Employers do not hire based upon one category or attribute. It is the overall candidate and fit with the organization that employers use to make hiring decisions. There a number of areas to excel in over a college career. They are all important; however, certain fields and industries place more emphasis on some categories than others. Determine which areas you excel in and want to emphasize to potential employers.
Opportunity 1: GPA
Your grade point average is one of the first things that employers and graduate degree program administrators look at when they develop a "short list" of candidates. When you begin your studies at The College at Brockport, you have a 4.0 GPA. To keep it, you will need to work closely with your faculty. Come prepared to class! See your professors regularly in office hours! Ask questions in class! Take advantage of the Student Learning Center (room B-10 Cooper, 395-2293), where you can get help and tutoring on many subjects. Remember, it is easier to maintain a good GPA than to raise a low GPA when you are taking those tough classes in your senior year.
Opportunity 2: Dean's List
You have the opportunity to make the Dean's List each semester. Being placed on the Dean's List is automatic if you earn at least a 3.4 GPA in a semester; you don't even need to apply. You will need to have at least six credit hours taken for a letter grade, no failing grades, and no incomplete grades. Dean's List is a great thing to put on your resume because it is universally recognized as a sign of academic achievement.
Opportunity 3: Graduation Honors
Your grade point average alone determines the honors bestowed on your degree at graduation. You need to earn 48 credit hours at The College at Brockport to be eligible.
Opportunity 4: Student Organizations
There are many student organizations on campus, including academic, cultural, and governance organizations. Each organization represents an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and commitment, either by being a club officer or by working on projects that a club supports (e.g. food and clothing drives). The School of Business Administration and Economics has the following student organizations: Accounting Society, Finance Club, Marketing Club, and Society for Human Resources Management Student Chapter. Each of these clubs has a mailbox in the School's mainoffice. Interested in joining? Leave your name and phone number in the club's mailbox and someone will contact you.
Opportunity 5: Awards and Scholarships
Many academic and administrative departments on campus sponsor one or more student awards. Some of the awards are based on GPA alone, but many of the more prestigious awards also consider your contribution to the campus and external communities. Involvement in student government and student clubs is one way to contribute to the campus community. Working with charities, literacy programs, and other volunteer agencies, is a good way to make a contribution to the external community. These activities are important on your resume because they help to demonstrate leadership, commitment, and an ability to work with others.
Some of the awards that students in the School of Business Administration and Economics can be nominated for include:
If you are interested, you need to start early to develop a profile that matches award criteria. Contact Pam O'Keefe for a complete list of awards and criteria.
Opportunity 6: The Honor Societies
For students of Accounting, Business, and International Business, there are a number of School and College-wide honor societies that are nationally recognized hallmarks of excellence. These include:
Opportunity 7: The Honors Program
The honors program is open to both freshmen and transfer students. Certain courses at The College at Brockport are designated as honors courses, with smaller enrollments, a unique seminar format, and a goal of challenging you intellectually and creatively. You will have the opportunity to develop close relationships with your faculty and the cadre of other honors students on campus. Honors courses are not the only courses you will take, so you will not be isolated from friends or the broader student body. Of course, the phrase Honors Student looks great on your resume. Entering freshmen need an SAT of at least 1100, a high school GPA of at least 88, and standing in the top 10% of their class. Transfer students should have a transfer GPA of at least 3.25 to apply. Call the Honors Program at 395-5400 for details.
Opportunity 8: Research Assistant
or Tutor
Each semester, faculty in the School of Business Administration and Economics identify students from their classes that 1) did well in the class and 2) display good interpersonal skills and initiative. These students are invited to become paid tutors and/or research assistants. If you are interested in either of these activities, inform your instructor. Then, work closely with your instructor so that they get to know you well enough to recommend you for the program.
Opportunity 9: Complete an Internship
Employers look for relevant work experience as they consider resumes. Being a waitress or bartender may pay the bills, but it doesn't convince anyone that you have the correct skill set to succeed in a corporate environment. Completing an internship makes you a more competitive candidate, and The College at Brockport's proximity to Rochester means there are hundreds of good internship opportunities for you to pursue. To learn more, schedule an appointment with a member of the School's Center for Student Success by calling 585-395-5539, the semester before you want to complete the internship. You will need at least a 2.75 GPA in your major to qualify for the program.
Opportunity 10: The Leadership Passport
Run by the Department of Career Services, the Leadership Passport Series is a collection of seminars and workshops designed to hone your leadership skills and increase your acumen in related area including time management, conflict resolutions, cross cultural communications, and problem solving. There are 15-20 workshops offered each semester. You need to complete a minimum of 8 workshops to earn a leadership certificate. Call 395-5245 to sign up.
Opportunity 11: Gain International Experience
Business has gone global and you need to be prepared. You might simply learn a foreign language or participate in The College at Brockport's study abroad program, one of the largest in the nation. There are programs in England, France, Costa Rica, Mexico, Australia, Ghana, Jamaica, Russia, Germany, The Netherlands, Oxford, and many other locations. Summer programs and Internship opportunities are also available. Financial aid may make it more affordable than you think! Contact the Office of International Education at 395-2119 or 395-5500 for international internships.
Collaborative Training Dinner
5 pm - 7 pm
Faculty Staff Convocation
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Collaborative Training
1 pm - 5:30 pm
Red Cross Blood Drive
11 am - 4 pm
