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Service to School Stories

Service to School Stories

By Service to School

Welcome to Service to School Stories, a deep-dive style podcast hosted by Sydney Matthes, the Chief Programs Officer, and Alec Emmert, CEO, at Service to School. We’ll be digging into topics in the Higher Education landscape as they relate to Veterans and transitioning service members. Tune in as we chat about navigating the college experience for Veterans: going through the application process, dealing with imposter syndrome, applying to highly selective universities, handling rejection letters, supporting Veterans on campus and much more!

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Rolling from Army Diesel Mechanic to Princeton University with Taehwan Kim

Service to School StoriesNov 08, 2022

00:00
33:23
Service & Scholarship with Bob Atkinson

Service & Scholarship with Bob Atkinson

Jump in to service & scholarship with us on today’s podcast interview! We welcome Bob Atkinson, accomplished US Air Force veteran, current senior at Yale University, and named both a Marshall & Truman Scholar. Bob brings his experience in the military & at Yale to discuss overcoming obstacles throughout his life that fueled a passion for service, as well as the opportunities he created at Yale that led to pursuing (& receiving) multiple prestigious scholarships. 

Main Topics 

  • Bob’s introduction & background (0:33)

  • Decision to enlist, transitioning from the military & the journey to Yale (2:30) 

  • Overcoming an environment of drug abuse & the influence of who you surround yourself with to foster leadership skills, how the military affected relationships at home (6:55)  

  • Air Force special operator training  (12:50)

  • Timeline of transition from the military separation to college admissions (19:35) 

  • Taking classes while deployed to prepare for admissions, leveraging fellow veterans & other resources during the admissions process (23:23)

  • Eli Whitney Students Program at Yale, what it is & is not, benefits of the admissions path for student veterans (27:30) 

  • Truman Scholarship, what it entails, what was the draw & what was the process to apply (32:20) 

  • Marshall Scholarship, what is it & what the application process entailed (38:20)

  • Long term goals & courses on the path to get there (43:00) 

  •  Advice for fellow veterans applying to college (45:25)

Additional Resources

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Mar 26, 202447:45
Student Veteran Career Preparation at USC with Villardine Goode

Student Veteran Career Preparation at USC with Villardine Goode

We are joined today for a discussion about preparing student veterans for their future careers at University of South Carolina (USC) with Villardine Goode. Villardine is a retired Army MSgt now serving as the Veterans and Military Academic Success Coach at USC. Villardine shares her experience providing guidance & information to military service members & veterans as they prepare to enroll in higher education, navigating the admissions process to integrating on campus, why veterans should consider USC, and more!

Main Topics 

  • Villardine introduction & background (0:33) 

  • How has your own military background helped your ability to support student veterans (7:05) 

  • Walking students through financing their education & utilizing benefits available to them (11:48)

  • Approach to student career preparation at USC, partnerships with companies & employers looking to hire student veterans (15:25)

  • Breaking down on-campus barriers, supporting a holistic student veterans community (20:35) 

  • New student veteran orientation, integrating into the campus community (22:35) 

  • Why student veterans should consider USC when separating from the military to attend college (24:45)

  • Advice for service members considering separating & applying to college (27:10) 

Additional Resources

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Mar 19, 202434:20
Veteran Pathways to Med School with MedVets

Veteran Pathways to Med School with MedVets

This week on the podcast we are diving into pathways to medical school for veterans. We’re joined by Peter Campbell, James White, and Jamie Frost of MedVets, a peer mentorship program focused on helping veterans who are interested in physicians associate & nursing programs as well as medical school. We discuss opportunities to strengthen your medical school applications, MCAT preparation & tips, the FlexMed admissions pathway for veterans at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, and much more. If you’re a veteran considering medical school, you don’t want to miss this! 

Main Topics 

  • Background & intro to MedVets & guests Pete, James & Jamie (0:33) 

  • Motivations to go to medical school, coming to medicine after other job experiences  (3:20) 

  • Steps taken to be competitive for medical school, leveraging post-Bacc opportunities to make career pivot into medicine (6:50) 

  • Prerequisite classes that post-Bacc programs help cover, navigating medical school course requirements, addressing medical school admissions statistics (11:30)

  • Steps to applying to medical schools, advice for military applicants (14:23) 

  • First steps toward applying to med school after military service, power of job shadowing, connecting with fellow med school veterans (17:30) 

  • Post-Bacc courses to prioritize & recommended online resources/schools (22:20)

  • How the MCAT fits into the medical school admissions process (24:50)

  • MCAT preparation (30:40)

  • Icahn Mt. Sinai military partnership admissions pathway (32:35) 

  • Strengthening your med school application with a history of mid-to-low GPA (35:45)

  • Deciding on a field of medicine to practice (39:10) 

  • Advice to veterans considering or pursuing medical school (45:05)

Additional Resources

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Mar 12, 202449:17
Army, Applicant, and Ambassador with Kelton Johnsen

Army, Applicant, and Ambassador with Kelton Johnsen

This week, we have S2S Applicant turned Ambassador, Kelton Johnsen joining us on the podcast. Kelton is a US Army veteran, community college transfer, and current student at the University of Chicago. Kelton shares about exploring his options in higher ed, changing course on degree plans during the admissions process, paying it forward to help fellow veterans as an Ambassador, and much more. 

Main Topics 

  • Kelton’s introduction & background (0:33) 

  • Decision to enlist straight from high school instead of applying to community college  (3:05)

  • How military experience shifted confidence to believing success at a rigorous college was possible (6:22) 

  • Exploring options in higher education & taking classes while active duty, demonstrating history of academic success (9:53)

  • Deciding to go to college & working with Service to School, weighing options for which schools to attend, changing course during admissions & changing from MBA to UG application (12:30) 

  • Discussing financial aid & VA education benefits with colleges, approaching admissions with curiosity & learning everything about schools (18:55) 

  • Decision to volunteer to be a S2S Ambassador & what it means for future veterans at colleges, de-conflicting veteran identity & finding place on campus (30:00) 

  • Advice for veterans & service members considering college (37:27) 

Additional Resources

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Mar 05, 202441:28
An HBCU graduate's journey to a PhD with LtCol Trivius Caldwell

An HBCU graduate's journey to a PhD with LtCol Trivius Caldwell

Today we are joined on the podcast by LtCol Trivius Caldwell. Trivius is a graduate of HBCU Tuskegee University & highly accomplished officer in the US Army. Trivius earned his Masters degree from Auburn University, taught at West Point, and is currently a PhD candidate at Duke University while serving on active duty. Join us as Trivius shares about his journey in academics, pursuing a PhD while active duty & experience transitioning from the military to the classroom. This discussion is full of insights, tips & advice for service members looking to pursue higher education. 


