College for the last 9 years. Working in college admissions is incredibly
rewarding as we are given the rare opportunity to see students at the beginning
of their educational journey; to work through the nerves together, experience
the excitement, and to be a part of a moment that so often changes the
trajectory of that student’s life.
What kind of trends
are you seeing at your college as far college majors that students are
enrolling in (vocational-technical/general education etc.)?
NIACC has traditionally provided a great education and
environment for students wishing to work on their first two years of general
education courses in preparation for a Bachelor’s degree. We continue to see a substantial portion of
our student body pursuing that path. With
that said, in recent years, we have seen many students pursue 2 year
career-focused program options. These
educational tracks have been supported more and more by scholarships and
federal/state funding programs simply because they are shown to satisfy the
growing employment needs of our state.
Two-year programs can also be a more affordable option; yet one that
still leads toward careers that are fulfilling.
Has enrollment at
your college been on the increase, decrease, or staying level, in recent years
and in what areas?
Last year, NIACC saw an increase in enrollment but are
looking at leveling off for this current school year. Again, we are seeing students continue to
pursue transfer programs as well as career-focused associate degree options.
Please give your
thoughts on students taking college credit classes in high school (Should
everyone take them? How many classes are
recommended? What happens if they fail?).
The opportunities that exist now for students to take classes
while they are in high school are without a doubt, incredibly valuable. Taking dual-enrollment coursework can provide
an opportunity to sample college-level coursework, explore career paths through
introductory level courses, and to save money on the costs of a college
education. While, the opportunity is
great, I do not believe that it is the right path for everyone. Working with your high school counselor and
local college will help determine if taking college credits in high school is
right for you and how many credits will be best. While there are many benefits to
participating in dual-enrollment, there are consequences too. Students who don’t do well, fail classes,
repeatedly sign up for courses and then withdraw from them; can jeopardize
their financial aid and academic standing for future educational
endeavors. It is important to consider
the balance of high school expectations and activities when deciding to
participate in college credit classes in high school.
How important is it
to be involved in activities in college?
Involvement in clubs, organizations, and activities outside
the classroom during college is incredibly important. In fact, I truly believe it can be just as
important a source of personal development as the academic classes you
take. Joining clubs and organizations
allows students to meet new people, to learn a new skill or talent, and just
might lead a student toward their eventual career. In fact, in college, I volunteered as a
student ambassador where I was able to give campus tours, host students
overnight, and help students and families navigate their college exploration –
without a doubt, that experience led me to the rewarding career I hold today!
How important are
college visits and when should students take them?
Taking college visits is very important to figuring out a
student’s college decision. It sounds
cliché but it’s true that you will “get a feeling” when you arrive at your
future college. In fact, we even
encourage our local students to schedule a college visit of NIACC despite
already living very close to campus. Visiting
several colleges (I recommend at least 3), helps students figure out what is
important to them about the college they choose. Is it the size of school, distance from home,
student housing, cost or something else that matters most? College visits should start during a
student’s junior year of high school at the very latest. This ensures that as a student you are early
enough to tackle various scholarship applications, meet financial aid
deadlines, and any admission requirement deadlines.
Does your college
offer any classes or services to help students explore careers?
NIACC does offer career services to students. We teach a course called Career Decision
Making where students can earn college credit to take career inventories,
participate in job shadows, and short-term internships, all while exploring
possible career paths. We offer that
course to several of our area high school students as well as our traditional
age students. Our website has some basic
career exploration resources. In fact,
during your individual NIACC campus visit, our Enrollment Advisors may even be
able to help you narrow down your options.
Is it wise to work
either work-study or off campus, for college students?
I believe it is. Most
work-study jobs or part-time college student jobs are flexible and do not
require very many hours. Your main focus
should be your studies but there is value in mastering the art of maintaining varying
schedules, balancing multiple responsibilities, and practicing life-long soft
skills like customer service and communication skills. Working while in college can also provide an
opportunity to meet more people which is always a good thing! If balancing school and work become too much,
don’t be afraid to scale back work hours so that your studies continue to go
well.
