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Zach Wilcox
Mr. Wells
English 12
2 December 2015
My College
The University of Southern Indiana specializes in a multitude of areas for students such
as myself seeking a great learning environment. USI was founded in 1965 in response to a
demand for public higher education in southwestern Indiana (USI). This college will create a
unified experience academically, financially, and physically. There are may be many colleges
available in the state of Indiana, but none compare to the versatility of USI.
USI offers over 70 undergraduate majors, 10 master's programs, and one doctoral
program (USI). This is an impressing wide range of opportunities for students seeking a
professional career. Just like any college student, there are future endeavors students wish to
pursue. My college studies pertain to the medical field; dental hygiene. Dental hygienists
primarily clean teeth. They also examine patients for signs of diseases, and provide other
preventative dental care. It is important to improve and maintain good oral health. According to
the University of Southern Indiana, the dental hygiene program provides a curriculum which
includes informative courses, laboratory and clinical experiences, and community oral health
education experiences (USI). These experiences will help prepare me by increasing my
knowledge of the job. It is a very rewarding field, but can be a challenging academic.
The University of Southern Indiana is not only academically ideal, but also financially
ideal. Taking most costs into account, an undergraduate student who is a resident of Indiana can
expect to pay an estimated $17,000 during the 2015-2016 school year (USI). USI is very

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affordable in comparison to other colleges in the state of Indiana. The average tuition is usually
much, much more than the discounted price that USI offers. Additionally, when my career comes
to fruition, the salary will be enough to pay for any accumulated student debt. According to the
bureau of labor statistics, dental hygienists acquire $33.75 per hour which amounts to a
whopping salary of $70,210 per year (BLS). Its always nice to have a passion in life that is
just as rewarding in cash as it is self-worth. There are too many times when money prevails over
anything else; it is the sad reality students must face. Thankfully, any student that enrolls in USI
will save more than enough money with their low costs.
Like any career, it is essential to have hands-on experience. USI will provide that for me
by allowing me to physically participate in the field I am studying. Forty percent of classrooms
have fewer than 20 students, while 7 percent have 50 or more students. This allows the students
to be more personal with their teaching instructor. It is important to differentiate between the
various dentistry fields as some may come across as rather similar. For example, dental assistants
and dental hygienists do a lot of the same work. Some of these similarities are quite striking, but
can be summed up in one simple word; involvement. Dental hygienists are more in-depth,
requiring an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in dental hygiene while dental assistants
only require a certificate or diploma (Difference). In addition to being more up-close with the
instructor, there are a variety of ways to engage with the students attending USI. There are more
than 100 student organizations available at USI. Throughout the year, these organizations hold
events, raise money toward numerous philanthropies, volunteer in Evansville and the
surrounding area, offer leadership opportunities for their members, and promote diversity here on
campus, all while having fun! (USI). With my acceptance into USI, I definitely look forward to
meeting all of my instructors and fellow students.

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The University of Southern Indiana has brought such a positive impact to college
students which is unparalleled to any other in the state of Indiana. The aforementioned
information provides sufficient proof to the many opportunities available at USI. Whether it be
academically, financially, or physically, this college can aid the future of this generation and the
several generations to come.

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Works Cited
"Dental Hygiene Degree Indiana." Dental Hygiene Degree Indiana | Bachelor Degree
Dental Hygiene | BS. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015. <https://www.usi.edu/health/dentalhygiene>.
"Dental Hygienist Program at University of Southern Indiana (USI)." USI Dental
Hygienist Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.matchcollege.com/public-colleges/university-of-southern-indiana/dentalhygienist>.
"Is There a Difference Between a Dental Assistant and Dental Hygienist?"Difference
Between Dental Assistant and Dental Hygienist. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/health-careers/dental-assisting/difference-dentalassistant-dental-hygienist/>.
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web.
04 Nov. 2015. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm>.
"University of Southern Indiana." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Oct. 2015. Web.
04 Nov. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Southern_Indiana>.