The decision to pursue a college degree is a serious one. Due to the significant financial, time and lifestyle commitments being a college student requires, it is only natural that those who go down this path wish to feel comfortable with and confident in their choice of institution. As such, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to higher education, and people are inevitably going to look for different things when searching for their perfect school. For many, attending a larger state college in the heart of a big, bustling city is ideal. Others prefer environments that provide smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.
Francesco Gioffre, a graduate of Tiffin University and Terra State Community College’s DragonNext Program has had the chance to experience both, and claims he much prefers the intimate and flexible settings of TU and Terra.
“Before I enrolled in the DragonNext Program, the out-of-state schools I attended were large, each having more than 25,000 enrolled undergraduates. The average class size was between 100-200 students, and this led to more in-class distractions and limited personal attention from professors. After switching, I quickly realized how important it is that I personally have access to an education where I can have that one-on-one dynamic with my mentors. I didn’t feel like just a number after I transferred – I felt like part of a community, and I didn’t know how much I needed that until after I experienced it.”
Francesco began his journey with DragonNext in 2019, taking classes at Terra State’s campus. He attributes the ease of transferring credits to Kelly Petrosino Manager of the Northwest Academic Centers. Only needing to complete eight classes to earn his associate’s degree, he quickly finished before enrolling in TU’s bachelor’s of business program in the fall of 2020.
“Kelly planned my transition perfectly,” Francesco explained. “She made sure I understood exactly which classes I would need to take and when to take them, and provided endless support if I ever hit a roadblock. She also checked in on me frequently to ensure I was adjusting well.”
Francesco knew before enrolling that no matter what this next chapter of his life held, that he wanted to continue his lifelong passion for athletic coaching and is grateful to TU and Terra not only for affording him a wonderful education in a comfortable setting, but for encouraging his love of sports and mentorship through it all.
“Thanks to Terra and Tiffin, I now have my BBA in business administration, and I’m continuing my education with TU in pursuit of my MBA in finance. I’m beyond grateful for each and every opportunity I’ve been afforded while here, but especially for receiving an education without needing to sacrifice coaching. I’m a current graduate assistant for club and recreational sports and spend a significant amount of time recruiting high school athletes to bring their talents to Tiffin.”
According to Francesco, the coursework he completed at TU and Terra proved useful to him as he entered professional circles post-graduation.
Original source can be found here.
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