Admissions Office Is First Stop for Thousands of Prospective MCCC Students Annually

Admissions Office Is First Stop for Thousands of Prospective MCCC Students Annually

9/8/15

West Windsor, N.J. – Approximately 4,000 new students enroll at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) each year. Each and every one, including students from other parts of the globe, must complete an application through the MCCC Admissions Office. The Admissions staff handles mountains of paperwork and admissions details. They answer a wide range of questions and dispense sage advice, with inquiries coming from both students and parents. For Director Savita Bambhrolia and staff members Nicole Hover and Chris Freihaut, both of whom are MCCC alumni, each day is uniquely rewarding. “Applicants seek guidance and assistance for their specific educational needs," Bambhrolia said. Bambhrolia noted that students enroll with a wide range of goals. "Many students want to start at MCCC to earn a degree or two years of college credits with the goal of transfer, while others are pursuing a career interest or getting a jump start on college while in high school. Some may want to attend Mercer for a single semester to improve their grades or speed degree completion at a four-year institution. We take care of them all." The office also handles all international admission inquiries and applications. Then there are the days on the road. The staff fans out across the county on a regular basis, visiting high schools to speak with guidance counselors and setting up tables at county events to disseminate the good word about the breadth of Mercer’s programs. “We spend significant time reaching out to high schools,” Bambhrolia said. “Parents are interested in Mercer for their children’s future, but many are also interested in enrolling their high school-age children in our courses. Mercer can be great head start in earning college credits and a significant cost savings on college tuition. Students experience college-level work and expectations in an environment that helps increase their self-confidence.”
	From left, Admissions staff members Nicole Hover, Director Savita Bambhrolia and Chris Freihaut at Hightstown High School's Freshman Orientation on Sept. 3.

	Bambhrolia and her staff reach out to area high schools on a regular basis to talk with guidance counselors and parents.

One such road trip came on Sept. 3, when Admissions had a display table and presented a workshop at Hightstown High School’s freshman orientation. Executive Dean Diane Campbell accompanied the Admissions representatives and MCCC President Jianping Wang participated in the opening session.

The MCCC workshop was well-attended by Hightstown parents. Bambhrolia reports that parents were particularly interested in MCCC’s dual enrollment program, which begins its fourth year at Hightstown this fall. The program allows the high school’s juniors and seniors to take Mercer courses as part of their regular school day. Hightstown now offers English 101 and 102, History, Spanish and Economics, three-credit courses that are taught by its own teachers who are qualified to teach at the college level. Other area high schools partnering with MCCC on dual enrollment are Steinert, Nottingham, Hamilton West, Robbinsville and Lawrenceville.

Bambhrolia also discussed “Jump Start,” a popular program that Mercer has offered for many years, which allows high school students 16 and older to take classes on campus or, increasingly, online. She pointed to two high schoolers who pursued an ambitious schedule of college coursework over the past two years. Graduating from high school in June, they also earned their associate degrees and two years of college credits. This fall they are attending New Jersey four-year colleges as juniors.

Dean Campbell told the parents that enrollment at MCCC is trending upwards. “We believe it’s because the sticker shock of four-year colleges is really setting in. We hear regularly from families who just do not want to incur major debt that will live on long after college,” she said.

Bambhrolia noted that it’s never too early for parents to start thinking about college, especially if they want to take advantage of what Mercer has to offer their children while they are still in high school.

“The Admissions Office and the Transfer Office welcome your questions and are happy to provide assistance,” she said.

MCCC will host two information sessions this fall: an "Ease of Transfer" workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 30, starting at 6 p.m. in the Student Center, which will include representatives from four-year colleges in addition to MCCC staff; and a “Discover Mercer” open house on the West Windsor Campus on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. The West Windsor campus is located at 1200 Old Trenton Road.

For more information, call the Admissions Office at 609-570-3244.

RSVP for Transfer Workshop on Sept. 30

Discover Mercer Open House

Admissions Overview

Transfer Services

Return to Current News

Return to Home Page

Glenn Kraft