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“When I started working there I wanted to see where it could go,’’ said Cobo, who began her career at Lincoln Hospital in 2001 in its pre-admission testing office. “I thought I would have a decent salary and good benefits. Once I got started in college, I wanted to keep going. I’m the kind of person that always likes to keep moving forward.”
Cobo attended Bronx Community College and Housatonic Community College. When she graduated with a two-year degree from Housatonic, she saw a flier about the IDEAL Program at Bridgeport.
Cobo was one of the first students at the University of Bridgeport to enroll in its Professional Studies program with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. The program was introduced last year, and Cobo is in her second semester. She hopes to graduate next year.
“It’s an excellent program for working parents like me,’’ Cobo said. “I would recommend it to anyone. I’d tell anyone to keep going for their education, and don’t stop.”
Cobo particularly likes the affordability and flexibility of the IDEAL Program at UB. “It costs a lot less than other colleges providing the same degree,’’ Cobo said.
Flexibility was paramount, too, because Cobo can spend up to four hours a day commuting to work. “Having the online classes allows me to get the work done on my own time,’’ Cobo said. “Commuting can be hard. We moved to Bridgeport because it was too expensive to buy a house in New York and we wanted my children to have a good education. But sometimes it takes me two and a half hours to get home.”
Cobo’s children, ages 18 and 13, have a good role model for their education. Once she earns her degree, Cobo is hopeful it will help her climb the career ladder at Lincoln.
“I have good job security there and I have all my benefits there,’’ Cobo said. “Hopefully when I get the degree I can move up into an administrative position.”
For more information on the University of Bridgeport’s Professional Studies degree, click here to visit the website.
