From athlete to scholar: Ian Burns’ journey with ASU’s Earned Admission

Discovering our path in the world often evolves over time, and there’s rarely a straight line from point A to point B. Our attention, priorities and interests shift naturally as we gain experience.

This can be especially true for college athletes.

Did you know that only 2% of college athletes turn pro? With so many student athletes focusing on their sport, attending to academics can be a challenge. Ian Burns, a former swimmer at the University of Arizona, can relate. He’s now working on his BA in Psychology through the Earned Admission program after taking a break from education for five years. 

“Education really wasn’t for me. I was more focused on my swimming so I decided to pursue that. After several years I decided to finally get back into education,” he says.

Starting fresh with ASU’s Earned Admission program

When Ian first returned to school, he attended Chandler Gilbert Community College, where an advisor introduced him to ASU’s Earned Admission program. He was nervous initially, but was able to speak with an advisor to learn more about what the program entails.

“It really felt like I was staring at so many different possibilities, college-wise, and degree-wise. I eventually went back to what I wanted, which was psychology and communications. There was this bright door that had all the answers, and it was the Earned Admission program. Now that the door is open and I’m walking down the path, I feel like I can do anything,” he says.

Although Ian hoped to attend in-person classes, ASU’s online options made the program more accessible, since he is also juggling a full-time job. Ian’s desire for personal growth and career opportunities, combined with the program’s flexibility, made Earned Admission the right choice for him.

“I’ve really enjoyed the online classes. It’s set up so that if you want to know the information and succeed in the class, all the information is right at your fingertips,” he says.

Earned Admission creates new pathways in life

ASU’s Earned Admission program brought college within reach for Ian as a flexible, low-risk pathway to a college degree. Through Universal Learner Courses, he took first-year college courses online from ASU’s leading faculty to earn college credits.

This program allows aspiring students to experience college and only pay course fees when they pass with a C or better. Students are guaranteed admission into ASU or can transfer earned credits toward a degree at another institution after completing the required Universal Learner Courses with a GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Ian shares that his experience with ASU’s Earned Admission program has been phenomenal. “The fact that I didn’t have to pay until I got the grades I wanted was amazing, because I’m not out thousands of dollars trying to get myself back into education. This is great, especially considering it took me two or three attempts to pass the pre-calculus class. For anyone considering returning to college, the Earned Admission program is one of the easiest initial steps back into higher education,” he says.

Finding his stride again

Burns is in his second year of the program and says his confidence has improved, and he experiences more life fulfillment. He looks forward to the range of career options ahead.

“I actually love learning. I always have, but I wasn’t ready for it way back. I think the program can touch the lives of anyone who wants an education,” Burns adds. “The Earned Admission program opened the door and provided a clear path. Now, I can see how to reach my goals.”

Learn more about ASU Earned Admission here.