Elgin college offers accelerated study options

Elgin Community College is accepting applications for its new Fast Finish degree options, which allow students to earn a degree in 14 months instead of the normal 24 months.

Fast Finish is designed for those seeking a quicker transfer to a four-year college or university. The two degree options available are an associate in arts with a business emphasis and an associate in arts with a general education emphasis.

Both degree options will begin the week of May 27.

The associate in arts with business emphasis prepares students to transfer into a business program at nearly any four-year college or university. The associate in arts with general education courses has no specific area of emphasis and offers students the maximum flexibility to transfer to a four-year institution of their choice. Students who choose this degree option also have the flexibility to create a degree program that best meets their needs by selecting elective classes that are of most interest to them.

Fast Finish is perfect for self-motivated and goal-oriented students who will enjoy the challenge of an accelerated program, and students who are college-ready and either require no developmental courses or have already completed them.

Students who are enrolled in each option also must be able to devote 14 consecutive months to full-time enrollment, and are able to devote at least 15 hours per week in class and approximately 20-30 hours of study time per week. Both of these degree options will be offered in a cohort format, where a cluster of students progress through classes together.

A dedicated counselor also will be available for these participants.

A schedule of the class meeting times for both options is available at www.elgin.edu/fastfinish. To be considered for the Fast Finish, new students must complete an application at www.elgin.edu/fastfinish and return it to the Counseling Office no later than Thursday, May 1.

New students also need to complete an ECC application for admission and placement testing prior to submitting an application. Once accepted to Fast Finish, enrollment in all of the courses is guaranteed. Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will receive notification about their application no later than Friday, May 9 from John Coffin, the associate dean of counseling.

Tuition and fees are no different for Fast Finish students than for any other student. To learn more about tuition and fee rates visit www.elgin.edu/tuition.

For more information about Fast Finish, contact ECC Counseling Office at (847) 214-7390 or visit www.elgin.edu/fastfinish.