School Pride

When I was searching for a college to attend, there were three criteria that were very important to me: proximity to my home, affordability, and small class size. Estrella Mountain Community College met all of these.

I travel 14 miles round trip to EMCC 3 days a week. It is the closest college to my home by 10 miles. This is important because I can easily run errands before or after class since it is in my community. An added bonus is that I don’t have to take major streets or the freeway to get to school; this minimizes travel time as the route I take has very little, if any, traffic.

Affordability was the most important criteria for me. I am a mother of one. My husband and I agreed that while I am in school I will not work, thus giving me the ability to focus on my studies. Since it is tight living on one income, we decided a community college would be the best choice for me. By choosing a college that has a lower tuition rate than many others, we are able to live off of my husbands income and I am able to focus on school as well as spend time with our daughter. The cost per credit hour at EMCC is $76.  When I calculated tuition, child care, gas, and travel time, attending EMCC costs approximately one-fourth of what it would have cost to attend a university! After that there was really no question where I would start my college career.

Class size is important to me because instructors are more accessible with a smaller class. I know my instructors, and I feel that they are approachable, and available if I have questions or am struggling with a difficult concept. I have also gotten to know my classmates better because we work closely in groups and sit at tables instead of in rows in a giant lecture hall.  I have never been in a class with more than 30 students and I love this about EMCC. The classes are intimate and student centered, the environment in which I learn best.

In  conclusion, the proximity, affordability and small class size has contributed significantly to my college career as well as my future career as a nurse.  By traveling a short distance to school I have more time to study and take care of my family. Because of EMCC’s affordability I am able to focus on school by not working outside the home. The small class size facilitates learning, discussion, and success. I feel lucky to have found a school that satisfies not only all of my facility desires, but will also prepare me to be knowledgeable and successful in my field.

This scholarship is sponsored by CenturyLinkQuote.com.