Main Topics 

  • Trivius’s introduction & background (0:33)

  • Visiting HBCUs during college search, selecting Tuskegee for undergraduate degree (3:40)

  • Decision to return to school after service for masters degree, choosing Auburn for Masters Degree (5:25)

  • Inspiration that led to pursuing a research, cultural immersion on campus (8:45)

  • Focus of your research goals when applying to a PhD program, importance of creating a digital footprint & being deliberate in communicating your experience during admissions (11:30)

  • Seeking out support & guidance when navigating PhD admissions, building a network in academia, experience interviewing for PhD admissions (16:35)

  • Courseload, expectations & classroom experience in PhD vs. undergraduate program (21:30) 

  • What is a dissertation, Trivius’s topic of research (25:45)  

  • Advice for other pursuing graduate or PhD program (29:35) 

Additional Resources

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Feb 27, 202433:01
Public Service & Leadership with Adrian Perkins

Public Service & Leadership with Adrian Perkins

Today’s episode welcomes the highly accomplished Adrian Perkins. Adrian is a graduate of West Point, field artillery officer veteran of the US Army, bronze star recipient, Harvard Law School graduate, and Tillman Scholar. Following his military service and law school, Adrian served as Mayor of his hometown in Shreveport, LA, and was Louisiana’s 2020 democratic nominee for Senate with endorsement from President Obama. Currently, he is a Pritzker fellow at the University of Chicago and working in private equity while serving on Service to School’s Board of Directors. This interview explores Adrian’s experiences that shaped his dedication to public service and leadership.

Main Topics 

  • Adrian’s background & introduction (0:33) 

  • Experience serving as first African American graduate class president at West Point, how it paved the way for more to hold the position (3:55)

  • Motivation to pursue public service & leadership opportunities (6:55)

  • Experience as class president at Harvard Law School, leveraging background & leadership skills to mentor class peers as a veteran (9:30) 

  • Timeline of preparing to apply to & attend law school, creating a dual track of opportunities (12:25)

  • Experience campaigning for Mayor of Shreveport while a 3L at Harvard Law School (16:00)

  • Decision to run for office & first steps to get the ball rolling, balancing investment of data & relationships for campaign strategy (18:20) 

  • Decision & first steps to join the running as the democratic nominee for Senator of Louisiana (21:35)

  • Securing President Obama’s endorsement for Senate race (24:10) 

  • Experience as a Pritzker fellow teaching at UChicago (25:15)

  • Civic engagement & getting the youth of America involved in democracy (27:25)

  • Running for political office as a veteran, managing military service as a way to engage with others without making it your identity (30:40) 

  • Affirmative action decision at higher education institutions except for military academies & the effects on diversity in the military (33:55)

  • Unique challenges African American service members & veterans face, bridging cultural differences (35:20)

  • What Adrian is up to now & what is coming up on the horizon (39:55)

  • Parting words of wisdom (43:00)

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Feb 20, 202444:29
In the Admissions Office with Dartmouth College

In the Admissions Office with Dartmouth College

In the final episode for Season 3, we’re joined by our admissions colleague, Paul Sunde. Paul is the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Dartmouth College, a role he’s held for more than a decade as part of his 20+ years working at Dartmouth. We dive into the key components of admissions packages, ways veterans can demonstrate academic preparedness, the role of non-academic learning, dispel college admissions myths, and more. No matter what stage of the admissions process  you are in or what schools you are considering, this conversation will empower veterans and service members to understand what admissions officers are looking for and how to put their best application forward. 

Main Topics 

  • Paul’s intro & background (0:33)

  • How do students apply to Dartmouth, transfer application built for veterans (3:27)

  • Definition of transfer applicant at Dartmouth, flexibility for veteran admissions (5:25)

  • Admissions offers, financial aid & transfer credit evaluation (9:05)

  • Key components of an admissions application, the importance of academic preparedness & how to demonstrate it, institutional academic priorities (11:00)

  • Letters of recommendation & speaking to non-academic learning & engagement in references (19:50) 

  • Dispelling admissions myth #1 - “Applying earliest in application window & admissions officer seeing package first increases chances of admission” (22:39)

  • Dispelling admissions myth #2 - “I’m not going to compare well against other veterans; I don’t have flashy awards or didn’t go on high visibility deployments” (25:45) 

Additional Resources

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Jan 18, 202430:16
From Combat Medic to Pre-Med at Stanford with Mo Han
Nov 28, 202321:27
A Look Back on GI Benefits & Funding Your Education with Tyrone Hewitt

A Look Back on GI Benefits & Funding Your Education with Tyrone Hewitt

It's Thanksgiving break for the S2S team & what a better way to spend it than taking a look back at GI Bill benefits & ways for veterans to fund education? This conversation with veteran transition expert, Tyrone Hewitt, dives into education & service benefits that veterans have to leverage for their education. We talk about the Post 9-11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, VR&E, and much more! 

