“I think more high school students should consider beginning their academic careers at Great Bay.”

Like many of her peers, Samantha Strother graduated from high school unsure of her plans or even her desires. She applied to many four-year schools and was accepted at all of them. Then a college counselor suggested she consider Great Bay Community College instead.

Once she took a close look, she understood why Great Bay was the right choice for her.

“Great Bay wasn’t always part of my plan, but I thought it was financially the smartest option considering I was unsure of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do,” she said. “It is a great option financially and very easy to transfer to a four-year school after creating your academic foundation. My schedule was very flexible and there are plenty of class options.”

Strother, from Hampton, graduated from high school in spring 2019 and enrolled at Great Bay. She began as liberal arts major and switched to business during her first semester. She graduated from Great Bay this past spring and will study business at the University of New Hampshire beginning in the fall.

“After taking my gen-eds at Great Bay, I have transferred my credits to UNH and will be following the path of a business degree at the business school,” she said. “My plan is to end up with an MBA by the end of my college career.”

None of that would have been possible without Great Bay, she said. She worked harder than she has ever worked in her life and earned her place on the President’s List thanks to Great Bay’s commitment to student success.

“I would definitely recommend Great Bay to my peers,” she said. “I think more high school students should consider beginning their academic careers at Great Bay. It is financially a great option and it’s a lot more personal than a large state school.”