Self Check-in: What Is My Life

With the second semester of my junior year well underway, the time has come to start my search for post-graduation plans in earnest. This is something I've alluded to often in my recent posts, probably because it's on my mind often, and while I certainly think about this all the time, I still have only a vague idea of what I want to do. With midterm season upon us, I rarely have time nowadays to think about something this long-term, so I'm forcing myself, in writing this post, to lay out all my options, think through my plans, and maybe (but let's be real, probably not) come that much closer to a real decision. While this certainly benefits me, I hope that this "thought map"-esque post will help my fellow juniors who are also undecided on their plans for summer 2017 and beyond - or at least reassure them that there are people who are even less prepared than they are.

When I think of life after Tufts, I see two major paths that I could follow. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, and they appeal to different parts of my personality, which doesn't exactly make the decision easy. But what are these paths?

Get it? Ha. haha.

The first one, most obvious and also most intimidating, is graduate school. No matter how my career leanings have fluctuated over the years (see any post of mine from last year to verify this), they all seem to involve a graduate program or some higher-level training. Whether it's med school, vet school, an MPH program, some combination of these, or something completely different, odds are my years as a student are far from over. This is the likely situation that many of my peers find themselves in - today, it seems like almost any career field has some form of post-bachelor's education to increase expertise. After researching many different programs, the biggest lesson I've learned about grad school is that you should define a career goal first, and then apply to a graduate program that will best facilitate your achievement of that goal. This is something that I struggled with for a long time, and I'm willing to bet I'm not alone on this one. We so often focus on the next part of our education or career development that we lose sight of the long-term goal, and we might not even realize that these two visions no longer align. Regardless of your career field, graduate school should be a consideration for any junior (although it is by no means required for everyone).

File this under "things I think everyday."

The other path is to get a short-term job or fellowship immediately after graduation, and follow that path wherever it leads, be it to a long-term career or eventual graduate school. This path definitely appeals to me personally. I want to at least partially pay off my student loan debt before taking on even more, and putting off graduate school will not only allow me to experience life as a non-student, but could improve my chances of getting into a good program (prior working experience is a big draw for some admissions committees). This is an increasingly common route taken by Tufts students; recent data collected by the Career Center indicates that 16-20% of Jumbos go directly into grad school, and of those that do not, 77% intend to enroll within three years of graduation.

At the same time, however, I fear that if I enter the workforce right away, I'll be too tempted by a steady income and a more stable schedule to want to return to the life of a full-time student. (Although, I'm sure if you ask any professional, they'll tell you that working life makes school life look like heaven.) A job or fellowship might also offer an opportunity for travel or long-term stay in another country, which is a big draw for me. As someone who won't be going abroad in college, I want to explore more of the world before chaining myself to another school for several years. But, supporters of the immediate-graduate-school-entry plan often say that they don't want to put off their career - they want to get into the field as early as possible, and that means getting through grad school as early as possible. I totally understand this, and sometimes feel like it's due to the term "gap year" that's been used to describe the time between undergraduate and graduate school. It has a negative connotation, implying that nothing really gets done in this time - it's just a gap. I've come to use the term growth year, which I think is not only more pleasant-sounding, but more accurate. There are some things that you learn in the working world or through travel that just cannot be taught in the classroom.

I hate to use the same gif in two consecutive posts, but this is just too relevant not to include.

As you can see by my vacillation, the decision between these two major camps is a tough one for me, one that cannot be solved with a single blog post. We haven't even begun to parse out the various smaller paths within each of these categories (master's vs. doctoral programs, jobs vs. fellowships vs. rotational programs, etc.). But, laying out the pros and cons of each plan has given me a lot to think about, and has hopefully done the same for you. By starting to churn these thoughts, we can all get a jump-start on the post-graduation plan. But first, I'm off to study for midterms.

Until next time,
Sean Boyden
Class of 2017

Read More

Bridging the Gap Year - Finding Opportunities

Happy Friday, readers!

If you remember one of the first posts I made on this blog, you might recall that I had a bit of a crisis last semester. You see, I couldn't quite decide what I'd be doing after graduation. I found myself at a metaphorical crossroad. My first option was to go straight on to law school - a goal I've had for over ten years now. The second option, and the one that gave me the most turmoil, was to take a gap year in order to gain experience.

