Newsletter

Spring 2014

www.AmericanHonors.org 1

American Honors program graduates have been accepted at the following Top 100 colleges and universities in 2014:

• Stanford University (#5 national)

• University of Pennsylvania (#7 national)

• Amherst College (#2 liberal arts)

• Middlebury College (#4 liberal arts)

• Northwestern University (#12 national)

• Cornell University (#16 national)

• Vanderbilt University (#17 national)

• University of California - Berkeley (#20 national)

• Smith College (#20 liberal arts)

• Emory University (#20 national)

• University of Southern California (#23 national)

• UNC-Chapel Hill (#30 national)

• University of Rochester (#32 national)

• Mount Holyoke College (#38 liberal arts)

• Skidmore College (#45 liberal arts)

• Northeastern University (#49 national)

• University of Washington (#52 national)

• Ohio State University (#52 national)

• Tulane University (#52 national)

• Pepperdine University (#57 national)

• Willamette University (#61 liberal arts)

• Brigham Young University - Provo (#62 national)

• Purdue University (#68 national)

• Rutgers University (#69 national)

• Virginia Tech (#69 national)

• Lewis & Clark College (#74 liberal arts)

• American University (#75 national)

• Baylor University (#75 national)

• Miami University - Oxford (#75 national)

• IU-Bloomington (#75 national)

• University of Puget Sound (#76 liberal arts)

• University of San Diego (#91 national)

• University of Denver (#91 national)

• Cornell College (#97 liberal arts)

• Washington and Jefferson College (#97 liberal arts)

• Juniata College (#100 liberal arts)

...and many more are still coming in!

I know that you balance a full-time academic load with work and extracurricular activities that align with your interests. What is an average day in your life?

An average day in my life can often be very hectic. Apart from being a full-time student, I also work three days a week. I start my days by heading to work at 8:00 am. Around 2:00pm, I leave work and head to the school gym to get a quick workout before class at 4:30pm. After class, I go to the library to catch up on homework and studying. I schedule most of my classes on the days when I do not work. I am currently a member of the Operations Supply Chain Management Club and Capital Investments Club. Both of these activities allow me to engage with classmates and network with professionals from the business world, equipping with the tools I need after I graduate. It is not always easy to balance academics, work, and extracurriculars; however, I have found that planning out your time in advance can go a long way towards achieving a good balance of the three.

What were some of the major changes and/or challenges you’ve experienced since transferring? What have been some of the highlights?

One of the most challenging things I’ve experienced as a transfer student has been dealing with the size of IUPUI. With nearly 30,000 students, the number of ways to get involved is almost overwhelming. I adapted to this change by embracing all that the school had to offer. By attending involvement fairs and social events, I met students with similar interests to mine. This helped make the big-school atmosphere feel much less overwhelming. The size of the school has not really had an impact on my academic life. All of the classes I have taken so far have had less than 50 students, a very comparable figure to Ivy Tech class sizes. Overall, the transfer process has been very smooth for me. I was able to transition very well into the academic requirements. I have also been able to join a number of extracurricular activities where I have met lots of new people. I was very well prepared for a four-year institution after all of the American Honors advising and seminars.

Where do you see yourself after graduating? Do you want to go to grad school? Start working?

After graduation, I plan on starting my professional career within business. After a few years of professional work experience, I would like to return to school to pursue a Master’s of Business Administration. All of my hard work is focused towards my dream of becoming the Chief Executive Officer of a leading company. Though it seems so far in the distance, I am determined to do all I can to reach this goal.

What advice do you have for current transfer students AND for students still at community college?

My advice to both transfer students and current community college students would be to always keep an open mind! Whether it’s deciding on which school to attend or what extracurriculars to join, always allow yourself to consider things you have never done before. I have found this to be crucial to my growth as a student and a person. One more thing: no matter what stage of your education you are at, enjoy the experience!

Carlos Garcia, major in Finance and Supply Chain Management at Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis

Alumni Spotlight

Where are you currently studying? Why did you decide to attend your current institution?

I am currently a junior at IUPUI. I decided to transfer to IUPUI because of the passport program between the school and Ivy Tech Community College. I was able to transfer all of my credits directly into the Kelley School of Business, where I would only have to spend two years to graduate with my bachelor’s degree. Although I was accepted to some other very intriguing schools such as Emory University and Purdue University, IUPUI proved to best fit my needs. My main focus was to transfer to an institution where I could complete my bachelor’s in just two more years. I also took into consideration the quality of the business programs and cost.

Have you always wanted to study Business?

