"RIT Alumni are everywhere and they are always so willing to help a fellow RIT student - and I’m so happy to be one of them now."
Why did you decide to attend Saunders College of Business at RIT?
Out of all of the colleges I visited in high school, Saunders was the only one that I felt the faculty and staff truly cared about the needs and success of each individual student. I remember being the last student in the room at both the Open House and Accepted Students Day that I attended - staying nearly an hour later than everyone else did, just talking about my interests and goals with the staff of Saunders. I had some great conversations with amazing people and couldn't imagine not interacting with these people even more. I remember being so happy talking with my mom afterwards and her saying “It sounds like you’ve made your decision.”
What Do You Do?
As a Research Services Manager, I’m one of the people that keeps the entire online survey process running smoothly from start to finish. I work with Survey Programmers, Data Scientists, and Analysts (among many other team members) to get surveys for many prominent companies into field efficiently. I also help with data analysis and reporting needs once we have all of our data collected.
In what ways has Saunders/RIT prepared you for the job market?
Co-ops, co-ops, co-ops (quite literally for me)! During my time at RIT, I completed three different co-ops at three very different companies and I never would have imagined how much I would have learned from them. For me, it wasn’t as much about the experience in the job (although this was very valuable), but rather the experience of getting out of my tiny hometown in Upstate NY and figuring life out on my own in cities like Chicago, IL and Dublin, Ireland! It’s because of these experiences that I became much more independent and confident in all of my future job searches.
What do you feel is the most distinctive advantage gained from your Saunders Experience?
For one, I was a very active member in the RIT Honors Program and the business trips we went on opened my eyes to all the different kinds of companies you could work at with a business degree. As college students, we got the inside scoop on companies like Google, EY, Nielsen, and many other companies in different industries - in cities like NYC, Chicago, and Toronto. And of course, the Saunders Alumni network is amazing. From one of our business trips to Chicago, I continued networking with an alum who practically created an intern position for me to work with his company that summer. My manager at my co-op at Corning Museum of Glass was also an RIT alum! They’re everywhere and they are always so willing to help a fellow RIT student - and I’m so happy to be one of them now.
How has Saunders best helped me to reach my career success?
My experiences through Saunders were the reason that I was able to find a job just two months out of college. It’s where I developed my communication skills that I needed in the interview process and in my job every day. I also created valuable connections that will, no doubt, help me in the future.
What should current students know about Saunders?
Current students should never underestimate the amount of opportunities there are at Saunders! Whether they find these opportunities through alumni, student clubs, or communities like the Honors Program, you never know what’s out there and what you’re going to do next. Don’t wait for the opportunity to come to you, never stop networking and asking other people what they know and how you can get involved. You’ll regret not asking once you graduate - some of the best opportunities are available to you when you’re in college!