Sarah Bennett

Originally from South Williamsport, I was always aware of the high-level education Penn College had to offer. Both of my parents graduated from Williamsport Area Community College, so Penn College seemed like the logical choice. Once I decided to pursue dental hygiene and did more research, I realized that Penn College has one of the best accredited programs in the state. At that point, the choice became clear. I was able to commute from home and receive a top-tier education.

When I was accepted into the Dental Hygiene program in 2019, my plan was to pursue only my associate degree. At the time, I didn’t realize how much a bachelor’s in dental hygiene would broaden my career opportunities. 

After my first year in the program, I switched to the bachelor’s track. Even then, I knew my early career would focus on clinical practice, but pursuing the bachelor’s allowed me to achieve more than I had imagined. 

Just this spring of 2025, I began working as a clinical instructor in the Dental Hygiene Clinic at Penn College. It’s a role I thought I’d transition into later in life, but the opportunity came sooner than expected. Now, I get the best of both worlds: working clinically while also teaching part-time.

I thrive in the classroom setting, where open discussion with peers and professors is encouraged. Transitioning to online coursework was definitely a challenge for me. After earning my associate degree, I moved to New York state, so any course-related questions had to be handled via email or Zoom instead of in-person meetings during office hours. Once I adjusted to the online format and learned to juggle full-time work with school, it became much more manageable.

One major benefit is the flexibility. It allows you to work full-time while earning your degree at your own pace. I was able to be a part-time student while working full-time, which helped me maintain a healthy work–school balance. It also gave me the freedom to relocate to an area that offered greater career opportunities at the time.

After graduating with my associate degree in May 2021, I took my three board exams, applied for out-of-state licensure, moved to New York, and finally became a licensed hygienist by October. The process took several months, largely due to transferring records between states and delays from the State Board of Dentistry, which was still catching up from the COVID backlog. Despite that, I was able to begin my career relatively soon after graduation. That same fall, I also began my bachelor’s courses. I managed the balance by taking my degree at a slower pace. I was fully immersed in my new role as a registered dental hygienist and loved the clinical work. Pursuing my bachelor’s gave me the option to eventually move into teaching, sales, or administrative roles in the future.

I was an active student and regularly emailed my professors. All were very supportive and considerate. While it wasn’t the same as in-person interaction, live lectures and voice-over recordings helped strengthen the connection with instructors. 

Connecting with classmates in an online program can be difficult. However, many courses required discussion posts, which allowed us to share thoughts and engage in class topics. These discussions helped foster a sense of connection and community among students.

The biggest challenge was the distance. I prefer in-person instruction, so not being able to attend office hours in person was tough. That said, my professors were incredibly accommodating. Whether through email or Zoom, they made themselves available, which helped make the transition smoother.

I would say—go for it! Online learning offers so much flexibility. You can build your own schedule and take as many credits as you can comfortably manage while working. It’s a great way to advance your education without putting your career on hold.