Many students start at a community college, unsure of what they want to study or what they want to do next. But what truly matters is using your time purposefully, gaining experience, getting involved, building relationships, and finding your place on campus. Before he graduated from NHCC with a business transfer pathway AS degree, that’s exactly what Casey did!
If you’re thinking about transferring to a four-year institution after NHCC, this is the Q&A for you!
What were your intentions when you first started at NHCC?
I honestly had no idea what I wanted to be doing with my life. So I figured I’d start with my local community college and see where it took me. If you told me I’d be getting my associate’s degree with a 3.9 GPA my senior year of high school, I would have laughed in your face!
How has your NHCC experience contributed to where you are today?
My experience at NHCC has been truly transformative. After struggling academically in high school, NHCC gave me a fresh start and the opportunity to rebuild my GPA. I also had the privilege of learning from incredible professors who supported me and served as valuable references for jobs, internships, and scholarships. Most importantly, it taught me the value of being part of a strong and supportive community.
What did you like about going to school at NHCC?
North Hennepin Community College really puts the “community” in community college. When I first arrived, all I did was go to class and then go home. It wasn’t till one day, I was going for a walk and saw an ad for Student Senate and decided to check it out, and I’m so glad I did. I met so many amazing people at North Hennepin, and I’m so sad to leave them all as soon as I met them.
If you could sum up your experience at NHCC in a sentence, what would it be?
North Hennepin Community College was the perfect place for me to begin my academic journey!
How did you know you wanted to transfer after you were done here?
I made it this far! Why not finish off the four-year degree?
What helped you decide which school you wanted to transfer to?
My amazing ethics professor, Dr. Jensen, helped me. While applying for schools to transfer to,
I selected every Minnesota school in the Common App, just to see what they would offer for scholarships. I asked Dr. Jensen if I could use him as a reference, and he was happy to oblige.
He noticed that one of the schools I applied for was Gustavus Adolphus College, the same school he graduated from! He encouraged me to look into the school, and I found that it was everything
I was looking for in a school!
How did NHCC assist you in the transfer process?
My transfer process was incredibly smooth. Once I completed the Business Transfer Pathway A.S. degree, all I had to do was apply for graduation and send my transcripts to Gustavus. From there, I was all ready to go! I’m still amazed at how simple the process was. NHCC made the transfer process unbelievably easy. It got to the point where I went to my counselor to see if I was missing anything because it felt too good to be true!
What should other students know about transferring from NHCC to another school?
Make sure to research your options and figure out your choice as soon as possible. I was set on going to the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management for quite a while, until my counselor showed me that they’d only accept about half of my credits, and I’d have to go to the
U of MN for at least a semester before I was even told if I’d be accepted!
Approximately how much money do you estimate you saved by starting at NHCC?
I’ve actually done the math on this already! My total tuition for my entire associate’s degree was just under $13,000, which is about the average cost of attending a Minnesota college for just one semester. By starting at NHCC and then transferring, students can save roughly $38,000!
How did you feel during your first semester after transferring?
I can’t lie; I was initially feeling extremely homesick and missing all the great people back at NHCC, but after the first few weeks, it’s only been uphill. Gustavus is an amazing school, and it has all the same qualities I loved about NHCC. I’ll continue to miss NHCC, but I’m loving my new home at Gustavus!
What are you studying now, and what are your career goals?
I am currently studying Business Management and Communications. While I am still exploring the exact direction I want to take, I am excited to apply the leadership and communication skills I’ve developed to a successful career in the business world.
Just in general, why should students go to college?
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of amazing jobs you can get without a college degree.
But with a college degree, your options and financial freedom will drastically expand. If you can afford college, please go!
To any new students, I plead with you to get involved. North Hennepin is such a fantastic, welcoming community with lovely people waiting to meet you.
While at NHCC, Casey got involved in Student Senate, worked on campus with our Public Safety department, and made the Dean’s List multiple times. This spring, he successfully transferred to Gustavus Adolphus College, where he’s continuing on as a business management student.
We wish you the very best in all of your academic and career endeavors, Casey! You’ve got a great future ahead of you, and we look forward to seeing what you’ll do next!