Why was it such a difficult decision? To condense my earlier post: I had a ton of preconceived notions that made me afraid of taking a gap year. It was thanks to the guidance of mentors and peers that I was able to reconcile my fears. Eventually, I  realized that taking a gap year was actually the best choice I could possibly make. A wise decision, but not an easy one.

How I felt the second I realized that I had to find a job now.
Source

Since then, I've been arduously working to create a solid game plan. I was in a bit of a panic at first, not gonna lie. Until last October, I was positive that my post-grad plans were straightforward. I would apply to law school that fall, hopefully be accepted somewhere in the spring, and start the following September. Compared to my peers who weren't going to grad school, I felt like I had it all together. No stressful job search for me! See you all in 3 years, suckers!

So much for that.

Now that I'm taking time off, I need to find fulfilling one-year employment opportunities. One of the most important things about taking a gap year is that you come away with useful knowledge. Since I do still want to go to law school, I'm looking for opportunities that might grant me some insight that will be helpful in the classroom. Having that experience will also make me a better candidate for getting into law school in the first place.

I fantasize about having this conversation one day. [Source]

The question remains: how exactly do you find these opportunities? I've drawn up a list of great online resources for your viewing pleasure:

Spotlight on Careers - Spotlight on Careers is a wonderful job search resource in general, but there's also a section dedicated specifically to the gap year experience. Spotlight offers tips on how to find opportunities

Careers A-Z - If you know what field(s) you're interested in, I highly suggest taking a look at Careers A-Z. It's essentially a directory that the Career Center put together to make your life easier. When you click on a field (for example, arts) you'll be taken to a list of resources that's been tailored specifically for that field. Definitely a time-saver!

Backdoor Jobs Funky name aside, this website is actually a useful resource for anyone who wants to do something more unconventional with their gap year. If you're the outdoorsy type, Backdoor Jobs offers unique opportunities in places like national parks and farms. This site is great if you want to spend your gap year getting your hands dirty.

Fellowships - Most of these deadlines have passed, so this link might be best for juniors thinking ahead. A fellowship is similar to an internship, but it often includes a stipend via grant. Fellowships are an excellent way to get some first-hand experience in a field you're interested in. Some fellowships even include support for housing.

TIP [Tufts Internship Profiles] In a similar vein, you can look for (hopefully paid) internships that will advance your career development. TIP is a list of internship profiles from Tufts students who have successfully taken part in summer internships. This is a great way get ideas and to see where Tufts students interned.

Career Advisory Network [CAN] - Finally, if you're looking to conduct informational interviews with people in your desired field, Tufts CAN is the place you want to look. This is a network of Tufts alums who willingly volunteered to give advice to fellow Jumbos. So you don't have to awkwardly wonder if they'll even want to talk to you - they wouldn't be in the network if they didn't want to help! So search up some alums and email away.

Hopefully I've given you all a toolbox that will serve you well as you figure out what you'll be doing with your life for the next year. I'll be holding out hope that we will all successfully survive the gap.

Signing off,

Kelly F. Vieira

Class of 2015

Read More

Jumbo Spotlight: Coro Fellow William Huang

 By Angela Sun

William Huang, Coro fellow and Tufts '12 alum

The prestigious Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a nine-month experiential leadership training program that prepares diverse, talented, and committed individuals for effective and ethical leadership. There are placements around the country in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and St. Louis. In this post, we hear from William Huang, a 2012 alum who is a current Coro Fellow in New York. 

How did your academic and professional experiences at Tufts prepare you for Coro?

I majored in International Relations with an East Asia sub-concentration . I worked closely with the Asian American community during my time at Tufts as an Asian American Peer Leader and also as the Asian American Community Representative in Senate. In my application for Coro, I emphasized my experiences facilitating the Pan-Asian Council during my senior year. These experiences demonstrated my passion for social justice and community empowerment, which fit into the leadership development mission of Coro. 

As for internship experience, I interned at the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, a housing non-profit in NYC that focused on building affordable housing for the elderly and ill. This experience was something I talked about in my Coro essay. My internship there sparked my professional interests in community development and affordable housing.

Why did you decide to apply to the Coro fellowship?

I decided to apply because I wanted to learn how to be a more effective leader. In helping direct the Pan-Asian Council, I was having difficulty getting consensus on various projects and events. For example, we were planning to do a culture show between all the Asian clubs, but we had to eventually switch to Games Night. I also wanted to get training in how to motivate others, which was something I was struggling with. Furthermore, Coro has a strong network of alumni in government, business, and non-profit, so participating in Coro would jumpstart my career in community development by providing an instant network.

