Tag Archives: Master’s degree

Alumni Angle: MBA graduate, Andrea Lomanto

Posted on by
Reply

Andrea Lomanto currently resides in Voorheesville, NY. She received her BS from Boston University in 2005 followed by an MBA from Saint Rose in 2007. After graduation, Lomanto earned a job on the Saint Rose staff, where she is now Director of Alumni Relations. In her free time she enjoys making jewelry, gardening, attempting to knit, cooking, and traveling. Her favorite movies are anything horror and anything directed by Woody Allen. Meanwhile, she loves to listen to Jeffrey Foucault, The Stray Birds, and M.R. Poulopoulos (her talented boyfriend).

What did you get your degree in? And why did you choose it?

Andrea Lomanto: I chose communications at BU because I wanted to work in advertising, specifically as a copywriter. I was initially attracted to the glamor of advertising. After an eye-opening internship, I saw how not-glamorous and cut throat the environment could be. I didn’t give up on the idea of advertising, though. My first job out of school was with a small ad shop in Schenectady. I found out rather quickly that it wasn’t the Andrea Lomanto Picturecreative outlet I thought it would be. Fortunately, I’d enrolled in the MBA program at Saint Rose to continue on a more general marketing and management path. Another motivating factor for earning my MBA was the shockingly low starting salary for an entry-level advertising employee. I like to think I dodged burnout and bankruptcy!

How did your education at Saint Rose help with your career choice?

AL: I developed lasting relationships with the faculty during my MBA program and appreciated the intimate and nurturing classroom setting. It was a very positive experience for me. During the program, I interned at the Albany Institute of History & Art (AIHA) where I had my first not-for-profit experience. The internship program showed me a new path I hadn’t considered, and that was the world of development. I eventually ended up back at AIHA where I worked in Corporate Development. That position prepared me for my position as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. After some department reorganization and a promotion, I’m Director of Alumni Relations today.

Continue reading →

5 tips on how to survive finals

Posted on by
Reply

The end of the semester is looming and so are all of the projects you have to finish. Not only do you have a paper to write, a job to do, and Christmas shopping to start, but you have to find the time to finish it all. December is a month of stress, but luckily finals are only a short part of the month. I’ve compiled my Top 5 favorite stress-beaters that got me through many, many finals weeks. And lucky for you, I’ve decided to share my secrets:

1. Take a Walk:  I’ve read on various websites that you should switch to another activity when you’re stressed or frustrated, like play video games or do a puzzle, but those seem to add more frustration.

When my Mario Kart player drives off the track, I get frustrated. When I can’t find the right puzzle piece, I throw a hissy fit. I found that the best way to beat stress is to take a walk. The fresh air and the time alone will give you time to clear your mind and take a breather.

2. Have a 30-second dance party: I usually dance to a full song because I just can’t stop, but it never fails. When you hit the point where you don’t think you can take it anymore, blast your favorite song as loud as possible and dance like a madman. Even if you’re in the library, find a quiet corner and dance like Richard Simmons (with headphones in of course). Like exercise, dancing releases endorphins that will likely boost your mood and your morale.

3. Clean your workspace: Clutter increases disorganization and disorganization leads to stress. Before working on a major assignment or studying for a final, clean your workspace. Make sure you have adequate tools: highlighters, pencils, pens, sticky-notes, paper, etc. If you’re prepared in advanced, you will have less distractions.

4. Search Pinterest: Peruse the Quotes category on Pinterest and find a few that inspire you. Write them down on Post-it Notes and scatter them throughout your room, books, notebooks, and backpack. Finding these little pick-me-ups will give you that small burst of confidence you need to keep going. It may be cheesy, but it’s effective.

My personal favorite is:  “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” It makes me laugh and gives me a little extra kick.

5. Read something other than class material (like this blog): Pick up a silly magazine and read the first article you come across. Find out why Selena and Justin broke up, which celebrity accidentally tweeted their phone number to millions of people, or read a movie review, anything that will give your brain a break.

I want to hear your best study tips! Share your tips in the comment section below.

Study hard and finish strong!

Meet Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, Chris Casey.

Posted on by
7

The Graduate Admission team is a valuable resource in the admissions process. Assistant Director, Chris Casey, helps prospective students through the application process, recruits students throughout the Northeast, and works with other faculty to create and improve new programs.

Casey, originally from Boston, graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in History, then continued on to earn a Master of Science in Education from SUNY Cortland. He also earned a certificate of advanced study in Program Evaluation at Saint Rose where he currently serves as an Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions. When he is not in the office, Casey enjoys spending time with his wife and his one year old son (they also have daughter on the way). He also spends a lot of his time playing the piano as well as writing and recording music.

