For Jessica Sparks, The University of Akron was a place where it all came together. A graduate student in the nurse anesthesia program, the Norton, Ohio, native was initially drawn to campus by legacy. Her mother, an influential figure in her life, is a two-time UA graduate herself.
But once Jessica visited UA, the legacy experience became her own. Coming to campus as a post-secondary high school student, she became an orientation leader at UA. “Being here was super fun. I made a lot of good friends that way.
Now, soon to graduate with a degree in nurse anesthesia, she knew the choice would lead to the future she wanted for herself. “The statistics here for the nurse anesthesia program are really outstanding. They have a 98% first-time board pass rate and a 0% attrition rate. So, I know that once you get into the program here, which is very competitive, you’re very well supported and feel very competent and well prepared.”
Jessica calls herself a fan of the Akron experience. “The University of Akron is a really great place to go to college. There’s a great sense of family and community here,” she says, calling the chance to be close to home an added benefit. “A lot of people want to go out of state, but I feel I was put much further ahead in life by choosing a university local to me. I have no undergraduate student debt.
“If you’re considering The University of Akron, my advice would be, don’t hesitate. I enjoyed my entire undergraduate experience here. I was very well prepared for my career in nursing, and I also feel my graduate program is going to prepare me even more for my future.”
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