No matter what stage of transition you are in or when you are planning for it, this conversation will empower veterans and service members to get the most out of the hard earned benefits that are available


Main Topics 

  • Tyrone’s Background & Introduction (0:33)

  • Managing Your Education/Managing My Education course during TAPS, what is is & why you should take advantage of it (3:07)

  • Funding your education - how does a service member know how much GI Bill benefits they’re eligible for (8:27)

  • BAH while living on campus (15:23)

  • Yellow Ribbon Program, how it works & why you might consider Yellow Ribbon institutions (17:31) 

  • What is VR&E, how it works, and how it could be used to attend college (20:44)

  • Advice for transitioning service members (29:51) 

Additional Resources

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Nov 21, 202332:46
Veteran Education Policy with Veteran Education Success

Veteran Education Policy with Veteran Education Success

Today’s episode dives into a topic that affects all service members in or considering higher education - veteran education policy. We’re joined by Will Hubbard, VP for Veterans and Military Policy at Veterans Education Success (VES). Veterans Education Success works on a bipartisan basis to advance higher education success for veterans, service members, and military families, and to protect the integrity and promise of the GI Bill® and other federal postsecondary education programs. We talk about essential policy wins that benefit student veterans, current barriers & issues facing veterans in higher ed, working with VES on future legislation efforts, and more. 

Main Topics 

  • Will’s background & introduction to Veteran Education Success (0:33) 

  • Educational journey to a career in veteran education & public policy (3:10)

  • History of Veteran Education Success, GI Bill benefits for education & consumer protection for veterans (4:20) 

  • Quality tuition assurance act & role with tuition assistance (TA) (9:55) 

  • Veterans eligible to transfer school credit act, GI bill benefits restoration, options when your previous school closes  (14:35) 

  • Current barriers & issues facing veterans in higher education today (17:35)

  • Working with VES to support education & tuition legislation for veterans & service members, red flags for predatory schools to watch out for (21:25)

  • Looking forward, dream veteran education policy wins (26:19) 

Additional Resources

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Nov 14, 202333:01
Soaring from Military Intelligence to Pre-Law at Harvard with Ayleen Villareal
Nov 07, 202339:31
Supporting Veterans as a Purple Heart University with Cornell University

Supporting Veterans as a Purple Heart University with Cornell University

We’re joined today by Cornell University’s Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Kyle Downey, for a discussion about what it takes to support the whole student veteran from admissions to campus & beyond. We chat about Cornell’s history of supporting student veterans, earning the Purple Heart University designation, evaluating applications based on unique considerations facing veterans, and much more. This conversation is full of insights into the student veteran experience at Cornell. 

Main Topics 

  • Kyle intro & background, History of Cornell’s dedication to supporting military veterans, Purple Heart University designation (0:33) 

  • Cornell’s success in establishing a community for veterans on campus, providing admissions guidance & support (4:50)

  • How student veterans applying to Cornell stand out, the umbrella of support for transitioning to campus (7:40)

  • Advice for applicants to show strong academic profile (13:25) 

  • Letters of recommendation for veterans who have been out of the classroom (16:55) 

  • Flexibility in admissions to expand access to education, evaluating online courses based on content not modality, financial aid considerations (20:20)

  • Why Cornell is a great option for student veterans (24:44) 

Additional Resources

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Oct 31, 202331:57
From Foster Care to UChicago Marshall Scholar with Ricky Holder

From Foster Care to UChicago Marshall Scholar with Ricky Holder

Today’s episode takes listeners on the journey of today’s guest, Ricky Holder. Ricky is an enlisted Navy Veteran, first generation college student, recent graduate of the University of Chicago, and a Marshall Scholar pursuing his masters at Oxford University. We talk about overcoming adversity, finding ways to stand out in the admissions process, the power of telling your story, the path to the Marshall Scholarship, and much more.

Main Topics 

  • Ricky’s intro & background (0:33) 

  • Experience in the Navy, being stationed in Japan & traveling the world (2:40) 

  • Decision & plan to separate from the Navy, using passions to make a difference to spark a fire pursuing higher ed (7:25)

  • Balancing college search while being underway in the Navy, attending & community college to strengthen application & prepare for college (10:15) 

  • Standing out in the application, highlighting military service & experience, power of telling your story & why you’re applying (15:38) 

  • First year on campus & adjusting to college life, forming the first cohort of veterans at UChicago, favorite course at UChicago (20:00) 

  • Path to the Marshall Scholarship (25:00) 

  • Speaking at UChicago graduation & looking forward to moving to & studying at Oxford (28:00) 

  • Words of wisdom (31:30) 

Additional Resources

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Oct 24, 202334:08
Academic Prep with Warrior-Scholar Project

Academic Prep with Warrior-Scholar Project

Today’s episode explores an important college admissions topic - academic preparation. We sat down with Ryan Pavel, CEO of Warrior-Scholar Project to discuss different opportunities to prepare yourself as a veteran for the rigors of college. We touch on bringing military experiences to the classroom in meaningful ways, balancing confidences & overcompensation in new environments, all about Warrior-Scholar Project bootcamps, and much more. 

Main Topics 

  • Ryan’s background & introduction (0:30) 

  • Experience as a USMC cryptologic linguist (4:35)

  • Searching for colleges & approach to transitioning from the military to college  (10:12) 

  • Experience applying to college as a not- first generation college student, handling rejection during first admissions attempt after service (12:05) 

  • Forging a new identity post-military, leveraging military experiences & bringing it to the classroom in a meaningful way (16:45) 

  • Joining a large veteran campus population, campus connections & support (20:00)  

  • Hierarchical nature of the military seeping into civilian experiences, how a self-selecting, exclusive military culture shows up in post-service life (23:53)  

  • Work at WSP to tackle one-upping among veterans, balancing of confidences & overcompensation in new environments (30:40) 

  • Journey from UMich to UVA Law to WSP (35:45)

  • Finding WSP pilot program & expanding the model to new campuses (40:00) 

  • The mission of WSP & all about the WSP bootcamps (44:20) 

  • Words of wisdom (59:40) 

Additional Resources

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Oct 17, 202301:02:51
 Tackling the Rigors of MIT with Subin Kim

Tackling the Rigors of MIT with Subin Kim

Today we are joined by Service to School applicant, Subin Kim. Subin is a veteran of the US Army, community college transfer student, and current student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Subin brings a unique perspective to the conversation as we discuss building a strong academic profile, the admissions process, transferring from community college to MIT, finding a community on campus as an adult learner, and much more!

