ESCANABA – New for summer at Bay College is the FYE103, Career Exploration course. This course, along with several others, provides students with the opportunity to get started or to stay continuously enrolled in college.

Being offered for the first time, June 29- Aug. 7, the FYE103, Career Exploration course is perfect for the undecided student.

This one credit course is a six week course and will meet one day a week from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the Escanaba Campus and will assist students in exploring the various career options available in today’s workforce.

Cindy Carter, executive director of admissions services, explains why such a course is critical for the college bound student. “Often times we hear students, especially the high school senior, confess they’re not starting college because they don’t know what they want to study.”

“With the cost of college being what it is, it’s no surprise students want to make sure they have a declared major and clear pathway before they head off to the universities where they dive into student loans and begin accruing large amounts of debt. We are hearing from more and more students away at the universities, they are spending $5,000 or more a semester taking university courses and have no idea what they want to study. It’s placing a heavy financial burden on students very early in their college journey,” Carter added.

“Financial aid funding is limited. Recent changes to federal financial aid are also contributing to the importance of declared majors. Getting the most of limited funding and avoiding excessive debt upon completion of college means choosing the right major and career path,” added Laurie Spangenberg, Bay College director of financial aid.

“A student will be motivated to succeed by building a set of skills and experiences that can lead to fulfilling employment after graduation.”

Bay College provides some of the lowest tuition in the state of Michigan. The college is committed to helping students find their path earlier which can help them save thousands of dollars in tuition and fees over time.

“It’s not only important to save money but also time,” added Carter. “The sooner we can assist a student with deciding on a career, the shorter their time to completion. Research also shows, when students find their passion and are working towards a goal, they are more likely to stay on course, complete their college degree and find the career they love.”

While there are many resources and tools available online for individuals to access, it can be a challenge and daunting task to do alone. The local Michigan Works Centers do a great job assisting individuals with job searches. The difference with the FYE 103 course, is students will have guided instruction over the course of six weeks to assist them with their research.

Summer I courses begin May 18, and Summer II courses begin June 29. Registration is currently taking place.

For a complete listing of summer offerings, visit www.baycollege.edu or contact the Office of Admissions at (906) 217-4010 or email admissions@baycollege.edu for more information.