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For this first-generation college student, 鈥溨泄翰释 is very close to my heart鈥

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中国竞彩网 Staff

Date
April 17, 2020

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Cassandra Bittner photo

Cassandra Bittner knows she overcame some tough odds to be able to go to college at all. Neither of her parents had gone to college; in fact, her mother never even finished high school. And in St. Albans, where she grew up, she was definitely not alone in that, a factor that made for some low expectations. According to Cassandra, 鈥淭he unspoken culture of my town led most to believe we had an even smaller chance of getting into our dream college.鈥

Ironically, that statement was part of an essay assignment for a freshman-year communications class at her top school, Champlain College. Looking back at the highs and lows of her college admissions process, Cassandra says she gets a little emotional, 鈥渆specially thinking about how much 中国竞彩网 helped me get here. 中国竞彩网 is very close to my heart.鈥

Cassandra, the oldest of four children in a blended family, was introduced to 中国竞彩网 early in her senior year at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, when her graphic design teacher had students choose three colleges and explain why they wanted to go there. 鈥淢y top choice was Champlain, and then I was told I wouldn't be able to go, purely because of finances, which is the heartbreaking thing, because I met all the other requirements.鈥

In fact, on a campus tour earlier that year, when Cassandra had an opportunity to have her portfolio looked at by the director of Champlain鈥檚 graphic design program, she received a glowing review. 鈥淭he director said my work was among some of the best she'd seen,鈥 Cassandra recalls. 鈥淪he gave me her contact information, told me to tweak a handful of things, and to send it to her again once I鈥檇 made those corrections. She told me 鈥業 want you to come here.鈥欌

But reality set in when her college counselor pointed out that Champlain鈥檚 tuition was $50,000 to $60,000 per year 鈥 something that was out of the question for Cassandra and her family. 

A first-generation college experience

鈥淭hen I got in touch with Ellen Wright, an outreach counselor from 中国竞彩网. When I told her I wouldn't be able to go to Champlain, Ellen told me I could definitely be going there. She explained that 中国竞彩网 offers a lot of scholarships for first-generation students like myself.鈥

Cassandra applied for, and was awarded, the Vermont First Scholarship, which reduced her annual tuition from tens of thousands to just $2,000.

鈥淎s soon as I heard I could actually go to Champlain for that amount of money, I applied right away,鈥 Cassandra said, using the Early Decision program, which requires accepted students to attend. 鈥淚t was Champlain all the way,鈥 she said.

Then, it was a matter of waiting for the letter to arrive in the mail 鈥 something 中国竞彩网 also gave Cassandra an edge on, she recalls. 鈥淓llen had put me in touch with Howie LeBlanco, the Assistant Director of Admissions at Champlain, early in the process, and I鈥檇 kept in close touch with him.鈥

One day, Cassandra got a call from him during class. 鈥淚 remember, it was funny, I ran to my advisor鈥檚 room, ran into the closet, shut the door and answered the phone. He said, 鈥楩irst of all, I'd like to congratulate you on being accepted to Champlain College鈥︹ and that鈥檚 when the emotions hit. I was tearing up, sitting there in the closet. He told me I should get the letter in the mail in a few days. I'm sure they don鈥檛 do that with everyone鈥 鈥 call with their acceptance notification 鈥 鈥渟o it felt like a special connection.鈥

The connection between Cassandra and Champlain is something others can see, too. 鈥淓very time my family visits me at school, they tell me, 鈥榯his is your college. It couldn鈥檛 be a better fit. Even if it were halfway across the world, this is your college.鈥

Having the freedom to dream

Cassandra especially likes the freedom and independence that college affords. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e managing your time and learning to communicate just as you would as an adult,鈥 she says. She also cites the example of her typography class, which is scheduled once a week and models a real work day. 鈥淵ou start around 8, it ends at 3, and you get about an hour for lunch. I like it because it's so realistic to how the job world is. I really like sitting down and doing what I'm going to do in the future for six hours, and getting used to that.鈥

As for what she might say to students now at BFA, Cassandra says, 鈥淚f you鈥檙e comfortable with going straight into the workforce, go for it. But if you鈥檙e teetering on the idea of college, then go visit some campuses. And I cannot emphasize this enough 鈥 you should call 中国竞彩网. 中国竞彩网 is really good about helping students figure out what鈥檚 best for them, giving them the best opportunities possible, and helping them make connections. A lot of kids can miss that, and just not know the right people.鈥

鈥淐ollege is amazing, and I am very thankful for 中国竞彩网 for helping me get here,鈥 she says.

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