Saying No to a Full Ride Scholarship

CollegePlus! graduate Bethany Ingebretson tells why she chose
distance learning instead of two full ride university scholarships.

By Jordan Starling

"I wouldn't trade my CollegePlus! experience for four years at a regular school," says Bethany Ingebretson, a CollegePlus! grad who completed her English degree in May 2008. Ingebretson, who lives near Fargo, North Dakota, actually turned down two full ride scholarships from traditional universities because she was convinced that CollegePlus! was a better match.

A New Perspective

After Ingebretson graduated from high school, she spent a year teaching English in Taiwan. She returned to the United States with a new-found passion for missions and for Chinese culture. Yet she was also faced with many decisions, not the least of which was college.

"I was already twenty and I didn’t want to spend four years working on my English degree," she said. "Plus, as an aspiring missionary, I didn’t want to incur any debt. Time and money were definitely factors in my decision."

Although Ingebretson was offered scholarships from two major universities in her area—North Dakota State University and Concordia University — she wasn’t at ease with committing to traditional college. Schools don't want to admit that even on top of "full ride scholarships" many students still spend tens of thousands of dollars.

Like many other students, she wanted to be a wise steward of her resources. "I decided to go with CollegePlus! because it seemed to better fit my criteria," she noted. "After graduating with my bachelor's, I planned to get my master’s and also enroll in missionary training. CollegePlus! definitely saved me a lot of time and money."

New Challenges

It took Ingebretson just nineteen months to get her degree. Taking advantage of the flexibility inherent in her CollegePlus! studies, she opened a piano studio, quickly attracting fifteen students. Additionally, Ingebretson took on some piano accompanying work and hired herself out as a nanny. "I could have done it on my own—getting an accredited distance learning degree," she said. "But I really liked having the mentoring and accountability that CollegePlus! offered through their coaching program."

A Brighter Future

Ingebretson plans on completing a master's degree in education through Regent University in Virginia. "I chose Regent because of their Christian program, which is also very rigorous." Bethany will be studying online and will earn an M.Ed. with a concentration in TESOL. "Had I not done CollegePlus! and been challenged in my study strategies, I would not be prepared to study in graduate school."

Ingebretson has also reaped many spiritual benefits through CollegePlus!. "My faith has been strengthened, because God gave me the ability to do something hard. I also had time for ministry and time for my family that a class schedule would have otherwise hindered," she said.

Jordan Starling is a CollegePlus! communications major and is also working on a drafting certificate at a local technical school near her home in Tennessee.

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