How to pay for college: Scholarships can finance your education

A 2008 study conducted by the Institute for Higher Education Policy found that the majority of college-qualified students who did not enroll in a degree program indicated college cost and the availability of aid as primary obstacles to their enrollment. That’s why Peirce College invests significant time and energy in tuition resources for working adult students.

For the second year in a row, Peirce is partnering with the mayor’s office to offer the Mayor's City of Philadelphia Scholarship to two students of the College, one designated for a Philadelphia resident and one for a city employee. Providing tuition resources that will help more Philadelphia residents go back to school gets us one step closer to educating the city and helping Mayor Nutter reach his goal of increasing the number of Philadelphians who have college degrees.

This year Peirce is providing full-tuition scholarships to City of Philadelphia employee Greg Wilson II, and West Philadelphia resident Ann Marie Daly.

Greg Wilson II, Mayor Michael Nutter, Ann Marie Daly, and Peirce President Jim Mergiotti

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Watch for new improvements to student support services thanks to US Department of Education’s PBI grant program

Have you ever visited the Walker Center for Academic Excellence or talked to your academic advisor? Attended a career development workshop or signed up for a tutoring session? Maybe you’ve worked through our co-op or work study programs?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you’ve used the student support services available here at Peirce. And we have some exciting news for those services.

We recently received a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) program. PBI grants help institutions by giving them resources to develop and implement projects that support students and increase access to education.

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What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

As the days get colder here in Philadelphia and the last leaves begin to fall from the trees, we hope you all take a moment to remember all that you are thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday.

The Peirce community is thankful for many things, such as our wonderful students, supportive alumni, and dedicated faculty and staff. Here’s what a few of our Peirce people had to say when we asked them what they are thankful for:

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Arming our armed forces with the resources to go to college after military service

Going from soldier to college student is a unique experience, one best understood by those who have gone through it themselves. To celebrate Veteran’s Day and bring our military students together, Peirce hosted a brunch to honor the men and women who serve our country. The approximately 30 veterans in attendance were able to talk with fellow service members about their experiences in the military, and in the classroom.

Peirce President Jim Mergiotti talks with military students at Veteran's Day brunch

We shared some fun facts about Peirce military students through the years, from the military history of the College to what we offer our current military students today. We took our many years of experience working with military students and translated that into some important, real-world advice and information about what service members should look for in any college they consider.

Whether they are active duty and taking courses online, transitioning back to the civilian world after a deployment, or going back to school as a veteran, military students have a unique set of needs. I talked about finding the best schools for military members in a previous post, but here are a few quick reminders for what to look for:

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Peirce grants honorary degree to J. Linford Snyder from class of ‘33

Board trustee Peter Caputo with J. Linford Snyder '33
and Peirce President James J. Mergiotti (photo by Joe Garvin)

At most institutions, there are a few individuals that stand out and immediately capture attention across generations. At Peirce, J. Linford Snyder, Peirce College class of 1933, is one of those individuals.

You might recognize his name, because the College’s courtyard is named in his honor. Lin was also the first recipient of the Pride of Peirce Award, received the Peirce Trustee Award for distinguished service, and was an inaugural inductee to the College’s Wall of Fame.

While attending Peirce on a track scholarship in the 1930s, Lin and his classmates faced an uncertain future, preparing for business careers during the Great Depression. At the time, he had no idea where his professional pursuits would lead him, or how his life would remain connected to Peirce.

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Tips for moms going back to school

Moms are busy. Moms who are students are even busier, and more and more are joining that category by making the decision to go back to school. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, there is a projected 23 percent rise in enrollments of students 25 and older from 2010 to 2019.

That’s what FOXBusiness.com reporter Emily Driscoll reported in her recent article, “What Moms Needs to Know About Going Back to School.” She turned to Rita Toliver-Roberts, Dean of Students at Peirce College, for her insight and advice about what moms need to take into consideration when heading back to school.

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How good are your interview skills? Find out in our Scary Interview contest!

What’s the biggest blunder you ever made during an interview? Did you say one thing when you meant another? Call the interviewer by the wrong name? Freeze up and draw a blank when asked a tough question? Forget to spit out your gum ahead of time?

Chances are, you’ve probably made at least one embarrassing interview mistake in your lifetime. You aren’t alone! One time, I completely lost my train of thought as I was responding to what should have been an easy interview question. I had to stop and acknowledge I needed to have the question repeated. Talk about embarrassing!

Indeed, interviews can be intimidating. Everything matters -- what you say, how you act, and how you dress. But that doesn’t mean you need to fear them. If you do your homework, prepare accordingly, and refresh your interviewing skills, you can take control of your nerves and put your best foot forward.

Now’s your chance to put your skills to the test with a fun contest we’re running here at CDS. All you have to do is use a webcam to record answers to typical interview questions. To participate, simply email us at CDS@Peirce.edu with the subject line “Scary Interview” and we’ll help you get started! No RSVP is required.

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Peirce volunteers come out for Philadelphia Cares Day

Peirce faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends came out on Oct. 22 to volunteer at the 18th Annual Greater Philadelphia Cares Day. The Peirce team joined students, faculty, and staff from Roberto Clemente Middle School in painting and cleaning various classrooms; closets; and hallways throughout the school. It was a great day of giving back to the community we love!

Thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday! And a special thanks to Jessica Quilter for her hard work organizing the event. Check out the slideshow below to see pictures from the day of volunteering.

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Philadelphia Business Journal recognizes Peirce College as one of top 25 colleges for earning a bachelor’s degree

For anyone at all familiar with the Philadelphia region, it is probably no surprise that there are over 100 colleges and universities in the area. Students have many great choices when it comes to earning a bachelor’s degree, and we’re proud to be one of those options for a high-quality education.

In case you missed it, Peirce College is listed among the top 25 four-year colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The list, appearing in the Oct. 21 issue, ranks colleges and universities by 2010-2011 academic year total student enrollment. This comes on the heels of being ranked as the seventh largest business school in the region back in September.

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Many thanks from the Peirce community to the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust

We hosted a celebratory luncheon on Oct. 20 in honor of our 2011 and 2012 W.W. Smith Charitable Trust scholars. Seven of the 20 Peirce students who are participants in the Trust’s Scholars Program were able to join us.

Peirce President Jim Mergiotti was on hand to welcome everyone and express his gratitude to the Trust on behalf of the entire college. Over the past eight years, the Trust has funded 125 scholarships totaling over $300,000 to help Peirce students stay on track and achieve their academic goals.

Michelle Montgomery, Grant Administrator from the Trust, joined us to celebrate the achievements of our students. During her visit, she pointed out something that we say all the time -- the Peirce journey doesn’t end when you graduate. Past W.W. Smith scholars were on hand to celebrate with us, demonstrating their lifelong connection to Peirce.

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Find the heartbeat of an ailing job market with new healthcare degrees from Peirce

If you’re looking for a job, you know there’s no arguing that it’s tough out there. But there are still opportunities to be found. You just need to know where to look!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, half of the 20 fastest-growing occupations in the economy are related to healthcare, and not just the patient care side. Careers in health information management and healthcare administration are projected to grow much faster than the average. Good news! So how do you land those jobs? The majority of healthcare careers require an associate or bachelor’s degree, so now is the time to get the degrees you’ll need to be an eligible candidate for these in-demand fields.

To meet these workforce trends, Peirce College is extending our offering of career-related degrees for working adult students in the region with the addition of a bachelor's degree in Health Information Administration (HIA).

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