After a pair of pretty busy weeks, we’re back in business. I’ve had a couple of stressful stretches of class, but I’ve got a little break for the time being, and figured it was about time for an update.
The weather on campus has been pretty varied for the last couple of weeks; everything from sunny skies to a winter storm warning. Things are relatively busy on parts of the campus this weekend, as there’s an indoor track meet going on in the turf center right now. On that note, I just finished a long day of work, so I’m debating as to whether I want to go watch part of the meet or head to the gym myself.
But I’m willing to bet that you guys aren’t interested in my weekend plans, so I thought we might talk a little about GVSU’s Career Services office. If you’re worried about the job market after college, or want an advantage in said market, this is the place to drop by. They offer a really wide range of services, from individual appointments to simulated interviews. If you have a question about resumes, this is a great place to get some tips. They have databases of contacts in several career fields if you want some real life examples, a career library, online services, and they also keep track of on campus recruitment as well as the many career fairs that take place on campus.
Career Services also keeps track of several statistics as far as job placement goes. A breakdown for all of Grand Valley’s colleges can be found in their brochures or on the website, but I believe the most recent count of alumni employment comes from either 2007 or 2008, and 96% of grads were either employed full time or in a graduate program.
But it isn’t just employment after graduation that the office keeps an eye on. According to the office, 6918 current Grand Valley students are participating in internships, co-ops, and practicals. A majority of those are in education (due to student teaching requirements), with nursing and the health sciences close behind. For those of you not sure what that number means, a little less than 40% of the campus’ full time undergrads are involved in internship or internship-like experiences outside of their academics.
To be honest, though, I’m now thinking more along the lines of grabbing food on campus, rather than heading to the gym, so I think I’ll call it a day. Don’t forget to post any questions that you have.
-Kyle
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Third week
It has certainly been a whirlwind of classes for me so far, and it’s only the third week of Winter Semester. I should have expected this, though, seeing as I’m enrolled in a capstone class; that in particular will definitely make for a challenging semester. But it isn’t just classes on my mind; I’ve been thinking an awful lot about internship opportunities, particularly for this coming summer. On the bright side, AMA as well as a lot of my current professors will likely serve really well in networking, so I think as long as I get moving I shouldn’t have a problem.
It’s also pretty fortunate that, despite a pretty heavy work load, I’ve managed to stay on top of my gym habits. Sort of. I’ve been making it in at least three times a week, and my goal is four times. I also say “sort of” because I should be training for the River Bank Run, but the truth is that I haven’t been doing very much so far in the way of long distance. Still, I can’t help but be reminded of how great it is to have a free pass to GVSU’s gym, especially when I actually make use of it. On the downside, I haven’t been to the pool since Fall Semester, and it would definitely be good to get a little swimming in each week.
Aside from that, I’m not entirely sure what to write about today. It’s been quite busy for me; I’ve had mostly class work on my mind, and I’m pretty sure you guys don’t want to hear the details of my MGT 495 exam. That being said, if anyone has a subject that they want to hear a little bit about, let me know. Even if it’s something outside of my knowledge, I wouldn’t say no to a little admissions research project.
-Kyle
It’s also pretty fortunate that, despite a pretty heavy work load, I’ve managed to stay on top of my gym habits. Sort of. I’ve been making it in at least three times a week, and my goal is four times. I also say “sort of” because I should be training for the River Bank Run, but the truth is that I haven’t been doing very much so far in the way of long distance. Still, I can’t help but be reminded of how great it is to have a free pass to GVSU’s gym, especially when I actually make use of it. On the downside, I haven’t been to the pool since Fall Semester, and it would definitely be good to get a little swimming in each week.
Aside from that, I’m not entirely sure what to write about today. It’s been quite busy for me; I’ve had mostly class work on my mind, and I’m pretty sure you guys don’t want to hear the details of my MGT 495 exam. That being said, if anyone has a subject that they want to hear a little bit about, let me know. Even if it’s something outside of my knowledge, I wouldn’t say no to a little admissions research project.
-Kyle
Friday, January 15, 2010
Winter Semester
For anyone who read my comment last week about being happy to be back to doing something and said “you’ll regret saying that,” congratulations, you called it. It’s Friday of the first week of the semester and wow, this is going to be tough. Which is a good thing; I’ll complain all day long about extra class work and so forth, but anyone who knows me has figured out by now that I like a good challenge, especially academically. This will (hopefully) be a very fulfilling semester.