As I began college, I had no clue what I wanted to study. I was able to explore a variety of subjects through my introductory courses at Ivy Tech. Eventually I realized that my detail-oriented personality, and my desire to apply my analytical skills, matched well with a career in business. Once I began focusing my studies in this field, I knew I had made the correct decision as I seek to one day be at the top of a corporation.

The five minutes it takes me to walk to breakfast are some of my most peaceful. I take my bearings for the day ahead, consider which assignments need attention, run through any personal errands that can’t wait for the weekend, calculate whether I’ll have enough time to go to the gym in the afternoon. They’re simple moments, fleeting at best. But since coming to Western Washington University in September, they have become some of my most cherished.

But in an instant they’re gone, and the race of the new day begins.

The process is not much different from community college (except you have to walk further and the chance of being cornered by a rep from Greenpeace is a bit greater).The pattern of school is most definitely in effect. You study, you go to class, you study some more, you go to class, you break for a quick breath and another cup of coffee, then repeat. But what I’ve found to be the biggest difference from my time at Spokane Community College is that here at Western, it is undoubtedly my cycle.

And it’s my cycle that has brought me to a niche among the literary community—a group I always identified with. But at Western, that connection became something new, something I hadn’t expected.

It was a change I encountered during the end of my first quarter when I began to have doubts about pursuing a Creative Writing degree. Feeling this way devastated me, but no matter how much I argued with myself, I couldn’t change it. Western had shown me some of the doors this particular degree opened, but there were none that I felt truly fit into my heart. Writing had always been my passion, and I didn’t want to lose it, so I began to search for other options.

I didn’t want to teach, I wasn’t computer-savvy enough for technical writing, and the more I thought about it, the more I doubted whether I could handle being alone in my own head long enough to write novels and other freelance projects.

I ended up enrolling in a Journalism course for winter quarter. The most experience I’d ever had with news media had been as co-editor of my middle school newspaper, which, despite the surprisingly heavy workload, I had enjoyed. So I thought it as good a place as any to begin.

Around that same time I happened to meet a fellow student who was developing a magazine

Alumna Featured Article about Bellingham’s creative arts community—everything from music and literature, to performance and visual art. After showing him some of my own work, I joined the B-Side magazine team as a reporter for the literature department.

My world shifted. The prospects of my future began growing in directions only Western could have dictated, and it couldn’t have felt more right.

I became immersed in the fast-paced, dynamic realm of journalism— it was like rediscovering why writing had stolen my heart in the first place. But this time, my love of words with my love of knowledge was perfectly balanced. Suddenly I found a place where I could continue to learn new and exciting things, while also crafting my own works. Creativity was the essence I’d always imagined for myself, but never knew how to articulate. Every bit of research I did, every interview I conducted, and every word I wrote seemed to be filling a missing piece.

Yet I look back and see how easily that space could’ve remained vacant. As it happened, Western was neither my first, nor second choice for university. In fact, it was a reluctant third (only its in-state status keeping it afloat). I wanted a big school, in a big city far from home. But I applied to Western on the advice of my American Honors counselor as a financial safety net.

But for reasons I continue to discover, that became the most significant piece of advice I’ve ever received.

I was heartbroken when my dreams of Boston or New York were overcome with the reality of thousands of dollars in student loans and debt. I felt like settling on my backup school was a failure on my part—I should have worked harder for scholarships and grants.In any case, Western became my most logical option. I eventually came around to the choice, though never quite with the same fervor.

But then I got here.

And door after door began to open, and suddenly my world began to grow. For the first time in my life I felt like I was learning who I was. And while I’m still learning, they’re lessons I could have only gotten here.

So at the end of each day, when I walk that same trail back to my dorm, I am thankful. Thankful for the life that I have, thankful for the twists and turns that brought me here, and thankful for the bright future that lies ahead.

Libby Keller, major in Journalism at Western Washington University

The Art of Networking

When you first begin your internship or job-searching process, networking can seem like an ambiguous and unstructured task. Unlike the experience of applying for specific posted jobs via email or a job-search site, networking requires you to be proactive in seeking mentors and new opportunities through social interactions.

Networking—the process of forming relationships with people connected to your prospective industry—frequently leads to job opportunities. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University report that 70 percent of all jobs are found through networking. At American Honors, we’ve surveyed the career readiness research to come up with essential tips for successful networking. Read through and get started! Your future job awaits.

