Germanna isn’t really a school that students dream of attending—sports are unimportant, family legacies are irrelevant, and rigorous academics are lacking. Still, students say that for what it is—a community college that allows students to complete associate’s degrees, earn career certificates, and transfer to four-year universities—Germanna is an impressive institution. Students come from around the globe, and each has a different reason for choosing to study at Germanna. Some attend because they cannot afford the tuition at private schools, others because they want to complete general education requirements before transferring to a four-year university without as much debt, and some come to get an associate’s degree or career certificate, so they can prepare to enter the workforce and earn higher salaries. Other reasons students come to Germanna is because they weren’t accepted to any four-year universities, they have health concerns that prevent them from moving from home, they did poorly in high school and want to prove to four-year schools that they have become serious about their studies, or they are learning English and want to study in a safe and friendly environment before they enter the workforce.
While many Germanna’s students groan about still living at home and frequently joke about being in “13th grade” and having to deal with drama typically associated with middle and high school, overall, they say they are happy to be at Germanna. The faculty, administration, and staff constantly make studying here a pleasant experience because they are warm, friendly, engaging, and fun, and they always have time to speak with students. Most of the students are also friendly and pleasant, and they appreciate and take advantage of all that Germanna offers them. Okay, so not one Germanna graduate has become president of the United States, won a Nobel Peace Prize, or anything of the sort, but nearly every Fredericksburg resident has some connection to Germanna. Nearly every student here will say that studying at Germanna has been a rewarding and life-changing experience.