Stay local, save big and succeed with 4x4 classes

It's easier to concentrate and get things done when we can focus on one thing at a time. At NWTC Shawano, student Jesse Brauer did the same with short classes — and used the credits toward a bachelor's degree.

NWTC Shawano offers a specialized format for General Studies courses which is known as 4x4. Students take one General Studies course at a time; each class is held four days a week and is completed at the end of four weeks.

NWTC Shawano has seen increased success with students who have attended classes in the 4x4 format. In addition, many students have saved thousands of tuition dollars by completing their General Studies courses at NWTC and then transferring the credits to a four-year university to earn a bachelor's degree.

When Bauer, of Clintonville, graduated high school, he was unsure what he wanted to do next, like most young adults fresh out of high school. His stepmother urged him to go to college. Brauer chose to enroll in the Business Management program at NWTC. In fall of 2015 he began attending classes at NWTC Shawano.

Brauer attended many of his General Studies classes in the 4x4 format. The format allowed Brauer to complete required courses in a short period of time. He was impressed with the flexibility it offered in his busy schedule and the small class sizes NWTC's regional center allows—benefits that are still present online amid social distancing.

"The 4x4 program allowed me to focus on one subject at a time, instead of many — which made working while going to school a lot easier," Brauer said.

Brauer used the General Studies and Business Management program courses he completed to transfer to University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, from which he graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing and Sales. He has recently moved to Milwaukee to pursue a job opportunity with Trugreen. He credits his educational success to perseverance — and to the commitment to his academics from advisors from NWTC and UW-Oshkosh.

NWTC has transfer agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities including the Universities of Wisconsin in Green Bay and Oshkosh, as well as Concordia University Wisconsin and Lakeland University, both of which have regional locations in Green Bay. In fact, because NWTC is accredited, many courses can be transferred to colleges and universities throughout the United States.
 

Find Out More

• Learn more about NWTC Transfer Opportunities.
• If you are interested in attending classes or would like more information about NWTC Shawano, call 715-524-2418 or email nwtcshawano@nwtc.edu.