To explore new career options, students at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) are working hard studying throughout the school year and by taking various classes.
There are many types of students who attend MCCC.
Some are trying to switch careers, and others are trying to learn about the college experience.
“We do have traditional students,” Professor Susan Masciantonio said. “Most students are 18-22, and we have students who are coming back to school from the workforce.”
While some students come in right after high school, for MCCC student Anthony Percy, he spent several years in the food service industry before deciding to change to a career in criminal justice.
“I’m on track to graduate with my associate’s [degree] here at the end of 2027,” Percy said. “Then my plan is to go over to Villanova. Montco has a sister school, or partnership program, with a bunch of different four-year schools.”
MCCC student Amy Martin is swapping from full-time work as a graphic designer to a career as a baker.
“I am going to Montco for baking. I was originally working in graphic design, but with the rise of AI and such, I decided to switch careers,” Martin said.
According to Masciantonio, different types of students have varying levels of success in class.
“You have superstar students and those who struggle, but what I do notice is those students are more likely just to give up,” Masciantonio said. “I think now with AI and all the tools, it’s how much they do on their own and how much they are taking less from resources.”
Percy prefers assignments that involve discussions and asking questions.
“Something I have noticed in the community college experience is that it has been easy for me; I have had to study very little, but I have found that if I engage in the material, it’s like studying in the moment,” Percy said.
Because Percy succeeds in classes where he can ask questions about the content and participate in the class, he struggles with asynchronous classes.
“[Online classes] would not have allowed me to engage with material for better memory and retention or to gain rapport with professors the way in-person classes do,” Percy said. “In fact, it’s no coincidence that the only B I’ve gotten was the only online class I took.”
According to Martin, most classes are on the shorter side, but others can be as lengthy as five hours.