Carroll Community College

A Conversation with Judy Samuels and Kate Demarest
About Careers in Business

Judy Samuels is Recruiter/Advisor at Carroll Community College.

Kate Demarest is Chair of the Division of Business and Management Information Systems at Carroll Community College.

Q: If students are interested in pursuing a career in business, what sort of college programs should they be looking for? 

Historically, many people entered the business world with degrees in the liberal arts. However, employers today tend to look for students who have considerable experience applying liberal arts skills to business. As such, students interested in a career in business should pursue a business degree. Students will benefit most by identifying colleges that offer multiple areas of concentration within the business major.  This will offer flexibility when determining possible career options upon graduation. 

Q: How do different colleges handle business majors?

Almost every college will offer a degree in business or economics, but some colleges are a much better fit than others. In general, students should look for a school that offers a variety of business majors. Furthermore, students should consider if the college is accredited by the AACSB - American Association of Colleges and Schools of Business. This organization accredits about 25 percent of the business schools in the US and is considered highly desirable. In this area, UMCP, Towson, UB, and Loyola have accredited programs.

Students may also want to identify if there is an opportunity for internships within the curriculum.  Students should research programs prior to application.  College catalogs and websites can be valuable tools to assist students in determining the extent of an institution's business program.

Q: How does a student know if a college is the right fit, in general terms?

Determining the "right fit", means that students should feel comfortable with the college they choose.  Questions that a student should ask include the following:

• Does the school offer the specific major the student wants to pursue?
• What is the average class size?
• What is the student-to-teacher ratio?
• What is the annual tuition?
• What is the proximity to home (does the student want to live on campus or commute)?
  
  

These are fundamental questions that a student should consider when looking for the "right fit" college. 

What do college's offer in terms of getting-to-know -us events?

Most colleges offer Open Houses, student tours, and various types of admissions information sessions.  Admissions representatives will also attend most local college fairs and, depending on the size of the college, may attend statewide, regional, and national college fairs. At Carroll Community College (Carroll), we hold Open Houses which invite the public to visit us, learn about programs and meet faculty, staff and students. We also hold Financial Aid workshops, Admissions workshops and Information Sessions.

Information sessions highlight specific majors, and are conducted by course instructors who provide an in depth overview of the academic programs, transfer opportunities, and possible careers in the program's field.
What does Carroll offer for the business-minded student?

Carroll offers the A.A. in Business and the A.A.S. in Accounting. Under the Business program, there are three concentrations - General Business, International Business, and Management Information Systems.  Carroll offers a variety of options to meet the needs of individual students.  Accounting and Business majors with a 3.2 GPA are eligible for membership in the Alpha Beta Gamma honor society.

All of these programs offer students seamless transfer opportunities to four year institutions.   Some programs offer students the ability to enter the work force directly after obtaining their Associates Degree.   Career changers already holding a Bachelor's Degree might want to look at the Accounting CPA Exam Qualification Certificate. This program includes all of the required coursework to enable students to sit for the Maryland CPA examination.  

 

What is the advantage that Carroll has over other area institutions for transfer and career preparation?

The college's close proximity to home allows students to easily incorporate education into their lives. Carroll is affordable because the county and the state both cover one-third of the cost of individual student tuition. This may offer students relief from working additional hours to cover the cost of college and university tuition, or to save money for transfer later. 

The average class size is 21, offering more individual attention than large college and universities. In addition, the Office of Admissions, Advising, and Counseling offers assistance to students on a walk-in basis Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Furthermore, students are eligible for tutoring in each of their classes on a weekly basis, free of charge through the Academic Center. Carroll offers multiple events each semester to assist students with identifying majors, career decision-making, and exploring transfer options.

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