Main Topics 

  • Subin’s background & introduction (0:33)

  • Decision to transition from the military & landing on college as the next step (3:45)

  • Building a strong academic foundation at community college (6:20)

  • College fit research & finding MIT, role guaranteed admissions through transfer applicant agreements, connecting with S2S, preparing admissions package & preparing for transfer (8:10) 

  • Hardest parts of the admissions process, advice for admissions essay writing (11:10)

  • Considerations & approaching concerns regarding whether community college credits would transfer (13:45)

  • Handling differences in rigor between NOVA & MIT (16:17)

  • Community at MIT, transition to campus & inclusive opportunities, experience as an adult learner on campus, career service support for veterans (18:30) 

  • Looking forward, what’s next after MIT (22:55) 

  • Advice for veteran applicants considering admissions at MIT or other academically rigorous Computer Science programs (26:05)

Additional Resources

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Oct 10, 202329:55
Test Prep with Smart with a Heart

Test Prep with Smart with a Heart

Today’s episode is all about GRE & GMAT test prep for graduate school admissions with test prep nonprofit, Smart with a Heart. We’re joined by Nafeez Amin (President of Sherpa Prep & co-founder of Smart with a Heart) and Smart with a Heart board members, Nick Maynes (West Point graduate, Berkeley Haas, Harvard Kennedy School, Chairman & Treasurer of SWAH) and Lindsey Chrismon (West Point graduate, current student at Harvard Business School, Secretary of SWAH board of directors). Our guests bring nearly two decades of combined experience in GMAT & GRE prep to the conversation to provide practical tips & advice for approaching graduate school testing with confidence. Dive in with us as we compare test curriculum structures, how to play to your strengths, key differences to consider, and more! 

 

Main Topics 

  • Smart with a Heart background & Nafeez, Lindsey & Nick introductions, impacts of test prep on their journey from military to business/grad school (2:16) 

  • How Sherpa Prep & SWAH work together (7:58) 

  • Curriculum structure, struggles course attendees have encountered & how the program has successfully helped overcome them (12:33)

  • Playing to your strengths during test prep (16:55) 

  • Key differences between GRE & GMAT, who should take which one & why (20:25)

  • GRE vs LSAT for law school admissions (31:26)

  • Overcoming adaptive nature of questions in standardized tests, anticipated changes to GMAT & GRE format (34:21) 

  • Nafeez’s journey to career in test prep (42:18) 

Additional Resources

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Oct 03, 202350:35
Growing from a 2.5 High School GPA to Brown University with John Green
Sep 26, 202331:54
GI Benefits & Funding Your Education with Tyrone Hewitt

GI Benefits & Funding Your Education with Tyrone Hewitt

In the final episode for Season 2, we’re joined by our colleague Tyrone Hewitt. Tyrone served 20+ years in the US Navy and is currently a Transition & Employment Counselor at Fleet and Family Support Center providing counseling, mentorship and information and resources to transitioning service members, veterans & spouses. We dive right into education and service benefits that veterans have to leverage for their education, including Post 9-11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, VR&E, and much more! No matter what stage of transition you are in or when you are planning for it, this conversation will empower veterans and service members to get the most out of the hard earned benefits that are available. 


Main Topics 

  • Tyrone’s Background & Introduction (0:33)

  • Managing Your Education/Managing My Education course during TAPS, what is is & why you should take advantage of it (3:07)

  • Funding your education - how does a service member know how much GI Bill benefits they’re eligible for (8:27)

  • BAH while living on campus (15:23)

  • Yellow Ribbon Program, how it works & why you might consider Yellow Ribbon institutions (17:31) 

  • What is VR&E, how it works, and how it could be used to attend college (20:44)

  • Advice for transitioning service members (29:51) 

Additional Resources

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May 23, 202332:46
MBA Transition & Entrepreneurship with Brendan Aronson

MBA Transition & Entrepreneurship with Brendan Aronson

We’re diving into all things in business today with our friend & colleague Brendan Aronson! Brendan is many things, including a US Naval Academy Grad, US Marine veteran, Wharton MBA Grad, and co-founder & current CEO of TheMilVet. Brendan shares about his experience as a serial entrepreneur, transitioning from the military to the business sector, deciding whether an MBA is right for you, the power of networking, and more! Interested in starting a business, breaking into the financial services industry or just learning what working in the business sector is about? This episode is jam packed with great information & tips no matter what stage of your career you’re in. 

Main Topics 

  • Brendan’s introduction & background (0:33)

  • Military Veteran Startup Conference, venture capitalists & entrepreneurs from military community (3:20) 

  • TheMilVet, transition from military to civilian careers, sampling period, misconceptions about getting a job after transition (7:20)

  • To get an MBA or not? Key factors in deciding if business school is for you (10:48)

  • Jobs veterans have been successful in without an MBA (16:21)

  • Differences between financial services careers - investment banking, private equity, and venture capital (19:07)

  • Breaking into a private equity portfolio company, career pathways, leveraging soft skills from military service (25:33)

  • Serial entrepreneurship, creating value for customers (35:33)

  • Advice for anyone considering starting a business (38:57)

 

Additional Resources

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May 16, 202344:41
Law, Business, or Medical School? Liberal Arts School as a Path with Williams College & Pomona College

Law, Business, or Medical School? Liberal Arts School as a Path with Williams College & Pomona College

Today’s conversation brings together two of our partner institutions as we take a look at the ways a liberal arts education creates pathways to professional or graduate programs. Adam Sapp, Assistant Vice President & Director of Admissions at Pomona College, and Alex DiAddezio, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Williams College, bring their 13+ combined years of experience working with veterans and transfer students to shed light on the many opportunities veterans have at liberal arts institutions. In this episode, we dive into the flexible & adaptable design of a liberal arts education, what a liberal arts education is & what it is not, career pathways, and more!

