When High school seniors are applying to college, they’re basing their choices on so many different variables. For undergrad I applied to four large schools. When the acceptance letters came in I chose the University of Maryland College Park and stayed in state. I was ecstatic.
In short, it ended up being an amazing four years. I still talk to my professors and two favorite advisors that guided and influenced me so much, and I have an enormous amount of school pride (Fear the Turtle)! Being at a larger school exposes you to so much and it’s an experience I would never trade for anything. You’re forced to prioritize your time and mature in so many different ways, but I’m sure that’s true for most students. I even met my best friend there! On the flip side, UMD as a whole didn’t help me much in the internship placement area of my school experience. I had to find one on my own which I know isn’t unheard of, but I had no idea where to start. I was very lucky and ended up interning with a great business that taught me a lot, but even after frequenting every career fair and career center seminar I could attend I still struggled with job / career placement after graduation. Outside of my amazing department I felt really alone.
After earning my B.A. I had no desire to go back to school anytime soon, but that’s exactly what happened. I kept my part-time job while also working as a freelance PR consultant. After a few months I was exhausted because I was working around the clock 7 days a week, but I figured it was all a means to an end. Still, I knew I needed a change to really jumpstart my career even though I was still unsure what that should be. With my few weeks of vacation and money saved up I was able to spend that spring / summer after graduation traveling a little and saving. Before my first trip I began applying to grad schools, my first choice being Hofstra, and I waited to hear back. The morning I was leaving for France I received acceptance from Hofstra and the rest is self-explanatory.
From day one the university faculty went above and beyond to help me become acclimated as an out of state student at the time. Believe me when I say Hofstra University is an amazing institution for higher learning. I have never received so many opportunities to try new things and pursue my career interests as I have here. The amount of academic and career support I receive is so amazing to me, and I feel like I’m able to appreciate it so much because of my previous experiences. My classmates and I really support each other and I know my master’s degree will be well earned. Whether it’s completing PR internships in Manhattan, working in the library with great people, broadcasting university sports on our station, or writing articles for our Hofstra Her Campus chapter, I am so grateful. While I’m still not sure if our mascot is one or two lions (joking lol) I’ll go into my industry with an enormous amount of knowledge and confidence, and genuine relationships with the people I’ve met along the way. I am so happy I chose a smaller university for my second degree. #TerpForLife #HofstraPride #GradStudentLife