The ‘lucky seven’ tips for effective networking:

Tip #1 Connect with alumni

One of the best parts of transferring to a four-year college or university is that you become part of a powerful alumni network for life. These people have shared a common experience with you, and many are willing to assist younger alumni. Your college most likely has an alumni center, or specific networking initiatives at the career office with graduates in your prospective industry. Try doing some research on your college’s alumni or career services website, or set up an appointment with a career advisor.

Tip #2 Search for a mentor

Mentors can be helpful during your college experience for many different reasons, but in terms of networking, they can help you grow and solidify your network of established people in a prospective field. When you are looking for a mentor, you are searching for a combined teacher, coach, and confidant who can, most importantly, provide you with advice on your chosen path. U.S. News recommends that you reflect about the exact nature of the mentor relationship, such as their field of expertise, or their past job experiences. When you decide what you want, start with your professors or other professionals you know in the field that you want to explore. Offer to meet individuals for coffee, ask advice, and follow up. As you progress through your college experience, mentors can provide you with valuable career advice, and perhaps even job opportunities.

By Katie Suter, Honors AdvisorTip #3 Use social media (strategically)

If you have ever looked for a job or internship, you have probably been warned about social media. (“Make your profile private! Take down those images! Careful with your language!”) It is also important for you to know how to proactively use social media to your advantage. LinkedIn, the world’s “largest professional network,” allows you to profile your professional and educational experiences, interests, and aspirations. When using social media, make sure that your profile is spotless—no grammar mistakes, typos, or inappropriate comments.

Tip #4 Take advantage of formal networking opportunities

To jumpstart your networking initiative, connect with Career Services at your college. These offices usually offer formal events geared towards majors or prospective industries, such as business, law, or education. The events vary from information sessions to recruiting meetings to job fairs. And be open-minded—sometimes, it may seem like a particular event is not targeted to you (“Graduating Senior Job Fair!”), but it could still be a good networking opportunity. Regardless of the event, dress professionally and carry copies of your resume, with contact information.

Tip #5 Utilize informal opportunities!

Does your roommate’s sister work in architecture, your dream industry? Or does your professor have connections at certain hospitals where you could conduct research? Ask for introductions to relevant individuals, and meet these people for coffee, lunch, or informational interviews. They can likely share personal experience about job searching as well as firsthand information about what the career path is actually like. Finally, they may be able to connect you to even more people within their field.

Tip #6 Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.

Before you attend an event or post a LinkedIn profile, prep your materials and yourself. Rehearse your “pitch,” and make sure you are clear on your personal motivation, so you can frame it to others. Brian Harke of the Huffington Post Blog reviews do’s and don’ts, and then encourages job seekers to apply their skills, experience, and aspirations. “There are endless opportunities to make new contacts and grow your network. Be creative. Be proactive.”

Tip #7 Form relationships, and follow up.

Networking is only effective if you keep your network strong. Try not to wait until you need a job to connect with the contacts you make—send updates, notes, and emails. Visit if you are in the area. Maintain your connections so you can naturally contact them if you have questions or concerns. As Yale Career Services states, “Don’t let the contact get stale, as you never know when you might next need to call on those in your network”

Finally, don’t forget one advantage that you all have in common- the American Honors network! We encourage you to speak with us and each other with questions, concerns, ideas, and dreams for the future.

CAO Interview with WinChief Academic Officer David Finegold had a chance to catch up with Wan Lin, aka Win, during her Spring break at Rutgers.

Q: Why don’t you tell me how you ended up transferring from Spokane to Rutgers?

A: I was in American Honors in Spokane and my advisor, Brittany, worked with me and helped me apply for several different schools, including Rutgers, that were strong in science. I wanted to try a place that was different than Spokane and I also wanted a lot of opportunities to do research because I want to go on to get my PhD and be a scientist after I complete my bachelor’s. I was accepted by Rutgers, Purdue, Smith, Mount Holyoke and Illinois Institute of Technology. When I made my decision of where to go, I talked with you and you told me about the opportunities I could get at Rutgers, with its highly-ranked Chemistry Department. I also liked the fact Rutgers is near New York, a big city so different from Spokane.

Q: Obviously, it’s a big transition to go from the small first cohort in the American Honors program at Spokane to a large flagship research university like Rutgers, so how has it compared to what you were expecting? What have been some of the most fun things this first semester for you?

A: Rutgers is so much bigger than Spokane. The first thing I found out that was interesting was that people here need to take buses to get around on campus. Rutgers has its own bus system (the 2nd largest bus system in New Jersey). I like the atmosphere on the buses because they are full of students and you get to know people as we are all going to classes.