It’s not like I really have much to complain about, anyway. Earlier this week I stopped by for an advising appointment and had a degree evaluation done, and it’s looking as though I’m in for some smooth sailing. The degree evaluation filled me in on a number of different things, namely those classes that I hadn’t yet completed, what I have completed thus far and where in my major it applies, as well as a “what if” analysis, for students thinking about changing their major. It goes pretty far in depth, though. Aside from the breakdown of general education courses, courses applied to majors, or courses for a theme, a degree analysis will also give you other helpful insights, such as which course will allow you to “double-dip” (meaning apply a single course to two different requirements. In this case, I think I had a Sociology class that took care of two categories for me). To be honest, though, most of the help doesn’t come from the analysis itself but from the interpretation of the advisor. The advising staff is great, they really know how to get all the information you need across to you in a really understandable manner. I tell most of my tours that one of the first things a new student on campus should do is get to know their academic advisor.
All that said, it has been quite a busy day, at the end of a very busy week, a week that is notably not over with (we have a scholarship competition tomorrow). It would seem that now is a pretty convenient time to sign out, so let me know if you’ve got any questions,
-Kyle
It’s not like I really have much to complain about, anyway. Earlier this week I stopped by for an advising appointment and had a degree evaluation done, and it’s looking as though I’m in for some smooth sailing. The degree evaluation filled me in on a number of different things, namely those classes that I hadn’t yet completed, what I have completed thus far and where in my major it applies, as well as a “what if” analysis, for students thinking about changing their major. It goes pretty far in depth, though. Aside from the breakdown of general education courses, courses applied to majors, or courses for a theme, a degree analysis will also give you other helpful insights, such as which course will allow you to “double-dip” (meaning apply a single course to two different requirements. In this case, I think I had a Sociology class that took care of two categories for me). To be honest, though, most of the help doesn’t come from the analysis itself but from the interpretation of the advisor. The advising staff is great, they really know how to get all the information you need across to you in a really understandable manner. I tell most of my tours that one of the first things a new student on campus should do is get to know their academic advisor.
All that said, it has been quite a busy day, at the end of a very busy week, a week that is notably not over with (we have a scholarship competition tomorrow). It would seem that now is a pretty convenient time to sign out, so let me know if you’ve got any questions,
-Kyle
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
First post of the decade
First post of the decade
As great as breaks are, I’m pretty happy to be back to doing something. A week and a half of nothing is very restful, but I think the term “crippling boredom” may have been applicable at certain points throughout the holiday.
On a related note, I hope that that I’m not the first to wish you guys a happy new year, seeing as it is 5 days late here, but I do hope everybody had a safe and enjoyable holiday season this year. With that in mind, I do have some bad news: Our scholarship deadline has passes. December 31 is the deadline on a couple of our scholarships, the awards of excellence in particular. That doesn’t mean that financial aid isn’t available anymore, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t get scholarships, it just means that there are a few scholarships and scholarship competitions for which you can’t apply. On the bright side, if you applied and sent in ACT scores by December 31, you may be eligible to receive some awards, so keep an eye on the mail.
Another thing to keep an eye on, which is coincidentally also money related, is FAFSA. In all fairness, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had to worry about this, but if I recall correctly it’s early to mid winter when that information has to be filed (I think March 1 is the priority deadline, but I’m definitely not the guy to ask on that).
All business stuff aside, it’s tough to believe that we’re in a new decade. I can remember quite a few moments from the last ten years pretty vividly, as far back as middle school and as recent as the last three years here on campus. I’m pretty excited to keep moving forward, but if anybody asked me to, I wouldn’t hesitate to do most of it over again. And yes, I would still choose to come to Grand Valley, hands down.
That’s about it today, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. I know I said I probably couldn’t answer FAFSA stuff, but ask anyway if you’ve got a concern, and I’ll be sure to ask around myself.
-Kyle
As great as breaks are, I’m pretty happy to be back to doing something. A week and a half of nothing is very restful, but I think the term “crippling boredom” may have been applicable at certain points throughout the holiday.
