Earning a Degree from Lake Land Adds Up

Lake Land was a perfect start for me, and my bank account is loving me for it.

Lake Land student Macy Probst is set to graduate in May 2024 with an Associate in Engineering degree, but that career path was not always the obvious choice.

After graduating from Teutopolis High School in 2022, Macy contemplated a wide range of possible career trajectories. Engineering was among her initial considerations, along with biology and nursing, but she knew she wanted to attend a school that would provide her the flexibility to explore.

“I didn’t want to feel locked into a $40,000 degree that I don’t like,” Macy explained. “The main reason I chose Lake Land was because I knew I would have the freedom here to change my mind without it being a big deal.”

Macy opted to try nursing when she first started at Lake Land, but it took her just one semester to decide it was not the right fit. She then utilized the freedom and flexibility that made Lake Land so attractive in the first place and switched her major to engineering.

Making this adjustment came with its fair share of challenges and forced Macy to change her approach to learning. She describes the application of complex engineering formulas as navigating “a different language,” but she finds satisfaction in working through the process to reach the correct answer.

Macy also notes that the complexity of Lake Land’s engineering program discredits common misconceptions about the quality of community college. In fact, she argues that the community college structure offers many advantages that have helped her master the challenging engineering topics.

“The classes here are by no means any easier than what you’ll find at a four-year school, but I do think community college makes it easier to do well in them,” Macy explained. “It’s easy to ask questions and really learn the material when you’re in smaller classes and you know your teachers on a personal level.”

After graduating from Lake Land, Macy plans to transfer to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and complete a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. As she prepares to take the next steps, she is thankful for Lake Land’s role in helping her find the right career path as an uncertain high school graduate.

“College can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know what you want to do,” Macy said. “Lake Land was a perfect start for me, and my bank account is loving me for it.”

MATH & SCIENCE AREA OF STUDY

• Bioscience Non-Teaching Chemistry

• Clinical Laboratory Science

• Conservation

• Earth Science

• Engineering Science

• Environmental Science

• Mathematics

• Physics

• Pre-Chiropractic

• Pre-Dental

• Pre-Engineering

• Pre-Medicine

• Pre-Nursing: BSN Transfer

• Pre-Pharmacy

• Pre-Physical Therapy

• Math and Science Exploratory Area of Study

LEARN MORE

For more information or to get started in a Math & Science Area of Study visit LakeLandCollege.edu.