What was the application process like? Who should apply?

The application is structured as if you're applying to a grad school program. I had to write four essays, submit my undergraduate transcript along with three recommendations. Once you get past the initial screening process, there is a Selection Day in March for the 36 finalists, of which Coro will pick 12. I can't get into any specifics about Selection Day, but it is grueling and quite un-orthodox! Come mentally prepared and focused - you have to be on your "A" game.

To be a Coro fellow, you must have the ability to work with others from different backgrounds than yourself, with regards to gender, race, class, sexuality, political beliefs, etc. You should come in open-minded and agile. Coro has a very fast timeline when it comes to group projects and it can be tricky to stay on top of it all. There will also be unexpected twists on some of the projects so it is important to stay mentally prepared.

How is the fellowship program structured?

Coro is an experiential leadership training program with tons of surprises prepared for the fellows. The program consists of rotational placements in government, election campaigns, labor, business and non-profit sectors. Additionally, there are Focus Weeks interspersed throughout the year on topics like public finance, and media. There are also leadership breakfasts where we interview key stakeholders in the various sectors. For example, this Friday we will interview Dennis Walcott, the chancellor for the NYC Department of Education. Tuesday evenings and Fridays are also Coro Seminar Days where we might work on projects or personal leadership development.

One memorable experience (out of many) was seeing that Mayor Bloomberg's office was just a regular cubicle in the middle of City Hall. He didn't have a corner office - he just had a cubicle surrounded by his staff members. He's just like the rest of us, albeit much richer!

What placements/ projects have your received as part of your fellowship?

Coro placed me at the NYC Department of Education for my government placement, and now I am at AFSCME, a union for municipal employees. For my Department of Education placement, I was placed with the newly created Division of Equity and Access and tasked with writing the online content for the Empowering Boys website. It is an online resource for educators, students, and parents to access things like SAT prep classes, study habit tips, and a variety of other tools. The Division of Equity and Access and the Empowering Boys website is specifically designed to help narrow the achievement gap in high school graduation and college matriculation rates between Black and Latino male and their white counterparts.

For my campaign placement, I and nine other Coro fellows assisted the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) with the Joseph Addabbo, Jr. re-election campaign. He is a Democrat running for re-election as State Senator in Queens. On a typical day, I would go to the Queen's office, head out to knock on doors and canvas. I would end the day debriefing and phone-banking.  Through the combined efforts of UFT, volunteers, and the Coro fellows, Addabbo won re-election!

Coro is about experiencing different sectors in order to draw connections across the board and cultivate effective leadership. Coro runs from September to May, like a one-year grad program. These placements are around a month long each.

Did you get to work with other fellows?

I work with other fellows constantly. The time I devote to the group processes is equal to, if not greater, than my time at placements. We meet on Tuesday evenings and Fridays to do group projects and prepare for leadership breakfasts, in which we interview prominent stakeholders. All of the fellows are very bright, motivated, and driven. About half grew up in NYC, but many of the fellows are from the West Coast, and even other countries (South Korea). It takes time to reach a consensus when we make a decision, but that is part of the group process we're learning to master.

What are some of the challenges as a fellow?

One difficulty is learning how to live on a budget. Coro provides a stipend that varies based on financial need, but nevertheless it can be hard to live on the stipend. I'm fortunate to be living at home, so I can use my stipend on transportation, food, clothing, etc. A lot of the fellows apply for food stamps and Medicaid to stretch their dollar. It's great to have these shared resources.

Another difficulty is managing the work-life balance. Coro is a full-time commitment (60 hours/ week) where Tuesday seminars can last until 11PM and we might have to come in on the weekends. I have a girlfriend and am on the Planning Committee for the Tufts Asian American Alumni Association, so it can be tricky to juggle all my priorities. The best way to resolve this is to communicate clearly--I tell my girlfriend that Tuesdays are hectic so I can't call her. The balance is an ongoing lesson, so I will have more answers as the program continues.

What have you learned from the experience so far?

So far, I have learned the importance of talking to a variety of stakeholders on any issues - it's important to recognize the heard and unheard voices in the decision-making process. I am able to use inquiry to understand the underlying power dynamics and contribute to informed and inclusive decisions.

What are your plans for next steps?

In the future, I am interested in working at a housing non-profit for a few years and then getting my Masters in Public Administration to further my career in community development. 

