When Andrew Neiderhauser came to Inver Hills in the fall of 2003, he admits that he wasn't sure what he wanted to do or what he wanted to be. Just graduated from the Environmental Studies High School at the Minnesota Zoo, he did know he wanted to go to college and that Inver Hills was a great starting point.
"I wasn't sure about a major or a career, but I knew that at Inver Hills I could take courses that would transfer."
Like Neiderhauser, most of the students who come to Inver Hills say they plan to start at Inver Hills and then go on to a four-year school. Follow-up studies indicate that about 60 percent of the graduates do exactly that each year.
The Associate in Arts degree program worked out well, says Neiderhauser, because he was able to sample a variety of disciplines at Inver Hills. "By studying in different areas, I was able to gain a better understanding of myself and what my academic interests are."
Neiderhauser's list of favorite professors reflects the range of topics students can explore at Inver Hills: Josephine Books (Spanish), Dave Page (English, journalism), Heidi Goar (sociology), Judy DeBoer (communication), and Kathy Dedeyn (health, physical education). "There are so many instructors here at Inver Hills that have taught me something very special either about their specific academic discipline or about life in general and how to live it," says Neiderhauser. "What I've learned won't go away once I leave this campus."
Busy is a way of life for Neiderhauser, as it is for most students. Although he would not call himself organized yet, he does say that time management has been a skill he has learned that will continue to help him in school and in his career. "Balancing work and school forces me to be organized, to prioritize, to know what my goals are, and most importantly how to accomplish them."
Neiderhauser has worked for the YMCA for almost five years as well as working as a Student Ambassador for a year. "One of the best parts of being a Student Ambassador is getting to develop relationships with faculty and students on campus. You get to meet incoming college students and help them understand what it takes to be successful in college, including taking advantages of the resources and support that Inver Hills offers."
Neiderhauser plans to take off spring semester to travel through South America for three months. After working next summer he wants to major in Urban Studies and Spanish at the University of Minnesota or Hamline University, depending on scholarship opportunities.
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