Middlesex Community College: Computer Science Student Finds Path To Career At Middlesex CC

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

10/20/2021

Nervous about finding a job after graduating, Patrick McRobbie, of Methuen, wanted the time, effort and money he invested in college to matter. Feeling unhappy at the four-year institution at which he started, he chose instead to attend the closer to home Middlesex Community College.

McRobbie’s experience at Middlesex gave him hope for the future, as well as a new outlook – an appreciation for the value of community college.

“As my time at MCC ends, I no longer feel this fear very much,” he said. “As it has been replaced by a feeling of preparedness and understanding of how I need to proceed to be successful. MCC is far more convenient – in my opinion – than other schools.”

Going into college, McRobbie was unsure of what he wanted to study. At Middlesex, he was able to take classes and find his interests, without spending a lot of money. Opportunities for scholarships and flexible course options made the difference.

McRobbie received a scholarship from the Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics (AFCEA) Scholarship at MCC’s Fall 2021 Scholarship Awards ceremony. The award assists students pursuing a degree in engineering, physical science or computer science who intend to go on to earn a bachelor’s degree.

MCC’s availability of online courses – which McRobbie believes was “the single most impactful thing about college for me” – also helped him fit education into his life. Another convenience were MCC’s accelerated Mini-mester sessions which offer the same content, academic standards and instructional hours as courses in the traditional 15-week semester.

“I found them to be a great way to get prerequisite classes out of the way, or to explore a class that belongs to a major I may have been considering at one time,” he said. “Being able to add credits toward my degree in such a quick amount of time was a useful option to have.”

With an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), McRobbie chose to study Computer Science at Middlesex. He credits his success to professors who make themselves available to their students, whether to offer additional help and resources, or to share their knowledge and experience of the Computer Science field.

McRobbie gained a lot of programming knowledge from his classes and was impressed by how much he has developed his skills. He considers the foundational information he has learned in the program to be “critical to learning programming” and a “fantastic launching pad.” Now armed with a strong foundational toolkit, he believes he is better prepared to continue his studies at a four-year college or university and excel in more advanced coursework.

“Having been able to develop a strong grasp on key concepts and materials that will be critical in my career field, MCC has given me another advantage to utilize so that I can continue to grow my skills into a successful professional career,” he said.

Opportunities inside and outside of his classes are what makes McRobbie’s time at the college so successful. Grateful to be nominated and inducted into MCC’s chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success, he also believes the honor provides him with an advantage in applying to his next school and for future jobs.

The college also recognized his hard work by hiring him as an Academic Centers for Enrichment (ACE) peer tutor and Blackboard Ambassador. McRobbie enjoyed helping his classmates and meeting new people across the college. He is confident that these “great resume builders” will have a long-lasting positive effect on his future prospects.

“This was a fun work experience because it allowed me to connect with my peers at MCC directly and provide them tutoring with their coursework,” he said. “It was a satisfying and fulfilling feeling to help a fellow student understand something they were struggling with and perform better in their classes as a result.”

While he once was afraid it would be difficult to find a job in his field, McRobbie now looks forward to graduating from MCC and transferring to a four-year college to continue studying Computer Science. Both his confidence and his future prospects have been enhanced, thanks to his time at Middlesex.

“My overall experience at Middlesex has been incredibly positive,” he said. “I have been afforded a lot of great opportunities since beginning at MCC that I feel have really benefitted me. I am very excited to continue my education in this field and – fingers crossed – land myself a job!”

Part of the STEM pathway, the Computer Science program at MCC helps students go into – and succeed in – the workforce or transfer to four-year schools with its award-winning and affordable offerings, small class sizes and flexible schedules. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/discover/dyp_stem.aspx to discover a path to a career in STEM at Middlesex.

MCC’s Mini-mester II starts on Monday, November 1. To take advantage of this opportunity and get started on a path to an education or new career, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434 for more information and to register for the Fall 2021 semester at Middlesex.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.