Hear it from HESA

Name: Stephanie Bautista | Pronouns: She/Her |Year: Full-time First Year Student

Assistantship: Graduate Fellow for Clubs and Leadership at NYU Stern’s Office of Student Engagement

Why did you choose NYU?:

"As someone who was afraid of leaving their home state, I chose NYU due to the sense of community and people I met during recruitment days. They made it easier for me to get out of my comfort zone and move to a new state!"

What do you like about the HESA program?

"The program creates a space where you’re encouraged to explore different topic areas of higher ed. I love that I can write papers on my passion areas but also take new unique classes. Also, the program’s faculty and alumni help create an amazing sense of community throughout your experience!"

What advice would you give about Recruitment Days?

"Reach out to current HESA students and other potential students going through Recruitment days with you! Don’t forget you're not going through this experience alone! My favorite memory is looking back to who I made friendships with during recruitment days!"

Name: Mila Barzdukas | Pronouns: She/Her |Year: Full-time First Year Student

Assistantship: NYU Stern MBA Office of Admission

Why did you choose NYU?:

"I chose NYU for its breadth of resources. No matter what piece of higher education I was interested in, I knew I would be able to explore it at NYU."

What do you like about the HESA program?:

"I LOVE the HESA program because it is the perfect combination of an academic and professional experience. I learn by doing, and the connections I’ve made between academic discussions with my peers and my internship has been invaluable. Additionally, I love that the program is large enough to represent an array of identities, but small enough for opportunities to get to know everyone!"

What advice would you give about Recruitment Days?

"Recruitment days were a doozy. I found it really helpful to jot down notes after each interview. What did you like? What did you not like? What further questions do you have? What is the compensation? At the end of the day, I was able to look back at my notes and remind myself of small details I certainly would have forgotten otherwise."

Name: Yean Franco-Marin | Pronouns: He/Him/His |Year: Full-time First Year Student

Assistantship: Residential Life Assistant (RLA) at Lafayette Hall for NYU Residential Life and Housing Services

What do you like about the HESA program?:

"The HESA program is unlike any other program I looked into prior to choosing NYU. Its requirement of holding an assistantship/internship while studying is extremely impactful. Not only are we able to engage in scholarship through our course readings, but we are able to put those theories into our everyday work. Additionally, the network within HESA with current students, faculty, and alumni is enormous and provides us so many opportunities to connect with other professionals in the field."

What advice would you give about Recruitment Days?:

"Take a deep breath, remind yourself that you got this. You know what is best for you, and you know what you want in a grad program. Be yourself in every part of your recruitment days experience. It is so important to always stay grounded and know that what you have to offer is of value to the HESA program and your future assistantship. You got this!"

Name: Abagail Watford | Pronouns: She/Her |Year: Full-time First Year Student

Assistantship: Campus Activities Intern for Pace University

What do you like about the HESA program?:

"The HESA program is incredible because of the connections I am able to make with the cohort. Learning from my peers is helping me grow as a professional every single day!"

What advice would you give about Recruitment Days?

"Know what you want out of your experience. While this is a learning opportunity, it is crucial for you to be ambitious and set goals for yourself while interviewing for assistantships! You're gonna do great!"

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