Main Topics 

  • Adam & Alex Introductions & Backgrounds (1:35)

  • Misconceptions about a liberal arts education & curriculum/major offerings, learning skills for career flexibility (3:19) 

  • Qualities of a strong applicant, academic experiences inside & outside of the classroom (9:56) 

  • Research opportunities, Summer Undergraduate Research Program initiative, Pomona College Internship Program, Alumni Sponsored Internship program at Williams (16:46)

  • Career preparation, outcomes & ROIs of a liberal arts education; medical, law & business school pathways (25:18)

  • Advice from admissions officers for potential applicants (32:20)

Additional Resources


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May 09, 202336:17
Leveraging Relationships & Veteran Career Opportunities with 50Strong & Johnson & Johnson

Leveraging Relationships & Veteran Career Opportunities with 50Strong & Johnson & Johnson

This week’s conversation is all about veteran career opportunities & pathways. We sat down with Kandi Tillman, co-founder of 50Strong, and Tiffany Daugherty, HR Leader for Military Pathways Johnson & Johnson, for a great conversation driven by their mutual experience advising & supporting veterans in their military talent work. We dive into topics such as the key employment players you should be engaging with often & early on, how to engage impactfully with talent managers, the power of your network in education & your career search, marketing yourself at various stages & what to do if you aren’t sure what career you want, and much more! 

Main Topics 

  • Kandi & Tiffany introductions & backgrounds (0:33)

  • 4:04 - Employment advice & marketability, importance of storytelling & setting yourself apart (3:55)

  • Importance of internships, academic & professional network relationships or connections (8:19)

  • Figuring out what career path to take when you aren’t sure what you want to do (14:02)

  • How not to reach out to an employer recruiter (22:22)

  • Networking, building trust in new relationships (26:53) 

  • Advice & meaningful takeaways about career outcomes for veterans (34:54)

Additional Resources

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May 02, 202338:13
Taking Military Service To Law School with Alex Clark

Taking Military Service To Law School with Alex Clark

This week, we welcome S2S Applicant turned Ambassador, Alex Clark to the podcast. Alex is a former USAF intel analyst, UT Austin Law graduate, Teach for America alum, and current Associate Lawyer at Haynes & Boone. Alex shares how he learned the value of mentorship, his experience as a judicial clerk (& why others should do it too!), establishing a veterans network for his law firm, applying to & attending law school while active in the Air Force Reserves, tips & advice for law school admissions, and much more. 

Main Topics 

  • Alex’s background and introduction (0:33) 

  • Inspiration to serve with Teach for America; how teaching prepared him for service (3:26)

  • Transition to law school, working with S2S Ambassador, prepping for LSATs, benefits of study materials & practice tests (6:37) 

  • Experience at law school &  Setting up Texas Law Veterans Association (11:21)

  • Managing personal relationships/family obligations while in law school (16:11) 

  • What is a judicial clerk, what does it entail & what was the experience like (17:48)

  • Heading from clerkship to Haynes & Boone, creating a veterans network at Haynes & Boone (20:47)

  • Working with S2S as an applicant & Ambassador (24:51) 

  • Running 2020 miles in 2020 to raise money for S2S, building confidence to do hard things & learning to acknowledge that there are people that know more than you & to trust their knowledge in order to commit to learning & growing (26:35)

  • Advice for veterans considering law school (32:46)

Additional Resources

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Apr 25, 202337:34
Open Curriculum with Amherst College & Vassar College

Open Curriculum with Amherst College & Vassar College

Today’s episode explores a topic that is generating some buzz in the higher ed space - open curriculum. We sat down with our admissions colleagues Hira Byrne, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Amherst College, and Colleen Mallet, Director of Veterans Students Outreach & Support. We broke down the differences between each school’s open curriculum policy and the many opportunities provided to students under an open curriculum model. The conversation brings to light what academic and professional experiences can be had, the benefits of community engaged learning, misconceptions about what an open curriculum is or isn’t, and more!

Main Topics 

  • Hira and Colleen’s backgrounds and introductions (1:29)

  • Overview of Open Curriculum at each school (3:39)

  • How academic experiences in an open curriculum prepare students for future careers, importance of exploring topics that interest you & community-engaged learning, building connections across disciplines & learning to think multidimensionally (7:46)

  • Benefits of built-in soft skill education for post-graduation opportunities (12:39) 

  • Advice for applicants that are nervous or hesitant to transition from a structured military environment & pursue the flexibility of an open curriculum, misconceptions about open curriculum  (16:53) 

  • Advice for students that have a specific path already in mind & aren’t interested as much in exploring outside interests/courses (23:48)

  • Thinking & preparing beyond your time in college, articulating your “why” for career aspirations (29:54)

  • Biggest added value to each institution & student veteran feedback about personal benefits of open curriculum (32:14) 

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Apr 18, 202339:05
Dedicated to Service: From Naval Fire Controlman to Harvard & Americorps with Alex Walsh

Dedicated to Service: From Naval Fire Controlman to Harvard & Americorps with Alex Walsh

Today we are joined by Service to School veteran applicant & Ambassador, Alex Walsh. Alex is a US Navy veteran, student at Harvard University, and is currently working as a college completion coach with Americorps supporting American College Access Network. Alex brings his unique experiences to the conversation as we discuss navigating the application to Harvard as a transfer student, building a community on campus, serving with Americorps, preparing for law school applications, and much more!

Main Topics 

  • Alex’s Background & Intro (0:35)

  • Experience serving in Europe, culture shocks living in Spain (3:56)    

  • Traveling in the Navy, favorite overseas experiences, academic inspirations (8:37)      

  • Decision to separate from the Navy, interest in Harvard, finding & connecting with Service to School (12:35) 

  • Transition from service to an adult learner & transfer student at Harvard, clubs & leadership experiences on campus at Harvard  (15:18)

  • Academic interests that led to working at Americorps supporting students as a college completion coach (19:38) 

  • Future education & career plans beyond Americorps (21:48)

  • Differences between undergraduate & law school application experiences, interests in writing (23:26)

  • Advice for veterans or service members applying for college, using veterans benefits, telling your story as a veteran (27:43)  

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Apr 11, 202334:26
Alternative Pathways to Admission: Eli Whitney Students Program at Yale University with Patricia Wei & Alec Buffi

Alternative Pathways to Admission: Eli Whitney Students Program at Yale University with Patricia Wei & Alec Buffi

We’re diving in today for a discussion about an alternative pathway to admissions for veterans - the Eli Whitney Students Program. We were joined by Patricia Wei, the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University, and Alec Buffi, current third year student veteran at Yale. We chat about what the Eli Whitney Student Program is and what it is not, how the experience differs from a regular admissions pathway, what makes a strong application profile for EWSP, and much more. This conversation is full of insights into the student veteran experience at Yale. If you’re trying to determine the best path for you to apply to Yale, this is a must listen. 


