There are currently 24 programs at Madison College that have a wait list, according to the school website. The time you have to wait to get into these programs can be anywhere from a semester to two years. This just baffles me.

I came to Madison College to use it as a stepping-stone to get me to where I want to be career-wise. When I found out they had a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program I was thrilled. I applied for the program and got accepted – but then I got hit with the wait list. By the time I actually start the program, I will have been on the wait list for a year and a half. I have already completed all of the general courses needed to graduate from the program, so what am I supposed to do in the next year while I wait for my turn? Another reason I came to Madison College was to save money, not spend it on classes that I do not actually need in order to take up time before I can enter my program.

Madison College needs to do away with the wait list and go to an application process. With an application process the program directors can hand select the students that they know are going to do well in the program. The selection committee can look at the volunteer hours students have in the field, they can look at their GPA, and ultimately set their own standards to what they want the program to be known for. Madison College could present themselves as a much more competitive school if they made the switch to an application-based program system. The graduation rate and job placement rate after completion of the program would still be extraordinary because the program directors and advisors know exactly what kind of students are coming in and they know that they are ready to succeed.

Along with complete control over the programs, Madison College should go to an application process to help their students save time and money on their journey to a degree. If there were an application process, the students would be responsible with how fast they received their degree, not the college. It would force students to explore different volunteer and job shadowing options to help promote their resume. In return, they are working for their degree, which is what college is all about.

I understand that Madison College is trying to give an equal opportunity to everyone, but we students are not in kindergarten any more, we are all adults in college. We do not need to wait our turn so everybody gets a chance. Our teachers throughout grade school have been preparing us for this time in our lives and we need to use the knowledge they gave us. Students at Madison College should have the opportunity to show what they have done to better themselves, and in return they should be granted the ability to pursue their dreams in their desired program.