If you're interested in applying to Coro, applications are due January 18, 2013. William Huang is also happy to speak with interested Tufts students.  You can contact him through the Tufts Career Advisory Network at tuftscan.org. His Coro profile can be found here.

Read More

Ask the Career Counselor: Internship Funding

Today's question: I applied for a great internship, but it's unpaid and I need to make some money. Where can I look for alternative sources of funding?

Answered by: Susannah Krenn, Tufts Career Services

This is an issue that comes up frequently in my conversations with students. Ideally, every internship would offer some form of compensation! Unfortunately, we know that this isn't the case. For starters, I encourage students to meet with a career advisor to talk about their individual questions related to internships and funding.

Important reminder: Before you commit to an unpaid internship, think about how you'll navigate the funding issue. Assuming you'll be able to find funding after you've accepted a position may result in disappointment.

Here are a few strategies to consider when looking for internship funding:

• First, check with your prospective supervisor to see if he/she knows of any funding opportunities offered by the organization. You could also ask him/her to put you in touch with past interns so that you can contact them about strategies for managing an unpaid internship.
• If possible, think about accepting an unpaid internship on a part-time basis. Many students adopt this "hybrid" plan: working part-time as an unpaid intern and part-time at a paying job. Internships, activities, and volunteer positions positively add to resumes and self-knowledge, whether they're full-time or part-time.
  
• Talk to your department at Tufts. Sometimes departments offer funding for research or other work experiences.
• Network! Talk to family, friends, supervisors, and professors to get ideas for how you could obtain funding or raise funds on your own.
  

As you may have guessed, funding providers (especially those external to Tufts) generally expect their recipients to work with a certain organization, for a specified number of hours, etc. Thus, it is doubly important to think about this issue in advance, since you may not be able to choose your own internship placement outside of what the funding dictates.

Tufts offers a number of resources for funding internships, individual research, and projects abroad. Here's a list of opportunities:

Career Services Summer Internship Grants
Summer Scholars Program
Tisch Active Citizenship Summer Fellowship Program
Undergraduate Research Fund
IGL Empower Program for Social Entrepreneurship
Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize
Dean's Student Grant Program for Engineering Projects

Other helpful websites:
Scholarships, Fellowships, and Post-Graduate Internships (through Career Services website)
Diversity Resources

External funding websites:
Fastweb
College Scholarships and Grants, Grad School Fellowships, and Post-Graduate Awards

Have questions or want more advice? Come see us!

Read More

How to Survive on an AmeriCorps Salary – Thoughts from Citizen Schools and City Year Reps

Citizen Schools and City Year are two organizations with great opportunities for seniors interested in short-term work experiences after graduation. Both nonprofits have locations in Boston and a number of other cities across the U.S. In addition, both have high rates of retention and are concerned with participants’ professional development during their programs. A few weeks ago, representatives from Citizen Schools and City Year visited the Tufts campus to chat about their organizations and give advice for making the most of a year (or two) of service, including stretching a living stipend to cover one’s expenses (totally do-able, by the way!)

First, some quick facts about both organizations:

Citizen Schools – National Teaching Fellowship
Fellows spend two years pursuing three intensive educational professional development opportunities, gaining hands-on experience at middle schools, work experience with community organizations, and academic training through pursuit of a Master's degree.

Deadlines
Apply by January 7; Notification by February 25
Apply by March 11; Notification by April 29

Benefits

• AmeriCorps educational award at the completion of your service (can be used for existing or future loans)
• Fellows receive the largest stipend allowed by AmeriCorps (~$22,800)
• Health Insurance
• Student loan forbearance
• 3 weeks vacation
• 403B retirement benefits
• Transportation allowance
• Laptop for use during program

City Year – Corps Members
As a City Year corps member, you will serve full-time as a tutor and mentor in schools, running after-school programs, leading and developing youth leadership programs, and vacation camps to make a difference in the lives of children and their communities. Although most of your corps experience will be working with kids, you will also help rebuild neighborhoods and perform a variety of transformative physical service projects.