Main Topics 

  • Patricia and Alec’s Introductions and backgrounds (1:08)

  • How veteran student/adult learner experience has evolved since 2010, nearly half of EWSP students are undergraduate veterans (3:13) 

  • What is the Eli Whitney Students Program and what is EWSP not, pathways for admissions to Yale for veteran applicants (5:35)

  • Benefits of EWSP from a student’s perspective - flexibility in course load, cohort community, student housing flexibility (9:01)

  • Finding academic & leadership opportunities (internships, teaching assistant), support of the EWSP community (13:46)

  • Alec’s transition from service to the classroom, leveraging S2S, strengthening academic record at community college, going from non-STEM background to Comp Sci major (17:02)

  • What makes a strong admissions package/profile for EWSP (20:54)

  • Alec’s experience & advice applying as a computer science major (23:10)

  • Alec’s decision to spend full 4 years at Yale instead of using transfer credits & rushing through - available opportunities, ability to take time to develop technical skills (29:55)

  • Steps to applying to Yale via the EWSP (34:06)

  • Alec’s Advice for veterans considering or preparing to transition from the military (36:02)

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Apr 04, 202339:02
Pushing Past the Comfort Zone w/Shaun Cason

Pushing Past the Comfort Zone w/Shaun Cason

Today, we sat down for a fantastic conversation with Service to School applicant & Ambassador, Shaun Cason. Shaun is a US Marine Corps veteran, community college transfer student, current student at Princeton University, and recently announced Sachs Scholar that will take him to study at Oxford University. We talk about the power of good mentorship in academia, balancing college life with a family, what it’s like to be older than your student peers, the Sachs Scholarship, and more!

Main Topics

  • Shaun Intro & background, his journey from the Marines to Princeton (1:10)
  • Sparking an interest in Middle Eastern & global history through firsthand experiences (7:01)
  • Staff mentorship & support - Carving a spot for himself in academia, mentorship from professors (12:48)
  • College student as a 35 year old veteran, generational conversations, benefits of community college during transition from service to 4 year school (14:15)
  • Balancing life as a college student with a family (16:37)
  • Veteran community on campus, deciding what activities or opportunities to try (21:26)
  • Setting expectations & maintaining boundaries while being fully involved (24:26)
  • Sachs Scholarship & opportunities abound abroad (27:01)
  • Studying at Oxford, pursuing PhD, and goals for the future (31:28)
  • Steps to start this journey & words of wisdom (33:08)

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Mar 28, 202337:09
New Horizons with S2S CEO Alec Emmert

New Horizons with S2S CEO Alec Emmert

On today’s episode, we welcome the new Service to School CEO, Alec Emmert. Alec is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and US Navy veteran. He earned his Master of Science in Finance from Georgetown, went on to earn his MBA from The Wharton School before working as a consultant at McKinsey for two years. Alec has served as a S2S undergraduate Ambassador & used S2S support during his MBA application before joining us as CEO. In this episode, we explore Alec’s goals for S2S, challenges veterans face in the higher ed space, the power of VetLink, and more.

Main Topics

  • Alec Intro & Background (0:06)
  • Alec’s journey to Service to School (1:33) 
  • What led to desire & interest in running a nonprofit organization, mission-driven work (4:59) 
  • Growth of S2S, challenges in higher ed space, how S2S is working to tackle those challenges (6:45) 
  • Going beyond just completing essays & researching schools & filling in the knowledge gap for veteran applicants (10:28) 
  • The value of the support provided when you work with S2S (12:00) 
  • Translating nontraditional stories to bridge the gap between veterans and admissions committees (15:28) 
  • What is VetLink & why is the VetLink addendum a powerful tool for veterans? (18:09) 
  • Helping veterans identify solid options & apply for the best schools to help them achieve their goals (21:08) 
  • Advice for applicants & student veterans (25:40) 

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Mar 21, 202328:16
Navigating Next Steps After Service with Dan Savage

Navigating Next Steps After Service with Dan Savage

Join us for a chat with Dan Savage for the final episode of season 1. Dan is a West Point graduate and infantry officer veteran, earned his Masters in Public Policy from Harvard, and has more than a decade supporting veterans and service members with their career journeys post-service at Syracuse University, LinkedIn, and more. This interview is jam-packed with tips and resources that Dan shares about navigating life post-service, deciding the best path for you, the challenges of shifting identities, and so much more.

Main Topics

  • Dan’s introduction & background (0:26)
  • Exploring future military & career goals while on active duty, decision to separate to attend grad school (3:26)
  • Experience being lost during personal transition turned to working with veterans during transition from service & tackling issue of underemployment (6:51)
  • Resources & tips for where to start when you aren’t sure what you want to do post-service, networking on LinkedIn (14:56)
  • Honing the art of storytelling based on self-reflection for admissions & career search, tying your experiences to your future goals (27:16)
  • Challenges with identity changes that arise during transition (31:13)
  • Tips for translating military experience to civilian equivalencies (34:23)
  • Connecting with others during the job search & the concept of “people like us,” deciding which parts of your background are relevant in different situations (38:52)
  • Getting a feel for who you want to spend your time with at school or career (48:30)
  • Key takeaways & final tips (56:50)

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Nov 22, 202201:03:30
Serving Together Beyond the Military with Gus Giacoman
Nov 15, 202236:25
Rolling from Army Diesel Mechanic to Princeton University with Taehwan Kim

Rolling from Army Diesel Mechanic to Princeton University with Taehwan Kim

Today we are joined by Service to School veteran applicant, Taehwan Kim. Tae is a veteran of the US Army, international and first generation college student, and most recently admitted student at Princeton University. Tae brings a unique perspective to the conversation as we discuss how a desire for financial education and stability while living in a new country away from home led to joining the military and applying to top schools as a community college transfer, ultimately being accepted to his dream school of Princeton.