On a related note, I hope that that I’m not the first to wish you guys a happy new year, seeing as it is 5 days late here, but I do hope everybody had a safe and enjoyable holiday season this year. With that in mind, I do have some bad news: Our scholarship deadline has passes. December 31 is the deadline on a couple of our scholarships, the awards of excellence in particular. That doesn’t mean that financial aid isn’t available anymore, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t get scholarships, it just means that there are a few scholarships and scholarship competitions for which you can’t apply. On the bright side, if you applied and sent in ACT scores by December 31, you may be eligible to receive some awards, so keep an eye on the mail.
Another thing to keep an eye on, which is coincidentally also money related, is FAFSA. In all fairness, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had to worry about this, but if I recall correctly it’s early to mid winter when that information has to be filed (I think March 1 is the priority deadline, but I’m definitely not the guy to ask on that).
All business stuff aside, it’s tough to believe that we’re in a new decade. I can remember quite a few moments from the last ten years pretty vividly, as far back as middle school and as recent as the last three years here on campus. I’m pretty excited to keep moving forward, but if anybody asked me to, I wouldn’t hesitate to do most of it over again. And yes, I would still choose to come to Grand Valley, hands down.
That’s about it today, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. I know I said I probably couldn’t answer FAFSA stuff, but ask anyway if you’ve got a concern, and I’ll be sure to ask around myself.
-Kyle
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Quiet end to December
Well, we all fortunately made it through exam week, and so Fall Semester 2009 has come to a close. It had its ups and downs, with a lot of stress near the end, but I think we’re all ready for something a little new. Which is convenient, because a new decade is only a little more than a week away. 2010 will mark Grand Valley’s 50th anniversary; the college was founded in fall of 1960, and wow, have we come a long way. Some of the newest housing in the state, the number one division II athletics programs, one of the nation’s top “best buys” among colleges and one of the most ecologically friendly colleges, this institution has most definitely built a strong name for itself over the years. Maybe at some point I’ll write a short historically retrospective post, but I’m not quite feeling that today.
For all of the activity on campus when class is in session, the university is certainly quiet on breaks. People ask a lot on tours if the campus empties out on weekends. The answer to that is no, but breaks are way different from weekends. I hate to be discouraging here, but I would really suggest not coming by when the campus is on break, particularly winter or spring holidays. Summer session is still a fine time to visit; we have classes in session over the summer, so the campus is still active. Winter break, on the other hand, is unusually quiet. It’s honestly unnerving; less than a week ago I had to fight crowds to find study spaces in my favorite buildings (in all honesty, though, I’m kind of picky about where I study), and now it’s quiet in most of the structures. I won’t complain too much about it, the office will close down after tomorrow and won’t open again until January 4, which means a solid week and a half of no major responsibilities for me. I’ve decided that this is a much needed chance to recharge after all of the physical, academic, and social stress of Finals Week 2009.
If a visit these coming weeks is what works for you, though, don’t let me change your mind. I’ve got my own personal opinion, but I also figure that high school is a pretty busy time, so if this is your best chance to drop by, go for it. I’m just surprised every year by how stark the contrast is between finals week and winter break.
Aside from that, I hope everybody has safe and pleasant holidays. I’ll still check back for questions throughout the break, but this will probably be my last Laker Talk post of this decade, so ask away and otherwise I’ll see you in 2010.
-Kyle
For all of the activity on campus when class is in session, the university is certainly quiet on breaks. People ask a lot on tours if the campus empties out on weekends. The answer to that is no, but breaks are way different from weekends. I hate to be discouraging here, but I would really suggest not coming by when the campus is on break, particularly winter or spring holidays. Summer session is still a fine time to visit; we have classes in session over the summer, so the campus is still active. Winter break, on the other hand, is unusually quiet. It’s honestly unnerving; less than a week ago I had to fight crowds to find study spaces in my favorite buildings (in all honesty, though, I’m kind of picky about where I study), and now it’s quiet in most of the structures. I won’t complain too much about it, the office will close down after tomorrow and won’t open again until January 4, which means a solid week and a half of no major responsibilities for me. I’ve decided that this is a much needed chance to recharge after all of the physical, academic, and social stress of Finals Week 2009.