Deadlines
Apply by November 15; Notification by December 17
Apply by February 1; Notification by March 1
Apply by April 1; Notification by May 1
Apply by May 15; Notification by June 15

They typically receive about 850 applications for 170 positions
Applying early is always better for ensuring a spot in the Corps, though there will still be spots for those who apply at later deadlines

Benefits

• AmeriCorps educational award at the completion of your service (can be used for existing or future loans)
• Bi-weekly living stipend
• Cell phone provided by T-Mobile
• Health Insurance
• Student Loan forbearance
• Networking sessions and professional development
• Leadership development trainings
• Uniform provided by The Timberland Company and ARAMARK
• Online community where accepted Corps Members can discuss housing

Recommendations for making the most of your living stipend:

• Plan ahead – think about your expenses (necessities vs. areas where you might be able to cut back)
• Leverage your resources – this may include applying for federal assistance programs like food stamps and making sure your student loans are in forbearance
• Collaborate with co-workers – find an inexpensive apartment, share grocery and other common expenses
• Consider part-time work if your time allows – for example, some Corps Members with City Year have found part-time weekend jobs to supplement their stipends
• Remember why you’re there – you’ll certainly face some tough times during a year of service, and remembering your reasons for wanting to serve will help you face those challenges and emerge a stronger person
  

For questions about Citizen Schools or City Year, contact our Tufts liaisons:

Sheldon Johnson
Campus Recruitment Manager
Citizen Schools
617.695.2300 ext. 1104
sheldonj@citizenschools.org

Jamaal Williams
Recruitment Manager
City Year Boston
617.927.2511
JWilliams@cityyear.org

Read More

What To Do?? "Gap Year" Options for Seniors

Realizing that today is the first day of December made me more than a little anxious, I have to admit. The fall semester might as well be over by this point, which leaves us with about six measly months until we seniors graduate. Gulp.

By this point, you've probably given some thought to what you're going to do after leaving this fine home of the Jumbos. That doesn't mean you've actually settled on something though.
There are plenty of kids who are heading off to grad school. Others are jumping right into the workforce. And then there are those who still don't have the slightest clue about what to do with themselves (myself included).

Lo and behold...The Gap Year! This can mean different things to different people. For some, it may imply bumming around Amsterdam in a quest to "find" oneself. An interesting plan, but one that may not be easily explained on a resume.

Why do people decide to take a Gap Year? There are a myriad reasons: fear of the poor economy, academic burnout, a desire to try something brand new, etc. Taking this path can certainly be advantageous. You get the chance to be truly independent (not I'm-living-in-a-dorm-room-with-people-I-don't-know independent, but I'm-living-in-a-foreign-country-with-people-who-don't-speak-the-same-language-as-me independent), there are opportunities to develop new skills and talents (which will definitely bolster the resume), you can break out of your comfortable bubble and broaden your perspective on life (corny, but true)...the list goes on and on.

Luckily, there are various options for how to spend a Gap Year. You can locate jobs/internships/teaching programs/travel opportunities in just about any area of interest you could think of. Start off by looking through http://www.gapyear.com/, which features close to 8000 organizations in 123 countries that students can work with. It might seem a little overwhelming at first, but just take your time searching through all the listings, and you should be able to find several different possibilities that appeal to you. Some popular organizations are:

- Americorps (www.americorps.gov)
- Centerstage (www.centerstage.org)
- City Year (www.cityyear.org)
- JET (www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JET/)
- New Morning Farm (www.newmorningfarm.net)
- Public Allies (www.publicallies.org)
- Teach for America (teachforamerica.org)
- SCICON (www.tcoe.org/scicon)

There are also many other resources you can take advantage of to figure out how to spend your Gap Year.

- Log on to the Tufts Career Network and search by Major to see what alumni with similar interests as you are up to. Go ahead and get in touch with them to see what they did after graduation, and whether it might be something you'd be interested in doing too. Read the Career Services Networking and Informational Interviewing packet for advice on contacting alumni.

- Visit the Fellowships and Service section of the Tufts Career Services website. This will bring you to a list of scholarships, fellowships and post graduate internships that might be perfect for devoting your Gap Year to.

- Log on to Webcenter and select Career Services Web Resources from the drop down menu. You will find a variety of different helpful websites. I would concentrate on the Vault Online Library as a resource for exploring different career fields. There is a lot of information to browse through, but with a little patience, you'll be able to locate numerous guides that will give you helpful pointers about what to do during your Gap Year.

The point is, don't be alarmed if you find yourself not jumping into med school right after graduation (or ever, for that matter). Your options after graduation are not limited to grad school or a full time job. There are innumerable opportunities awaiting you should you chose to do something different and take a Gap Year instead. This is an extraordinary time in your life, so be sure to make the most of it!

P.s. This post is devoted to my frazzled friend Brenna. I hope it gives her some comfort.

Read More