Main Topics

  • Tae’s introduction & background (0:25)
  • Adjusting to U.S. culture, starting school in Minnesota, and transitioning to the Army (4:18)
  • Working as a diesel mechanic in the Army, decision to transition from military & apply to college (7:40)
  • Unique experience with a pipeline to the Army for foreign students to enlist, leveraging community college prior to enlistment (10:08)
  • Decision to pursue economics in college, drive for financial security (13:41)
  • Finding Service to School & building out a college list, making the connection with an S2S Ambassador & the benefits of peer-to-peer mentorship (17:25)
  • Academic boost in confidence to aim higher & apply to more college (20:08)
  • Celebrating acceptance letters & evaluating admissions packages, ultimate decision to attend Princeton University (21:46)
  • Experience sharing the acceptance news with family & friends (24:59)
  • Sharing veteran experiences & role in helping to shape the application process for future veterans on the Common App Student Advisory Board (28:08)
  • Advice for enlisted service members considering college (29:08)
  • Most excited about starting at Princeton (30:33)

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Nov 08, 202233:23
Supporting the Student Veteran with The University of Chicago & Villanova University

Supporting the Student Veteran with The University of Chicago & Villanova University

We dive in today for a great discussion about supporting student veterans with colleagues from two of our VetLink partner institutions - Mike Brown, the Director of the Office of Veterans & Military Service Members at Villanova University, and Beau Butts, the Exec Director of Veterans Initiatives, Programs, and Services at the University of Chicago (UChicago). We chat about the ways both institutions have invested in supporting veterans from the admissions process and built communities that foster inclusion during their time on campus. From creating veteran-specific applications and flexible admissions timelines to robust veteran centers and leveraging alumni networks, this conversation truly showcases what it means for colleges to be military inclusive.

Main Topics

  • Introductions (0:25)
  • Supporting veterans in evaluating school fit & feeling supported on campus (5:11)
  • Creation of a veteran-specific application, the benefits of a flexible admissions window for veterans & building relationships in the admissions process (6:35)
  • Establishing a robust student veteran center, immersion in the campus community, launches veterans beyond through college & beyond (11:39)
  • Centralizing veteran campus support, residential experiences designed to support veterans’ lifestyles (17:35)
  • Leveraging veteran alumni networks to provide unique opportunities to expand experiences (24:38)
  • Removing barriers to student veterans participating in internships, research, and career treks (30:04)
  • Summer Business Institute at Villanova (37:31)
  • What it means to be an alumni of an institution & how the community extends beyond graduation (41:49)
  • Gaps in the space of supporting student veterans in higher education (50:43)
  • Final advice on applying to college as a veteran or service member (58:08)

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Nov 01, 202201:02:52
From the Sea to Brown University with Terren Wise

From the Sea to Brown University with Terren Wise

In today’s episode, we sit down for an inspirational conversation with Service to School applicant Terren Wise. Terren is a US Navy veteran, community college transfer student, and current student at Brown University. We talk about trying new things & gaining new experiences, reflecting on life passions, leveraging community college courses to strengthen your application package, perseverance through rejections to stay true to yourself and much more! 

Main Topics

  • Terren’s introduction & background (0:25)
  • Jumping from human resources & marketing at the University of Minnesota to the Navy Nuclear Program (2:59)
  • Rigors of Navy nuclear program schooling (5:02)
  • Decision to leave the Navy to find & better himself, starting over after the military & handling others questioning the decision (7:29)
  • Selecting first round of schools to apply to & the humbling experience of receiving rejections, taking a step back to re-evaluate next steps at community college (11:20)
  • Finding Service to School & Warrior Scholar Project, leveraging resources to acclimate back into the college classroom (13:41)
  • Re-visiting the admissions process, reflecting career passions, exploring new schools & degree possibilities (15:47)
  • Applying post-military experiences at community college to current studies & goals, leaning into the self-journey (18:55)
  • Most surprising parts of writing the admissions essays, joys & benefits of sharing your true self in your essays (22:43)
  • When the hard work pays off & acceptance letters arrive (27:04)
  • Working through the Brown University military application, importance of discussing school-specific financial aid options directly with your college, colleges investing in military student success (29:06)
  • Tips & recommendations for service members & veterans applying soon or actively in the admissions process (33:47)
  • Looking forward to new classes & experiences at Brown University, parts of the application process that was most surprising (36:41)

Additional Resources

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Oct 25, 202242:45
Grad School Test Prep with Jeff Miller

Grad School Test Prep with Jeff Miller

Today’s episode is all about GRE & GMAT test prep for graduate school admissions with test prep professional, Jeff Miller. Jeff is the COO of GMAT & GRE Instruction at Target Test Prep. Jeff brings 13+ years of experience in GMAT & GRE prep to the conversation and provides practical tips & advice for approaching graduate school testing with confidence. Dive in with us as we chat about evaluating test options, creating a test prep plan for success, and more!

