Make the system work for you

With a law degree and 15 years as a stay-at-home mom under my belt, I'm not the traditional college student, and I'm not alone. Many students are attending college under unique circumstances at various stages of their lives.

Based on my experiences as a nontraditional student, I will share tips in each issue of the Accent, on how to make the most of your time at Austin Community College, whether you are fresh out of high school or starting over like me.

Make the system work for you

While applying for internships last semester, I received the following response from a local media outlet:

"Our corporate policy limits acceptance to upper-class students at four-year schools. I encourage you to re-apply, should you enroll in a four-year program."

Okay, while that was less painful than a poke in the eye, it hurt nonetheless. Despite that company's policy, there are several companies that do work with community colleges to help students gain workforce experience and prepare for growth in their chosen industry. Sometimes you just need to be a little creative and make your own path.

Combine available programs to meet your goals

Although ACC offers degrees and certificates in 93 disciplines, you may have to be inventive to get exactly what you need. This can sometimes be achieved by mixing and matching degree programs. While this approach does take extra planning and may require a few extra classes, it can pay off by leading to multiple degrees or certificates at graduation.

In order to study multimedia journalism, which is not a specific degree program at ACC, I combined classes from the journalism and radio TV film (RTF) departments. This sort of multi-disciplinary approach provides career flexibility and can be a viable option when transferring to another school is not.

If you already have a degree or have taken classes at another college, make sure to get your transcript evaluated. Previous college credits can help you achieve your goals faster.

Design your own internship

If the main discipline under which you are studying does not have an internship program, you may be able to set one up with a related discipline. For example, the journalism department does not have a full-fledged internship program, but the RTF department does. By interning at a radio station, I am satisfying the RTF program requirements while getting the broadcast journalism experience that I need.

Work around financial challenges

If the number of courses you can take is limited by finances, consider using some of the free time in your schedule to volunteer with a professional organization or club that will allow you to sharpen your skills and acquire knowledge in your chosen profession. Volunteering is another way to get your foot in the door and further your professional goals without losing momentum. Sometimes roadblocks and hardships occur, but don't give up on your goals.

Like anything else, education is a tool designed to help you realize your ambitions. Decide what your objectives are and see what resources are available. Talk to your professors, department heads and even fellow students to get ideas on how to make it work.