One of the many great features of this blog is our Q&A sessions with impressive Siena alumni. We know how important it is for students to know where our graduates end up—and we love to catch up with them! This month we chatted with Jim Scully ’87, an English-major-turned-COO (of J.Crew, might we add!). Want to know how his education from Siena helped him get there? Read on.

When it comes to choosing majors, there are two kinds of students. One group knows from the get go exactly what they want to study and do after they graduate. The other isn't completely sure yet—or is in between two or three fields of study—and not ready to declare a specific major. If you fall into that latter group, there’s a good chance you will be entering undecided. And if that’s case, you might be a little (okay, a lot) nervous about it. Good news! This guide is for you.

Year after year, students choose Siena College because they want an education that isn't just about textbooks and homework assignments. They want an education that prepares them for life; an experience that makes them wise beyond their years and sends them out into the world with a degree that employers respect. How do we provide them with such an experience? What sets Siena apart from other colleges?

To learn about the value of a Siena education and find out the answers to these questions, click here or on the image below. 

As we said in our first campus visit post, there are several ways to make the most of college tours when you first arrive. Been there, done that? At Siena, we strongly believe in revisits. If you’re serious about a college, it pays to return to campus and look for anything you weren’t able to see last time, and ask follow-up questions. You probably have your own checklist of what to see and inquire about, but here are three more not-so-obvious things you may want to check out on your next trip:

Take a few moments to think about your interest in volunteer work. If leading community change through service is always top of mind—something that matters more to you than a lot of other commitments in your life—then you should know about Siena College’s Bonner program. 

Calling all high school seniors! Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get back to those college applications. This is a friendly reminder that regular admissions applications for Siena College are due February 15—just over a month away.

With a new year comes resolutions, and with resolutions comes…well, the breaking of resolutions. (We can’t stay away from sweets either.) But there are some resolutions that are worth keeping, especially for soon-to-be high school graduates. That’s why we put together this list of changes to make and goals to keep in 2015 that will not only make you a more appealing candidate for college admissions offices, but a better student all around.

Ask any employer about what they look for on recent grads’ resumes, and they’ll likely tell you that internships rank high, really high. After all, internships give students hands-on, real world, beyond-the-classroom experiences that prepare them for full-time jobs. In addition, students often develop relationships with mentors at internships and learn valuable workplace lessons they can carry with them for the rest of their careers. Can’t beat that, right? So, as you choose where to matriculate, be sure to inquire about internship placements. As the Assistant Director for Employer Relations here at Siena College’s Career Center, I can say without a doubt that Siena is pretty exceptional in this arena. 

Every month, our admissions team will post a checklist of a couple things you could be doing at that time to 1) move along in the admissions process, or 2) better prepare yourself for when you’re ready to apply. Here’s our advice for January.

Here’s something to add to your criteria list as you narrow down your college selections: look in areas brimming with job opportunities. If you decide to stay put after graduation, you’ll want to know that job openings are plentiful, that the economy is healthy and that there’s a breadth of positions available. If Siena College is on your list, smart decision. Three reasons why…