College Without The Commitment
-->By: Morgan Bond
Updated: September 14, 2010
Nichole Cogswell said the Smart Start program that Texas State Technical College offers has made it possible for her to go back to school.
"The program is normally $1200, so it's only $100 for 15 weeks. That's not bad at all," Cogswell said.
Nichole currently works at United as a cashier, but wants to learn more about the Chemical Dependency Counseling program TSTC offers.
"I've always wanted to help people and guide people. It's kind of been my passion for the last couple of years," Cogswell said.
The Smart Start program is something TSTC justed started. It's a pilot program that allows students to get their feet wet and see what college is all about. The program costs $100 to enroll in and is set up similar to a regular college semester. The curriculum is also tailored for each student, giving them a few classes they are interested in taking.
"They come in, fill out their one page of paperwork, pay their fee and their in. The Student response to this has been amazing," Braid Sharp, with TSTC said.
If the student decided they like the program, they can continue their education by enrolling in more classes. If they don't like the program, they can drop out and all they lose is the $100 registration fee.
"I'm just going to step into it and see what it's like. Then I will go from there," Cogswell said.
