My OPE mentor was Alyssa Reyes Bolante. Meeting with them was beyond helpful in my preparation and navigation of the graduate school search experience. We regularly met – they helped to talk me through identifying my non-negotiables versus things I was willing to explore, and prepared me for interviews by discussing with me how I could best showcase my experience in interviews. At first I was a bit hesitant to think that OPE would work for me because I had limited experience in Residence Life, but Alyssa and the rest of the staff showed me how I could best highlight the skills and experience I do have within student affairs, aligning them with the expectations of potential future employers.

 

In the first few months of 2022 I interviewed 23 times. After the decision was made for OPE to exist as listings only this year, the interview process changed. It was accelerated – interviews that were originally scheduled in late February were moved to January. The interviews were not of the type I was used to – most were virtual interviews, some were phone interviews. I experienced my fair share of technical issues, and definitely had to use a different skill set than what I would use for in-person interviews.

 

I applied to five schools for their Mental Health Counseling Master’s programs or their Higher Education Programs. I knew that I wanted to work with college students and incorporate mental health care and education into my work. I interviewed with those five schools, a few full-time positions, and a few other schools that had programs I hadn’t previously considered.

I was accepted to all five schools that I applied to. Of the interviews I had, I received an offer of employment for two full-time positions, and assistantship offers from all 7 schools that I interviewed with. Of those assistantship offers, I received a full-ride assistantship offer from three of the schools that I applied to, with the other two offering significant financial assistance.

I am excited to share that I have accepted a position in the Mental Health Counseling Master’s program at Minnesota State University, Mankato in their Counseling and Student Personnel department. I have also accepted a position as a Student Services Coordinator in the MNSU Mankato Residential Life department. Student Services Coordinators provide direct supervision to the front desk team in a living area of 450-750 students. This position covers full tuition, housing, meal plan, and professional development funding, among other benefits. When I went to visit for my in-person finalist interview at MNSU Mankato, I fell in love with the campus and community. I knew that Mankato was a place where I would be supported in my academic, personal, and professional development – it felt like home.

 

In the future, I intend to use my education in a position as an Licensed Professional Counselor at a higher education institution so that I am able to provide to students guidance like what I was given throughout my career as a student at UWO!