Tell us about your typical day as an Assistant Director. What are your responsibilities?

Chris Casey: My main responsibilities as an assistant director are to meet with students and answer phone calls and email inquiries. Beyond that, I manage the recruitment schedule, travel to on campus and off campus events, and manage applications for a number of programs. I also really enjoy working on research and evaluation projects, like analyzing application trends, and helping faculty develop new programs.

What do you enjoy the most in your role as Assistant Director?

CC: My favorite thing about my position is that it is not just one thing, over and over. I am constantly meeting new people and taking part in exciting projects.

What are some of the most common questions you receive from graduate students?

CC: The most common question about applying to graduate school relates to the cost of attendance. We call this the “value proposition.” We know that graduate school at Saint Rose is expensive, but I know that it is worth it. One of my responsibilities is to demonstrate this worth to potential students.

What advice do you have for students who are applying for graduate admission at Saint Rose?

CC: The best advice I could give to an applicant is to do the research about your program and career field. Our faculty wants to admit students who have clear goals in mind and who can convey this in their statement of purpose or interview. Why do you want to be a teacher, or speech pathologist, etc? You should determine this even before looking into graduate school.

If you have any questions about graduate school or the admissions process, please call Graduate Admissions at 518-454-5143 or email grad@strose.edu.

How to succeed in a Skype interview

Posted on by
Reply

Technology is an amazing thing, and believe it or not, the Internet is not only for Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Many colleges around the country are using Skype, and other video chat services, to conduct interviews with prospective students. This type of interview benefits students who do not live in the area, such as students, from the U.S. and international students.

A Skype interview may sound like a dream come true. You may think that you are able to interview without the added pressure of making yourself presentable. This, of course, is a common misconception. Skype interviews are just as important as if you were walking into an office. Here are 10 tips to succeed in a Skype interview:

1.) Be aware of your surroundings. The interviewer is able to see what’s next to you and what’s behind you. Straighten up your room. Remove the clutter, all the wine, cigarettes, stack of papers, or anything else you wouldn’t normally bring with you to an interview. Sit at a desk if you have one. The interviewer will then see you in a professional manner. It shows that you’re organized and confident.

Photo credit to http://article.wn.com

2.) Dress to impress. Although you’re not in the same room with your interviewer, they will still be judging your appearance, so you want to look professional. A nice blouse. A button-up shirt. A suit jacket. A tie. Wear what you would wear to an in-person interview. (If you want to keep your pajama bottoms on, that will be our little secret).

3.) Do a test run. Skype with a friend or contact your Career Center to see if they offer mock Skype interviews. Make sure you’re surrounded by enough light. Make sure they can hear you clearly. Have the person on the other end ask you a few questions and answer them in the way  you would in the interview. They will be able to give you feedback on your interview skills, visibility, tone of voice, and volume. They will be able to see what the interviewer will see. It will give you a chance to fix something before it becomes a problem.

4.) Close all other applications. Technology is often unpredictable. You don’t want to have to explain that you were watching The Hunger Games last night because the movie starts playing mid-interview. You don’t want “Ghangnam Style” to start blasting when you hit the space bar and set off iTunes by accident. Closing all other applications will help avoid that awkward, flustered moment during the interview.

5.) Look into the camera. Don’t look at the image of the interviewer. Don’t look at the thumbnail video of yourself. By looking at the images as opposed to the camera, the interviewer will see your eyes wandering. Eye contact is very important, even in a Skype interview, but in this case it’s eye contact with the camera, not the interviewer.

6.) Be ready for a technological hiccup. Keep your laptop plugged in to avoid a dead battery. Keep a fully-charged phone (on silent) and the contact information for the interviewer next to you at all times during the interview just in case the Skype call is lost.

7.) Speak slowly and carefully. On Skype, there is often a lag in the video, so wait for the interviewer to finish talking before you chime in. Waiting for them to completely finish their sentence gives you a few more seconds to think about what you’re going to say. Take advantage of the fact that you’re video chatting. Use those small gaps of time to collect your thoughts.

8.) Check your username. Your username is the first thing the interviewer sees. Make sure it is professional. Preferably your Skype name should contain your first and last name. Avoid: HoneyBunches, DevilQT, McKracken, or Wino54. Keep it professional.

9.) Minimize outside noise. Put the kids in another room, shut off the TV, put the barking dog outside, and lock yourself in a room. Even the slightest sound can carry through Skype, making it difficult to hear the person on the other side.

10.) Last but not least, prepare your interview materials in an organized fashion, making it easy for you to access them during the interview if necessary. Have your resume, cover letter, references, writing samples, and anything else you may need right in front of you. You’re better off being overly prepared than under-prepared.