The Bermuda College is hoping students turn out in droves today the last day to enroll in fall classes.

Recruitment officer Cha'Von Clarke believes the education on offer is a sensible way to prepare for the end of the recession and could lead towards a successful career.

"Regardless of what you are interested in you can have your start at Bermuda College," she said. "There are very few careers [where I have advised students] it may be in your best interest to go straight overseas."

Ms Clarke works one-on-one with students, giving guidance on what career might best suit them and advice on courses at the college. She calls her office the "room of truth" because once they get in people always open up.

She said: "When they leave the office they feel different, they feel like they can come in and be honest. And that's what college is about to me, maturity. Not just according to age, but being able to be honest with yourself and know what you can handle, know what you are really able to invest in because you are investing time and money when you are in college.

"You don't want to do something just for the sake of it. You want to really be passionate about what you are studying."

Ms Clarke continued: "I look at the recession as a positive recession, because people started to really look at their lives and say 'you know what, I need to educate myself, I need to put things in place so that if we ever experience this again I will be ready for it'.

"We have seen quite a few people coming in who are affected big time by it. And in order to do something that will give them the money and the security, they need to educate themselves."

The Bermuda College will start classes on August 31 promptly at 8.30 a.m.

Enrolment is good this year, according to college president Duranda Greene.

"As a result of our free tuition last year there was a spike in our enrolment, it was up by 25 percent. And this year we are pleased to say we have had a steady flow of students from August 4 when we started our enrolment."

Dr. Greene continued: "We have the traditional students who are using this as a wise economical choice. We are pleased that more traditional students are taking advantage of the opportunities that Bermuda College offers where they can get their start here and then transfer to the third year of a four-year degree programme, or the second year of a three-year degree programme."

"We've also seen a large growth in mature students as a result of the free tuition. A lot of people that were working and have seen the economic downturn, they are wanting to better their skills, to make sure they are not out there looking for a job without any papers. Most of the 25 percent increase that we saw last year was non-traditional students."