I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday! Maybe you’re viewing this on your new iPad, laptop, tablet, Kindle, or smartphone! Or maybe you’re using an old fashioned desktop. Either way, I want to spread a little Christmas cheer by sharing the best Christmas movie montage that YouTube has to offer. Happy Holidays!
The snow is starting to fall and people are staying at home to shelter from the cold. Staying in with hot chocolate is starting to sound better than taking a walk through the park. After finals are over and the stress has subsided, it will finally be OK for you to take some well deserved time off. Sit next to a fire with a steaming cup of hot cocoa and pick up a book. Here is my list of books to read over winter break:
1.) “The Casual Vacancy” by J.K Rowling – She isn’t all wizards and magic. Her new realist novel reveals a town at war. The seemingly quiet town is disrupted when a key member of the community dies suddenly.
2.) “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich – Set in 1988, a woman on a reservation is brutally attacked and never fully recovers. Her son Joe, is forced into adulthood in order to care for his mother. When he becomes frustrated with the legal system, Joe and his friend leave on a quest to find out what happened to his mother.
3.) “Dear Life” by Alice Munro – In her new book of short stories, Munro captures different characters in each story that encounter a life change or a moment that alters their life in some way. The characters find new ways to live life and acclimate to their new path.
4.) “The Grimm’s Fairy Tales” – These classic tales are perfect for a quick read. Stories range from one page to ten or more, but each one is more magical than the first.
5.) “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” by Ben Fountain – After FOX News captures 4 minutes of intense warfare, the 8 survivors of the Bravo Squad are labeled as heroes. They are asked to stand along Destiny’s Child at the halftime show of a football game. The novel focuses on one day where main character William Lynn reflects on himself and the life he’s lived.
*All of these book covers were found on barnesandnoble.com
The Capital Alliance of Young Professionals, better known as CAYP, is an organization that was created for professionals in their 20’s and 30’s, giving them a chance to network with others their own age. Many young professionals, who are starting a business or become employed in entry-level positions, have a difficult time furthering themselves in the business world. CAYP organizes networking events as well as service activities that benefit non-profit organizations throughout the capital region. The more people you know, the better off you are.
One of CAYP’s biggest networking events is their Holiday Party on December 14th from 7pm to 10pm. The event is open to members as well
as non-members. The cost for non-members is $30.00 and the event includes dinner, music, and the comedic stylings of Greg Aidala. If you’ve never attended a CAYP event, this would be a great place to start. You may even see a few Saint Rose alums there! Two of our prestigious alumni are on the CAYP Board of Directors: Schuyler Bull and Brandon Downie. CAYP’s holiday party is sponsored by our very own Saint Rose Office of Graduate Admissions!
If you want to further your career, meet great people, and have fun, become a member of CAYP. The annual fee is only $50 and being a member has its benefits. Members receive discounted event fees (only $20 for the Holiday Party), opportunity to attend quarterly planning meetings with the Board of Directors, listing on the CAYP website with hyperlink to your company’s website, CAYP lapel pin and a membership card for easy registration.
For more information, visit their website. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets to their Holiday Party to see what CAYP is all about!
Graduate Admissions is a very helpful resource when it comes to applying to graduate school. The Graduate Admissions Team is available throughout your application process to help you transition into the program of your choice.
For students who know what program they’re interested in applying for, the Graduate Admissions Team can help you decide who to ask for letters of recommendation and who to avoid. They will give you examples of how to write a great statement of purpose, which is often a confusing portion of the application process. They can answer any questions you may have concerning transcripts, credit transfers, the ins-and-outs of each program, discuss part-time vs. full-time, and let you know what you can expect from a program interview. They will help you understand the specific requirements for the program you’re looking into.
Photo Credit to the Graduate Admissions Facebook page
Note: A meeting with Graduate Admissions is not an interview. You don’t have to come in professional clothing prepared to answer questions. You will be the one asking the questions in this scenario. Graduate Admissions is a tool that students can utilize in order to get to where they want to be.
For those students who don’t know what program they’re interested in applying for, the Graduate Admissions Team will ask questions about your background and interests to determine which programs could be worth further exploration.
Graduate Admissions isn’t limited to prospective students, but also helps current students who are considering a change of program. They ask questions in order to target the problem then suggest options on how to get the student to where they want to be. Graduate Admissions is also available to help students find a graduate assistantship to help finance their education.
These one-on-one meetings are anything but generic. The Assistant Directors you meet with are very personable, warm, and friendly. They will not tell you what to do, but give advice and suggestions that they think you will benefit from.
Graduate Admissions is a valuable campus resource for both prospective students and current students.
Don’t panic. Many of the graduate programs at Saint Rose have a rolling deadline so there is plenty of time to apply. The only programs that aren’t constantly accepting applications are Communication Sciences and Disorders, School Psychology, School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, and College Student Services Administration. If you are looking to apply for any of these programs, be aware of the deadlines. The rest of the programs at Saint Rose accept applications throughout the year so it’s never too late to meet with Graduate Admissions and apply to the program of your choice.
If you would like to contact Graduate Admissions call (518) 454-5143 or e-mail at grad@strose.edu. For application information, click here.
