Higher Ed. Cohort Love, from us to YOU!

       Happy 12/12/12!!! My husband reminded me that it is the century's last sequential date, so I decided to post my blog before I miss such an important opportunity! I hope you all have done something special on this special date. Perhaps that means that you have completed your applications to grad schools? :)
       As for me, I am trying to push myself really hard this week, so that I can be done with all my final projects and start to catch up on my sleep!
       At the same time, I am still not sure how "all of a sudden," the Fall semester is coming to an end. Again, where did the time go? Being at the Orientation and trying to find my way around campus and the city seemed just like yesterday! I remembered being nervous about starting school again, feeling "excitedly anxious" about meeting all the new people, and somewhat uncertain about what this was all going to mean to me in this new stage of life.
       Even though these past four months have been the most intense time of my life, I am absolutely loving it! I am thankful that I have all of these awesome friends studying and working hard side by side with me day and night, all sharing the same level of passion for education with me and truly caring about the well-being of every single one of the members in the cohort! I am very blessed!
       Here are two photos of some of us at the two recent events together!

Higher Ed. Holiday Party
(Disclaimer: all of us are over 21. :) )

Study Break at President Amy Gutmann's House!!!

       Hopefully some (or many) of you have submitted your applications to graduate schools, or at least are working to complete them before the deadline at this point. Many of my cohort members are thinking of you as well, as we were just in your shoes last year, trying to determine which programs/schools to apply to and consider what to be mindful of in the application process. I have put together some students' profiles here, and hope that they will be helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us and all the best to you!

Name: Matthew A. Nelson (mnel@gse.upenn.edu) 

Graduate Assistantship: I work in the Communications office of GSE. My office has a three person staff responsible for the content creation and maintenance of the GSE website, most general publications about GSE faculty work. We are also responsible for the campaign (and accompanying materials) that drive the U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings, which take place annually.

Hometown: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

Undergrad. Education: B.A. Communication Theory and Marketing / Prairie View A&M University

Why Higher Ed. program? I came to the higher education program because I have always had a passion for working with students and business and it is very important to me that students receive the education they need. I am interested in preparedness of students (and student-athletes) when they leave the campus. I am also interested in access for students of low socioeconomic status. I hope to work in a career driving or academic advising role and help students find their passions and prepare themselves for opportunities beyond the campus gates. Also hope to provide access to students of low SES in some capacity, professionally or otherwise.

Advice for prospective students: It is important that you get what you're looking for out of the education you are seeking. The best way to do that is to understand what the school generally provides and offers. Different schools focus on different things. Do research beyond the websites of prospective schools to understand the schools' culture and focus. Speak to students currently in the program or alumni. This will help you find the school that is right for you.

Danielle & Payal 

Name: Danielle Staggers (staggers@gse.upenn.edu)

Graduate Assistantship: I am assisting the Program Manager with communicating vital information to the cohort and handle the administrative details of the Professional Development in Higher Education course. I also serve as the lead coordinator for the Annual Accepted Student Preview Weekend. 

Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina 

Undergrad. Education: Sociology, B.A./ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Why Higher Ed. program? I chose to complete a HED program because of my strong passion for college access and working with first generation college students. I spent the past two years serving as a College Adviser and I have seen the need for more student affairs personnel in programming for first generation students and underrepresented students. After graduation I hope to continue my work and research in college access with a position as a high school college counseling director or an Admissions administrator in a community college or four-year university. 

Advice for prospective students: I would advise prospective students to be honest about your interests and goals and look for common interests in the faculty at the school you choose to apply to or attend. Do not let your undergraduate GPA or GRE scores deter you from applying to a graduate school; focus on your personal statement and letters of recommendation. Best Wishes :-)

Name: Maurice Williams (mawill@gse.upenn.edu) 

Graduate Assistantship: Office of Student Life at the Community College of Philadelphia. I oversee the Student Programming Board that plans all student related activities on campus. Mentoring, supervising, counseling and developing are duties I preform on a daily basis at my Grad Assistantship.

Undergrad. Education: B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Elementary Education; Claflin University

Why Higher Ed. program: As an undergraduate, I was involved in several clubs and organizations and served in a number of leadership capacities including student government vice president and president. I was also a Call Me MISTER scholar (scholarship program for African American males entering the education field).I hope to gain further knowledge in higher education administration with specific interests in student affairs, historically black college and universities, and organizational leadership.

Advice: Show your diversity and versatility through your personal statement.  Do not be intimidated to mention your successes.  Express how you can be an asset to the program and what you hope to gain for your instructors and cohort members. 

Name: Sri Rao (srirao@gse.upenn.edu)

Graduate Assistantship: Rosemont College Office of Leadership and Engagement - Working at a small college, I am treated as a full time staff member and have the opportunity to have lots of hands on experience. I helped run all aspects of our orientation program as well as advising student run organizations and planning our fall leadership retreat.

Undergrad. Education: Lehigh University '11 Major: Behavioral Neuroscience. Minor: Health, Medicine and Society

Why Higher Ed. program: During undergrad I became heavily involved in many aspects of campus including being a class officer, an orientation leader, on house council, president of the american medical women's association, part of our senior class gift committee and working at our women's center. All of these experiences led me to realize that student affairs was the perfect career path for me. I hope to work directly with students in some capacity, specifically through first year student programming or student activities and leadership development.

Advice: Make sure that you are passionate about higher education/student affairs. Do not stress about applications, you will get in to the programs that are right for you. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. 

Name: Andrew Martinez (andmar@gse.upenn.edu)

Graduate Assistantship: Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) - Aid undergraduates in finding research opportunities and applying to fellowships in and outside of the University.

Hometown: New York City

Undergraduate Education: Cornell University; College of Arts and Sciences; 

B.A. Sociology; Minor: Inequality Studies & Latino Studies

Why Higher Ed. program? While I was at Cornell I became very involved with student organizations and saw the value in student development and leadership. I also developed a passion for social justice and found myself very interested in intercultural dialogue and conversations concerning diversity and access. With a Masters in Higher Education, I hope to pursue a career with student affairs in order to have a significant impact in the lives of the students I will eventually help to become great leaders. I also hope to pursue my education further to study access and retention rates in elite institutions for underrepresented groups. With that knowledge, I will be able to implement strategies to increase and retain more students of color within higher education.

Advice: Find out which faculty members' research aligns with your interests when you are writing your personal statement to further emphasize why you are a great fit for Penn GSE.  Try to visit Philadelphia if you can so you can see what the area is like.