GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Students who choose the technical college route often find themselves waiting months and even years to get into the program they choose.
This is true for student Taylor Jeske who transferred to Fox Valley Technical College.
“I had to send my transcripts and apply to the program, obviously, and that took a little bit, because in order to be in the program, you had to petition to get in, and that takes a little bit of time. But in the end, it’s worth it.”
Because she had credits transfer, Jeske did not have to wait as long as others — only a semester. However, some programs at FVTC could have students waiting for up to two years.
“Probably some of the programs that we see longer wait times would be in our dental area,” said FVTC Vice President for Learning Jennifer Lanter. “So, dental hygienists specifically is a program that has a bit of a wait. Again, you can still get into those general education courses early on.”
Other programs that have a wait include nursing and cosmetology.
Lanter says there are reasons the programs take a bit longer to get into.
“If we talk about the dental hygiene example, we only have so many chairs available in our dental clinic here. We only have so many dentists that provide that oversight. We only have so many faculty that are trained.”
But there are programs that need more students without a wait.
“I would say medical assistant is a program that we hear from employers that they need certified medical assistants, and there’s employers that are hiring non contracted medical assistants,” said Lanter. “Truck driving is another one.”
This is not unique to FVTC.
Over at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, programs that could take one to two years to get in there include surgical technologist, radiography, medical laboratory technician and electrical power distribution.
Lanter says while students wait, they could get their general education classes done and get a job or internship in their related field.
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