Karissa always knew she wanted to make a difference in the natural world. From an early dream of becoming a vet to a growing passion for wildlife conservation, she found her perfect path in environmental science.
But as she weighed her college options, affordability and flexibility were just as important as finding the right program. At American Public University, Karissa discovered she didn’t have to choose between cost, quality, and convenience.
Now that she’s got hands-on experience and real-world confidence, Karissa is ready to take the next step in helping species recover and thrive — and she’s proud of the choices that got her here.
How She Did it
Finding her Direction
Karissa’s love of animals started young and evolved into a career goal to help species in decline. While her initial interests leaned toward veterinary science and marine biology, environmental science stood out as the field that offered the variety and flexibility she needed.
Balancing Life and Learning
APU’s flexible online classes let Karissa build a college experience that worked around her life. Even her science labs could be done asynchronously, and with students from all around the world!
Making Smart Financial Moves
At her previous school, Karissa expected to burn through her college savings in just two years. But at APU, she saved so much she ended up with money left over — enough to start thinking about investing or buying her dream car.
I am a firm believer that education is the foundation in which your dreams and goals are built on. If you don't have a sturdy foundation, you really can't build the life that you dream for yourself.