Main Topics

  • Jeff’s introduction & background (0:25)
  • GMAT vs GRE when your program accepts both, determining which test is the best fit for applicants (4:05)
  • Study tips for MBA admissions tests (8:55)
  • Best timing for studying for the GMAT/GRE, downfalls to prepping too early before the test (13:31)
  • Giving yourself enough time to prep for your tests (15:48)
  • Flexibility in testing multiple times, leveraging your best test scores in your admissions package (17:38)
  • Importance of test scores on applicant success in the admissions process (20:08)
  • Preparing for the GMAT & GRE, Target Test Prep options & prep philosophy models (24:10)
  • Self-studying timeline (27:21)
  • Most common myths/misconceptions among applicants (31:12)
  • Key takeaways for prospective GMAT/GRE test takers (35:22)

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Oct 18, 202240:33
Commitment to Veterans with Princeton University

Commitment to Veterans with Princeton University

Today’s episode we are joined by two of our admissions colleagues from Princeton University - Alex Bustin, Senior Associate Dean & Director of Transfer and Military/Veteran Admissions, and Dr. Keith Shaw, Director of Transfer, Veteran, and Non-traditional Student Programs. This rich conversation hones in on Princeton’s support of the veteran population through the admissions process and the time on campus. We talk about understanding the unique circumstances student veterans face during college & meeting them where they’re at in life, designing policies and procedures to help veterans succeed on campus, promoting academic goals through community formation, and more!

Main Topics

  • Alex introduction & background (1:08)
  • Keith background & introduction of the Emma Bloomberg Center at Princeton (4:51)
  • Early evaluation of student veterans, the support they need on campus, and military-friendly vs military-inclusive (6:52)
  • Changes over the years for recruiting student veterans (11:39)
  • Importance of an individualized approach to connecting with potential applicants  (15:27)
  • Working with veterans in higher ed when you haven’t served, imposter syndrome among both admissions officers and veteran applicants, trusting shared experiences for improved collaboration (20:35)
  • Providing support to student veterans, benefits of co-curricular programs to acclimate new student veterans to campus, creating a social & intellectual community to support one another (24:36)
  • Navigating adapting student life policies for veterans, role of student veteran influence and advocacy for policy change, balancing the wide spectrum of student veteran needs on campus (30:22)
  • Financially investing in veteran success (38:50)
  • Advice for prospective students, current students, and higher ed colleagues (45:03)

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Oct 11, 202255:39
Service to School Founding with Anna Ivey

Service to School Founding with Anna Ivey

Today’s episode highlights the core of Service to School’s foundation and the impact that supporting veterans through college admissions has on our community. We’re joined today by Service to School co-founder, Anna Ivey. Anna is a former film finance lawyer as well as Dean of Admissions at The University of Chicago Law School, two-time author and currently running an education technology startup. Anna has more than a decade of experience supporting veterans on their journey through college admissions and brings a deep understanding of the higher education landscape.

Main Topics

  • Anna’s introduction (0:27)
  • Anna’s background in higher education & how supporting veterans led to the start of Service to School (1:41)
  • Crossing path with co-founders (6:53)
  • Vision of Service to School’s peer-to-peer model (7:30)
  • Bridging the gap for veterans & admissions officers by establishing the VetLink partnership program (11:08)
  • Reflecting on barriers that keep veterans from applying to colleges & changes to bring veterans into the college ecosystem (17:46)
  • Importance of supporting veterans in evaluating school options & determining what the best school is for them (22:10)
  • Building up the confidence in Veterans applying to college & the core support of our Ambassador network (26:02)
  • Collaborative network supporting veterans (31:13)
  • Importance & value of veterans contributing by bringing new, unique experiences to the college classroom (33:28)
  • Looking forward on the future of Service to School & the evolution of supporting veteran applicants (36:48)
  • Anna’s final advice for veteran applicants (46:54)

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Oct 04, 202250:18
Test Optional Admissions with Bowdoin & George Washington University

Test Optional Admissions with Bowdoin & George Washington University

Today’s episode explores a hot college admissions topic - test-optional policies. We sat down with Ryan Ricciardi, Associate Dean of Admissions at Bowdoin College, and Benjamin Toll, Dean of Admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at George Washington University. We chat about different opportunities to showcase your strengths to an admissions committee without standardized test scores, the importance of being reflective in the application process to align your educational & experiential goals, institutional priorities that have driven test-optional policies, and so much more. This interview is jam packed with deep insights from 2 admissions colleagues who have a combined 20+ years of experience working with test-optional admissions!

Main Topics

  • Introduction to test-optional landscape (0:26)
  • Ryan & Ben introductions & backgrounds (2:10)
  • What a holistic application review looks like (5:07)
  • Self-selecting out, components of a strong application with a gap in education (11:00)
  • When to submit a test score & when not to (16:43)
  • Parts of the admissions process you can control, what you want admissions committees to know about you (20:00)
  • Coursework to demonstrate academic aptitude in your application (25:45)
  • Leveraging letters of recommendation & selecting recommenders to strengthen your application (29:03)
  • What makes a strong applicant for each institution (36:14)
  • Advice for applicants applying to college & considering applying test-optional (45:06)

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Sep 27, 202248:59
Navy to Yale Law School with Hillary Browning

Navy to Yale Law School with Hillary Browning

Today’s episode takes listeners on the journey of today’s guest, Hillary Browning, from the Navy to Yale Law School. Hillary is an enlisted Navy Veteran, an Eli Whitney scholar, Yale University graduate, first generation college student and most recently the first female enlisted Veteran admitted to Yale Law School. We talk about the ups and downs of the college & law school admissions processes, take a deep dive into Hillary’s experiences with being waitlisted & re-applying, owning her Veteran background and more.

Main Topics

  • Hillary’s introduction & background (1:00)
  • Joining the US Navy (1:42)
  • Experiences & education while Active Duty (5:52)
  • Transitioning from the military & decision to apply to college (9:44)
  • Transfer application requirements lessons learned (12:25)
  • Finding Service to School for application support (14:45)
  • Evaluating school fit & overcoming imposter syndrome when applying to highly selective schools (17:48)
  • Finding community on-campus as an undergraduate in the Eli Whitney program at Yale University (22:57)
  • Decision to go to law school, being waitlisted & applying as a Veteran (26:16)
  • Owning your Veteran identity in your applications & translating it into an academic environment (29:32)
  • Service to School support for law school admissions & importance of the diversity statement (35:12)
  • New approaches when re-applying to law school after being waitlisted (37:41)
  • A look back at the biggest lessons learned through application processes & look forward to Yale Law School (45:52)

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Sep 20, 202250:24