Returning to school without taking out loans
Student Liz Swem switches from Business to English Studies and unlocks her passion for helping others
A healthcare emergency forced Liz Swem to drop out of college six years ago at the age of 24. When she decided to return, she wanted to make sure she did so affordably. She chose ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals because she felt it provided the best path to a high-quality education at an affordable cost.
She used the Free Application for Federal Student Aid () to get a that took care of many of her expenses. She also received a scholarship for from Middletown to cover another portion of her costs.
Once on campus, she also signed up to participate in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Regionals Work Study program, which is open to needs-based applicants based on their FAFSA application. She works part-time with the university’s financial aid office and with TRIO Student Support Services, which provides an additional funding source to help her with her expenses.
“Between my scholarship, my Work Study job and my Pell Grant, my expenses are covered,” she said.
Swem also decided to change majors when she returned to school — from Business Management to in order to eventually study Library Science as a graduate student. She feared the change might mean extra time to complete her degree.
“The ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Plan actually made it very manageable,” she said of the switch. “My advisor helped me turn my business classes into a minor in Business, and my new major is English Studies. These will help give me what I need to get a graduate degree in library science.
“I felt relieved I could turn my business classes into a minor,” she continued. “Even though I’ve gone down a different path, I’ve learned something valuable with all my classes. And ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú has now given me the confidence to continue to work toward a master’s degree when I finish.”
In addition to her Work Study job, she also volunteers with the campus library to give her important on-the-job experience that will help her with resume building and professional connections as she progresses with her career plans.
“I have been impacted by many librarians during my studies,” she said. “They have been supportive, kind, and encouraging. I want to do that for others. I want to help them reach their goals.
“This experience has opened doors for me,” she said of her Work Study job. “ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú has helped me make sure I am prepared for my next steps.”
