December 16, 2015 at 2:29 p.m.
Retired Army medic jump-starts career with credit for prior learning at Nicolet College
Retired Army medic jump-starts career with credit for prior learning at Nicolet College
But when she first left, she didn't know for sure if she wanted to leap right into a second career after spending more than half of her life in the military.
"I knew I wanted to go to school for something, but I wanted it to be something fun," she said in a press release. "I've always loved baking and pastries, so I enrolled in Nicolet's Culinary program."
She had also considered the college's Nursing program to draw on her past experience. "But when I looked at all of the prerequisites to get into the Nursing program, it was a lot. I wasn't ready for that so I veered toward Culinary."
Then one day the Conover resident met with the Veterans Administration service officer in Vilas County. He told her about the Credit for Prior Learning program at Nicolet that grants college credits to students with considerable skills and knowledge in a given field.
"The next day I met with Nicolet staff from the Nursing program and was sold right then and there," she said. "I knew right away what I wanted to do."
Nicolet was able to set up the test-out process in health care thanks to a 2014 grant the college received from the federal government.
"It's like a fast-track for veterans," Rios explained. "You can actually get college credit for what you already know. It's pretty awesome."
With help from Bobbi Apfel, tutor and health career and placement coach at Nicolet, Rios reviewed the testing material to prepare for the exams.
She passed with flying colors, earning 22 credits for the skills and knowledge she acquired as an Army medic.
"Next fall I'll be in the Nursing program, which is incredibly exciting," she said. "This saved me a lot of time and money and that's huge."
Rios also offered advice to other people, veterans and non-veterans alike, thinking about attending Nicolet.
"Just go for it," she said. "Take the leap and you'll be proud you did. Everybody at Nicolet was so helpful. They're going to do everything within their power to help you succeed."
For more information about the Credit for Prior Learning program at Nicolet, or the college in general, call (715) 365-4493, 1-800-544-3039, ext. 4493; TTY 1-800-947-3529 or 711.
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