If a visit these coming weeks is what works for you, though, don’t let me change your mind. I’ve got my own personal opinion, but I also figure that high school is a pretty busy time, so if this is your best chance to drop by, go for it. I’m just surprised every year by how stark the contrast is between finals week and winter break.
Aside from that, I hope everybody has safe and pleasant holidays. I’ll still check back for questions throughout the break, but this will probably be my last Laker Talk post of this decade, so ask away and otherwise I’ll see you in 2010.
-Kyle
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Three down and three to go
Halfway through finals is worth celebrating, right? It’s still going to be a long week, but I’m looking forward to taking it easy after Thursday. Finals week is a funny thing; you have way fewer class sessions to attend, but you’re about twice as stressed as usual. But I suppose that’s a pretty common student experience.
The nice thing is that the University recognizes that and caters to it. I’m really starting to appreciate the extended library hours, which will be 24/7 for the rest of the week. The coffee, water, and hot chocolate is also nice, though I’m not one for caffeine. It’s a pretty full week, between studying and working it’s amazing any of us can actually find time to take exams, but after Friday another semester will be over, with three weeks until the next one.
That doesn’t mean that we’re all done with responsibilities until January 11, though; Admissions is open for a large portion of the break. So if you have a chance to swing by and want to see the campus in wintry conditions, give us a call. Speaking of which, I think that our Facilities and other service fields on campus deserve a big tip of the hat. The weather’s been all over the place for the last two weeks, from rain to fog, all the way to a blizzard, and yet the campus has stayed pretty clear (I haven’t hit the ground yet). So if anyone from those departments happens to be reading, thanks for keeping the grounds traversable.
Well, now is as good a time as any to wrap up, I’ve still got a couple of hours to spend here, maybe I’ll swing by the gym, and then the rest of the day will probably be spent studying. Hopefully, at least.
-Kyle
The nice thing is that the University recognizes that and caters to it. I’m really starting to appreciate the extended library hours, which will be 24/7 for the rest of the week. The coffee, water, and hot chocolate is also nice, though I’m not one for caffeine. It’s a pretty full week, between studying and working it’s amazing any of us can actually find time to take exams, but after Friday another semester will be over, with three weeks until the next one.
That doesn’t mean that we’re all done with responsibilities until January 11, though; Admissions is open for a large portion of the break. So if you have a chance to swing by and want to see the campus in wintry conditions, give us a call. Speaking of which, I think that our Facilities and other service fields on campus deserve a big tip of the hat. The weather’s been all over the place for the last two weeks, from rain to fog, all the way to a blizzard, and yet the campus has stayed pretty clear (I haven’t hit the ground yet). So if anyone from those departments happens to be reading, thanks for keeping the grounds traversable.
Well, now is as good a time as any to wrap up, I’ve still got a couple of hours to spend here, maybe I’ll swing by the gym, and then the rest of the day will probably be spent studying. Hopefully, at least.
-Kyle
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sports weather and finals
A quick update on something I said last time: GVSU fans will be happy to hear that the soccer girls won their first national championship down in Florida in the history of the team, and football is going back to Alabama. Exciting times for Laker athletics.
In weather related news, people keep saying that we’re supposed to get blizzard conditions over the next two days. I’m a bit of a skeptic; having lived in Michigan for all of my life has told me that you can’t accurately predict Wednesday’s weather until Thursday morning.
Of course, the big thing on my mind is finals week, which is next week. Every student’s favorite time of year, right? I’ve got four exams next week, and two classes with finals this week. In other words, the semester is winding down, I think I’ve already done three professor evaluations. I’ll be meeting with a couple friends in about 40 minutes for a study session, but between now and then I have to get back to a final project. Holiday Break’s right around th corner, though.
-Kyle
In weather related news, people keep saying that we’re supposed to get blizzard conditions over the next two days. I’m a bit of a skeptic; having lived in Michigan for all of my life has told me that you can’t accurately predict Wednesday’s weather until Thursday morning.
Of course, the big thing on my mind is finals week, which is next week. Every student’s favorite time of year, right? I’ve got four exams next week, and two classes with finals this week. In other words, the semester is winding down, I think I’ve already done three professor evaluations. I’ll be meeting with a couple friends in about 40 minutes for a study session, but between now and then I have to get back to a final project. Holiday Break’s right around th corner, though.
-Kyle
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