Bergen Community College

A.A.S.

I attended Bergen part-time and started working full-time right out of high school 10 years ago. I was never that “into” academics and thought I was building a better future for myself by working hard at a great job and not focusing on academics. I eventually stopped going to school to work more hours. I became a father a few years later and continued to work, putting in as much time as I could at my job, sometimes 80 hours or more. Overtime was everything for me because the pay was great. A little over a year ago I realized I could make the same money or more with the right degree … with fewer hours away from my family. Work experience is important but I now know a degree is the key to a well-paying position. My advice to anyone is the same I was told 10 years ago: finish college now; you have your whole life to work hard at a job. I now attend Bergen full-time, to finish what I started for myself and my family.

I chose Bergen because it offers the exact degree program I am interested in. Bergen offers so many degree and certificate programs, it makes it easy to chose what fits you best. Actually, I’ve checked and I don’t believe any other community college or two-year school in N.J. offers the same academic diversity. Also, Bergen is a great deal considering the cost of private two-year or four-year schools. My goal is to get my A.A.S. and then hopefully find a job that will help pay for my Bachelor’s. There is also the possibility that Bergen students who do well can get an academic scholarship at a four-year school.

A majority of people are in college for similar degree programs. Try to set your self apart from the pack. For example, I am interested in broadcast television but I am in the Drafting program. If I can’t be in a TV studio, then I want to design them. There are plenty of choices at Bergen.

My favorite experience so far is directing a television class. It was great to call the shots for a taped television exercise with my classmates.