Adding a New Chapter

By Andrew Garoppo '24, December 1, 2022

Graduate and professional school expo is a hit with current students.

Students had the opportunity to learn about dozens of schools during the graduate and professional school expo.

(Photo by Andrew Garoppo '24)

Earlier this semester, IC students had the chance to look at continuing education opportunities available to them after they leave South Hill, thanks to a graduate and professional school expo held in Emerson Suites.

Designed to bring representatives from a variety of schools together in one place the expo allowed students like Julia Collins ’23, a writing major, to get a glimpse of many different avenues available to her.

“I definitely feel like at IC I’ve received the support necessary to succeed in graduate school,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of great professors to use as references and career services will be there to guide me through the process for sure. And I love being a student! I love the interesting classes and discussions.”

The event also allowed students to look at post-grad opportunities that would take them in a different direction than their undergraduate studies. Aiden Harman ’25 is a psychology major who is looking into medical school options.

“The students [at Ithaca College] seem very empowered, responsible, and clear about their visions for the future. When we come to different colleges, prospective students usually just take brochures, but every student here was excited to receive additional communications from us.”

Anusha Narayan, assistant director of admissions at the Columbia School of Social Work

“I was really excited to see the Mayo Clinic was here,” he said. “I was originally considering pre-law. I always knew I wanted to go but not exactly for what…my courses here really have helped me figure out where I can thrive and the doors that research psychology opens up in regard to graduate school.”

Arianna Hertz, a senior English major and Education minor, originally thought she wanted to be a journalist but changed course.

“After the pandemic, I did some deep reconsiderations and realized what was important to me,” she said. “I took an educational psychology course with associate professor of education Nia Nunn, which helped me grasp a lot about the need for diversity in education and exposed me to educational programs she does with kids in the community. There’s a national teacher shortage and getting as much education as possible will prepare me to be the best teacher I possibly can.”

The schools that showed up to the expo were equally enthusiastic to meet the many IC students looking to further their education.

Students gathered information on a variety of fields of study offered in colleges near and far from IC.

(Photo by Nathalie Molina '24)

“The students here seem very empowered, responsible, and clear about their visions for the future,” said Anusha Narayan, assistant director of admissions at the Columbia School of Social Work. “When we come to different colleges, prospective students usually just take brochures, but every student here was excited to receive additional communications from us.”

The event also gave Ithaca alumni a chance to return to campus. Nichole Cardascia ’18, was at the grad school expo representing Cardozo Law School, and was excited to come back and connect with students interested in a law degree.

“I love IC,” she said. “And I’ve seen a lot of passion today for environmental law, an area that is ripe for development and very important.”