Student Spotlight: Ryan Schmelter

Receiving a Presidential Scholarship certainly helped Ryan Schmelter decide upon College of DuPage.

The free tuition for two years will allow Schmelter and his family greater financial flexibility when he decides to transfer to a four-year school. But financial affordability isn't the only reason he chose COD.

"I chose to come here because I knew that I could receive as quality of an education as at any four-year institution yet have a smaller, more personalized classroom environment," he said. "With the more personalized classroom environment, I have been able to keep a very high GPA so far. Also, being close to home, I can still work a significant amount."

Also, because of the affordability of COD, Schmelter is able to participate in COD's Study Abroad program. In summer 2012, he hopes to spend one month in Spain.

He's currently completing general education courses and plans to major in biology. As for his future plans, he's still investigating options before transferring in fall 2013.

"After COD, I'm still a little unsure as to where I'll be transferring, but I will study Biology and aspire to join the medical field," Schmelter said. "As far as what specific field, it's to early to tell!"

More about the Biology program