Baker College of Auburn Hills offers direct admission to competitive health sciences program for 2016 high school grads

Baker College of Auburn Hills has opened enrollment to 2016 high school graduates for direct admission in its competitive associate degree respiratory care program. The application deadline is Tuesday, May 31, 2016.

The 10 students approved for direct admission will be selected based on their GPAs and will begin courses 2016 fall quarter, Monday, Sept. 26.

They will not have to apply for admission to the respiratory care major if they meet select requirements in their prerequisite courses, such as earning a 3.3 GPA or better, and they maintain full-time student status.

“This is a unique opportunity for new high school graduates to be secure in their educational path to an in-demand health sciences career,” said Nicole Chirco, director of admissions at Baker College of Auburn Hills. “These early-admittance students will advance seamlessly from prerequisite to clinical courses, with no additional applications or wait time needed.”

The Auburn Hills campus respiratory care program recently received its second consecutive annual Distinguished Registered Respiratory Therapist Credentialing Success national award. It is based on the credentialing and job placement success of graduates. For the Auburn Hills campus, 100 percent of graduates have passed the national credentialing examination since 2008; 99.8 percent of available graduates are employed.

Students applying for the direct-admission option will know if they are accepted soon after the May 31 application deadline. Student orientation is set for Wednesday, June 22.

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

· A 2.7 high school GPA through the first semester of senior year.

· A composite ACT score of 21.

· One year of high school chemistry with a grade C or better.

· Two years of high school biology with a grade C or better in both courses.

Respiratory therapists evaluate, treat, and care for patients of all ages who are unable to breathe easily — from premature infants to adults who have chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or emphysema. In an emergency, such as a patient suffering from a blocked airway, asthma attack, heart attack or stroke, therapists act quickly to bring immediate relief.

Respiratory care practitioners may find employment in hospitals, home care companies, physician’s offices, extended care facilities, outpatient centers, respiratory care equipment sales, or as educators in hospitals, colleges and universities. Therapists may choose to specialize in neonatology or pediatrics, sleep diagnostics, pulmonary function testing, rehabilitation, critical and emergent care, or other specialty areas.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage of a respiratory therapist was $59,640 in 2015, with the lower 10 percent earning an average of $41,970.

Baker College respiratory care program details are available at www.baker.edu/baker-college-of-auburn-hills/programs-degrees/respiratory-care-associate/#course-information.

For more information about the respiratory care direct-admissions program, contact Nicole Chirco in the admissions office at nicole.chirco@baker.edu or 248.340.0600, or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Baker College grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. Every Baker College graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker College is a pioneer in distance education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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