As a college student in Argentina, Ivana Kotke studied chemical engineering. She loved the science but didn’t love the subject. Seeking a change, she enrolled in an au pair program and landed in Maryland.
After finishing that commitment, Kotke approached another crossroad. “I was like, ‘Why don't I study nursing?’” she said. “I've always liked learning about the human body and diseases. … I find it kind of funny I didn't think about nursing before.” She decided to apply to AACC’s program, knowing it consistently ranked as one of the best in the state.
Though worried that transitioning her Argentinian college credit to a new country’s standards would be complicated, she said an AACC team that works with international students made the process seamless. “I think it was very straightforward. … They have really good support.”
She dove into the program, which she found challenging, but equipped with supportive professors. “It's a very rigorous program, and it's a hard program. But I feel specifically for nursing, that's not necessarily a bad thing because nursing is hard,” she said. “You don't want to go to an easy school.”
She took a few prerequisites online, but most classes on campus, as international students are required to take nine of 12 credits in person. After graduating in spring 2026, Kotke hopes to gain experience on a medical-surgical floor and would love to eventually move to the ICU and earn her BSN.
She said she feels ready because of the rigorous program and the unique ways it prepared her, including the nursing facilities. “I found the simulation area very impressive because they have everything there,” she said. “It looks and feels like a mini-hospital. That was amazing.”