Whether your are considering USI to complete a degree you previously started or starting a new educational journey, we are here to encourage you and help you achieve success. You are not alone in your educational journey and others, just like you will be, have been successful. Read just some of our success stories of individuals who have faced obstacles but have found success!
Brittany Beck's Story
Brittany Beck earned her Bachelor's degree from USI in 2012. Since that time, she has been working as a nurse and is currently at Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Center in Evansville. Like many adult learners, she returned to earn a degree to acquire new skills to open up new career opportunities. "After years in oncology nursing, I realized I wanted more autonomy and the ability to offer a higher level of care to my patients," she says. "I knew I could do more, and I wanted to bridge that gap between bedside nursing and advanced clinical decision-making. Becoming a nurse practitioner felt like the right next step."
Brittany recently shared with Online and Adult Learning some thoughts about her journey and how she was able to earn her degree while also balancing her family and professional obligations.
How did taking online classes assist you in earning your MSN degree? As a working parent with financial responsibilities, stepping away from my job to pursue a degree just wasn’t realistic. The flexibility of online learning allowed me to continue supporting my family while advancing my education.
What aspects about online learning surprised you? I honestly thought online learning might feel disconnected or impersonal, but I was surprised by how engaged and supported I felt. The structure of the program, Zoom meetings, and communication with faculty created a real sense of community, even from a distance.
Some may feel that learning online is impersonal. In what ways did you feel engaged with your learning, even as an online learner? I felt engaged through interactive assignments, discussion posts, and case studies that connected directly to real-world nursing practice. I also appreciated being able to apply what I was learning immediately in my clinical settings, which kept the content relevant and meaningful.
What advice/guidance do you have for a prospective student like you (working full time, obligations outside of work, etc.) who are maybe thinking about a degree but aren’t sure it is the right decision for them? If I can do it, you can too! I balanced school while working and raising two small children, and it is possible with the right mindset. My advice is to do your research—many employers offer tuition assistance, and USI offers a high-quality education that’s also affordable. Make a plan to balance your time, give yourself grace, and know that you don’t have to be perfect—just committed. The payoff is worth it.
Alice Burris's Story
Alice Burris always intended to earn a college degree; it just took her 39 years to achieve what she started in 1984. But then, nothing in Alice's life went according to plan; at least, not her plan.
After successfully completing her B.S. Criminal Justice degree at USI, Alice has made the decision to further her education by enrolling in the USI Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree.
Read More about Alice's journey, the obstacles she has overcome, what led her to pursue a degree later in life, and the role that perseverance had in her success as a student.
