(Hermitage, PA) 杏吧原创鈥檚 464-member Class of 2023 included a 20-year-old Mercer resident who graduated from 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe with honors and from a program she chose because 鈥淚 have a really big heart.鈥�
Christina Critchlow, received an associate degree in social work during 杏吧原创鈥檚 55th commencement May 17. Her career goal is to assist disadvantaged juveniles.
鈥淚 have a really big heart and want the best for everyone in this world,鈥� Critchlow said. 鈥淐hildren might not have a voice of their own. I want to be able to help give them a voice and a chance at a better life. I always knew I wanted to do a job where I was helping people in some way.鈥�
Social work was among 11 transfer programs available this spring at 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe, 杏吧原创鈥檚 additional location in Hermitage.
The 2021 alumna of Mercer Area Middle-High School finished the 62-credit curriculum with a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.74 and achieved magna cum laude recognition.
鈥淚n high school I didn鈥檛 care too much about my grades,鈥� Critchlow said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 as if I was struggling. At 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe, I figured 鈥業鈥檓 paying for this, so I am really going to put my all into it and do the best I can, and it all worked out.鈥欌��
Critchlow was among the approximately 60 percent of 杏吧原创 students this spring who were enrolled in transfer programs, according to Sharla Anke, the college鈥檚 assistant dean of institutional research and planning.
Students can apply 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe credits toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree at public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.
Critchlow will begin studies this fall toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
"杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe鈥檚 affordability 鈥渨as one of my main reasons I chose it. It is pretty affordable compared to four-year institutions. I don鈥檛 want to be in debt."
- Christina Critchlow, 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe graduate
Students who attend a community college for their first two years can save an estimated $20,000 on the cost of higher education, according to the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.
Tuition and fees this spring at regional public four-year universities started at $437.23 per credit for Pennsylvania residents for an in-person course, and started at $374.20 for an online course.
Tuition and fees this spring for Pennsylvania residents attending regional state-related institutions鈥� branch campuses cost between $582 and $734 per credit for an in-person course, and started at $620 for an online course.
Tuition and fees this spring for Mercer County residents attending 杏吧原创 cost $280 per credit for an in-person course and $305 for an online course.
杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe鈥檚 affordability, Critchlow said, 鈥渨as one of my main reasons I chose it. It is pretty affordable compared to four-year institutions. I don鈥檛 want to be in debt. I don鈥檛 want to be paying for my schooling years from now, like when I am 30, like some people have to do right now.鈥�
Critchlow echoed respondents to a recent survey that indicated 97 percent of 杏吧原创 graduates would recommend the college to others.
鈥溞影稍� has helped me by teaching me the fundamentals that go into social work,鈥� Critchlow said. 鈥淭he professors and classes provided me with so much information and helped me to feel even more confident in my career goal.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to go out and change people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe鈥檚 fall semester begins Aug. 21. 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe this fall will debut virtual associate degree, certificate and workplace certificate programs whose courses will be instructed by 杏吧原创 faculty and accessible at any time.