This paper outlines a student's academic and career plan centered on transferring from a Florida community college to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical, with the ultimate goal of becoming a respiratory therapist. The paper covers UCF's admissions and transfer requirements, estimated costs and financial aid options, and the career outlook for respiratory therapists. It also incorporates insights from a professional interview with a practicing respiratory therapist, highlighting the rewards, challenges, and day-to-day realities of the profession. The student reflects on how this planning process reinforced their commitment to the field.
I am currently pursuing my education at a Florida community college, where I am studying to become a respiratory therapist. I want to continue my education with the hope of transferring to a four-year university. My current institution does not offer a Bachelor of Science degree in respiratory therapy, but a number of universities offer a wide range of degrees related to the medical field. I intend to pursue a B.S. in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical. I believe this degree will give me the educational background needed to place me in a competitive position for graduate or professional training, while also exposing me to a wide variety of occupations in the medical field.
The four-year university I have selected is the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida. It is a competitive university with a student body of just under 50,000 students (Petersons, 2013). The average in-state tuition rate is reasonable at $6,247 per academic year (Petersons, 2013). Furthermore, UCF offers on-campus housing options that may make living near school more affordable. I appreciate that the school has a diverse population, with a slightly higher number of female than male students and a high degree of ethnic diversity. I like the idea of attending school in Orlando because I have already established a life in central Florida. I find the tuition and fees to be reasonable for a four-year university. I am also interested in the total community approach taken by the health care school and appreciate that health and public policy are treated under the same umbrella. Finally, I am intrigued by a general health undergraduate degree, which will place me in a flexible position if I choose to pursue graduate-level education.
The Health Sciences Pre-Clinical Program at UCF is not a limited-access major. There is no separate program application that needs to be completed beyond the Undergraduate Admissions Application. It is through this application that the major in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical is declared. Once admittance to the university is granted, no additional application is required (UCF, Health Sciences, 2013).
Because I will have completed an A.A. from a Florida public community college, I need to meet the following requirements: a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.0; completion of two college-level English composition courses with a grade of C or better; completion of two college-level mathematics courses with a grade of C or better; and satisfaction of the foreign language requirement with either high school or college-level courses (UCF, Transfer Applicants, 2013). There are no specific course prerequisites for my desired degree program.
UCF works with prospective transfer students to ease the transfer process. The university has a division known as Transfer and Transition Services, which assists students from before admission through the full transition. Campus advisors are available at select locations in Florida. The application deadline for fall enrollment is July 1. The application is completed online. The financial aid application uses the standard FAFSA form and is due March 1, though late applicants may be eligible for remaining financial aid.
"Tuition costs, FAFSA process, and scholarships"
In order to have my financial aid transferred to UCF, I need to request that the Federal Processor forward the information to UCF using the school code #003954. This can be done through the FAFSA on the Web home page by submitting UCF's code as a correction, by calling the Federal Student Aid information center and having UCF added — provided I have the Data Release Number (DRN) from my Student Aid Report — or by adding UCF to the colleges listed on my Student Aid Report and submitting it to the Federal Processor for corrections. The UCF website will then provide a to-do list of steps required to complete the financial aid process.
I have also identified a scholarship for which I would qualify as a full-time transfer student. This scholarship requires submission of a survey answering two questions about how mass communication has changed society and what changes are likely to result from increasing mass communication. The award amount is $1,000.
After graduation, I believe that my A.A. in respiratory care combined with my B.S. in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical will prepare me well for a career in the medical field. Specifically, I plan to pursue a career as a respiratory therapist. The A.A. in respiratory care is sufficient for entry-level employment, so the B.S. will place me in a more competitive position relative to other applicants (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). The median pay for respiratory therapists is $26.10 per hour, equating to an annual salary of $54,280 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). The field is growing at 28% per year, meaning employment prospects are strong (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013).
A respiratory therapist cares for patients with breathing difficulties, including those with chronic conditions such as emphysema and acute conditions resulting from heart attacks and similar medical emergencies. The general nature of the B.S. degree and the specialized focus of the A.A. do not position me as strongly for other types of employment. Related careers such as registered nurse, athletic trainer, and occupational therapist all require specialized education that I would not yet hold. However, I would meet the qualifications for roles such as medical assistant, home health aide, nursing aide, orderly, or attendant in a medical setting. Because the median pay for these positions is less than half that of a respiratory therapist, I would only pursue them if unable to secure a position in my primary field.
In an interview with a practicing respiratory therapist, I learned a great deal about my chosen career path that has reinforced my sense that it is the right direction for me. I found that it is very rewarding to help people learn to breathe better. The pay reflects the high demands of a growing medical specialty, and the hours are more predictable than in many other areas of healthcare. However, there were also aspects I had not fully considered. Death and dying are an integral part of the job, and many patients are resistant to therapy and struggle with depression. This made me aware of the importance of self-care once I begin my career.
The full interview transcript is presented below.
"Full Q&A with a practicing respiratory therapist"
"Student reflects on career commitment and planning"
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