The second thing that’s really different is that the classes at Rutgers are huge. Some of my classes have 300-400 people. I need to learn how to reach out to the professor, how to make the professor remember me. I need to go to the office hours. They’re not always available for students because they’re busy with their research.

Also, since the school is so big, you need to reach out to the advising center; they won’t remind you what you need to do. When I was in American Honors my advisor helped me know what I needed to do, but now I need to do that on my own.

Q: I understand you’ve just decided to apply to the Douglass College Community within Rutgers. Tell us a little bit about what Douglass is and why you chose to do that on top of your science major.

A: Douglas Residential College is a program for Rutgers women. It was originally its own separate women’s college, but now it’s a program within Rutgers. It helps women, especially women in the STEM field, to be successful by providing like internship and externship opportunities, and scholarships . They have thousands of opportunities for you and you become part of a small advising group.

Q: So, it’s like finding a little bit of American Honors within Rutgers. Is that right?

A: Yes, exactly.

Q: What are you thinking of in terms of your concentration?

A: I actually just applied to major in physics and math this morning when I talked to the advising center and they sent me an email saying I already got into the physics...

Q: Congratulations!

A: So I’m officially a physics major now. After I pass the math class I’m taking now I’ll be a math major, also.

Q: Excellent.

A: I don’t want to give up chemistry, so I’m thinking about doing a chemistry minor if I can, but I still want to graduate on time.

Q: That’s a very demanding load: physics and chemistry and math all together. Do you feel like your first two years at American Honors prepared you for these courses?

A: Yes. I already finished the general level classes at American Honors, so right now, I’m already taking high-level science and math classes, so, I do feel like I’m prepared because when I got into Rutgers, I got right into those junior level classes.

Q: Have you had a chance to do anything fun outside of class?

A: Rutgers has the Zimmerli Art Museum and it’s gorgeous, with lots of great paintings. And New Brunswick is also close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. I went there and it’s very cool. I spent the whole day there from 11:00 am to 8:45 pm and I still haven’t gone through every piece in the museum. It’s huge. You get to see a lot of paintings and sculptures from different countries, especially Europe.

Q: Are you excited that there will likely be some more American Honor students coming to Rutgers now that we have two campuses here in New Jersey?

A: Yes. I will definitely need to meet them when they come to Rutgers. I need to talk to them and we can make our own small group at Rutgers.

Continuing his education in Business at the University of Washington, Robbie is enjoying big city life in Seattle. He’s getting accustomed to the large campus and has made it his own by joining several clubs, intramural sports, and student leadership positions. He still can’t believe he lives in one of the most beautiful places in the country surrounded by a thriving young culture in the city of Seattle and on UW’s campus.

After studying with AH, Russell transferred to Georgetown University in DC. He loves DC and the opportunities here. He has an internship at the Peace Corps headquarters and explores the city every chance he gets. He also gets to see the AH staff regularly!

Where are our alumni now?

A note from Mackenzie, who is on a mission trip in Ecuador: “Somedays it`s really nice here and some days it`s really hot and humid. I think we`re going more into winter because it rains just about everyday and when it rains here it pours! But you know, there`s a lot of things now that just don`t bother me anymore, like being wet, and sweaty. You`re always wet here, either because you just got rained on or because you`re sweaty and sometimes both. But now those things just aren`t that important. They`re just part of life and you move on. When I get back I don`t think I am going to have any problem walking anywhere, being in the rain, being dirty. I really hope that when I get home I won`t take all the things I am blessed with there for granted.”

Since graduating from American Honors in the spring of 2013, Libby has been attending Western Washington University in Bellingham. While she’s always loved writing, Western has shown her a new direction for that love--journalism. She has changed her major and outlook, but she thanks AH for setting her on this path.

While studying philosophy at IUPUI, Ryan has recently completed a legislative internship with the Indiana Senate. He now seeks election as Student Representative on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, an appointment eventually determined by Governor Pence himself. He also operates a blog, ForgetfulPhilosopher.com, and is considering graduate studies in a wide range of fields.

Justin currently lives in Tampa, FL, and is getting ready to begin his college career there, likely at the University of South Florida. Outside of school, he works for Capital One as a fraud analyst, and in his free time he likes to cook and spend time with his wife and dog.

Ryan is currently studying at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA in the pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Although he eagerly awaits the summer, he is looking forward to next winter (already) to go ice skating and snowboarding!

Robbie, Alum ‘13

Mackenzie, Alum ‘13

Russell, Alum ‘13

Libby, Alum ‘13

Ryan P., Alum ‘13

Ryan N., Alum ‘13

Justin, Alumn ‘13

Dream Big.