Student Spotlight: Katherine Bauer

Katherine Bauer first began attending College of DuPage in fall 2008 while still a high school senior.

The homeschooled student decided to earn dual credit for both high school and college while fulfilling prerequisites toward the Associate Degree in Nursing program. While Bauer knew she wanted to be a nurse, she still wasn't sure which school to attend.

"During my senior year in high school, I was debating between COD and some private Christian colleges," she explained. "COD was attractive because of its close location and affordability. What tipped the balance was the Presidential Scholars Award. It's a two-year full tuition scholarship for those high school seniors with good ACT scores.

"I was concerned initially about the educational quality between a nursing program at a community college versus one at a four-year university. After experiencing just one semester in the ADN program, however, I was convinced that the academic quality of the COD Nursing program was exceptional."

The transition from being a homeschooled student to a student at the largest community college in the Midwest was difficult for Bauer. It took time for her to get used to the crowded hallways and unfamiliar instructors.

After being accepted into the Nursing program, it also took a little time to get used to the fact that, at 18, she was one of the youngest in her class.

"One's age itself doesn't prevent you from being admitted," she said. "The main disadvantage of being close to the youngest nursing student at COD was my lack of experience in the health care field. But that doesn't prevent someone from being accepted into the program."

Bauer earned her degree from COD in 2011 and is now working as an RN at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, where she worked as a CNA while attending COD. She also enjoyed being part of a month-long medical mission to Ghana in July 2011. In addition, she is pursuing a BSN through Liberty University.

"I'm an intensely practical person who gravitates toward helping people," she said. "This profession uniquely influences nearly every individual and is useful even outside the work setting. The nursing instructors at COD are fantastic. Their goal is for each student to succeed, not only in nursing classes but also, more importantly, on their patients.

"I would eventually love to be a nurse at a Christian clinic/hospital with big needs, perhaps in a third world country. I enjoy making a huge difference, so ICU would be ideal."

More about the Nursing program