What's Next?

“Since I started going to school at the elementary years, I’ve heard from my parents, both graduated, how important it was to get a bachelor’s degree. So truly not getting one wasn’t an option . The program was great. It gave me a lot of knowledge that I could apply after I started my career. College definitely helped me advance in my career. I truly believe it’s the least you can have to succeed, even for business owners or entrepreneurs. I have a bachelor’s degree in international management. I believe business and international management are both very interesting and fit many different careers since the business world constantly changes. It can prepare you with the key leadership, critical-thinking and communication skills that will help separate you from other job seekers.”

“There were many reasons I decided to get my PhD. To develop the skills of how to design and test a hypothesis, to contribute to our wider scientific understanding (there are some things we still don't understand, in biology/disease specifically, and having even a small contribution there was important to me), and to further develop critical thinking. My PhD was extremely important for my career development. To deal with cutting edge technology, you need to be able to think critically and also understand what can be possible. That is, even to innovate, you have to anticipate. For that, you need the critical eye and understanding whether there is enough scientific knowledge to support the likelihood of the possibility. I recommend this program to those who feel the way I did and that are seeking careers in technology- in particular in developing technology. If lucky and paired with good mentors, you can make friends for life in the program. Chasing a hypothesis and doing research is very hard, but you meet people along the way who are there with you and they remain part of your life. I had a great experience. It is important to keep in mind that there are other ways to get involved in tech without a PhD. So because of the commitment it has to be a personal decision if you really want to learn how to be and think like a scientist.”

“I decided to go to law school because I was bored and I wanted to help pay for my kids to go to college. Once I started, I didn’t have time for a social life or to continue to play tennis, golf, or to paint. Also, I was 43 years old competing with classmates who were in their early 20s. Getting a J.D. is a tremendous amount of work, but I was determined to succeed. Besides learning about multiple areas of the law, I learned how to think and write like a lawyer, as well as how to do legal research. My legal lessons at law school prepared me for a demanding position as an associate at a Wall Street law firm. The JD degree coupled with an LL.M in tax law led me to a successful career in international tax and estate planning and a position as a Vice President in the Latin American Private Bank at JPMorgan Chase. Law School can prepare a person for a career in multiple areas of the law and other positions outside the law. I recommend law school to a person with high verbal & writing skills, an analytical mind, and a strong work ethic.”

“Since I started going to school at the elementary years, I’ve heard from my parents, both graduated, how important it was to get a bachelor’s degree. So truly not getting one wasn’t an option . The program was great. It gave me a lot of knowledge that I could apply after I started my career. College definitely helped me advance in my career. I truly believe it’s the least you can have to succeed, even for business owners or entrepreneurs. I have a bachelor’s degree in international management. I believe business and international management are both very interesting and fit many different careers since the business world constantly changes. It can prepare you with the key leadership, critical-thinking and communication skills that will help separate you from other job seekers.”

“Hello, my name is Anthony Lizardo and I am a NYC green roof installer. As a green roof installer, you are part of the bigger solution to combating climate change. You are a landscaper, an irrigation technician, and a roofer working on everything from garage roofs to high-rise buildings. You get to see the city from a perspective not many others will ever have, while helping the community and building beautiful systems and gardens. The field itself is growing, as cities begin to mandate more buildings to either have green roofs, solar panels, or a combination of both, and the government allocates more funds and tax incentives to make green roofs more commonplace. This is a career with room for upward growth, that promises stability and benefits the community. It's not for everyone though, as it is physically demanding labor-intensive work. You are outside all day in all weather conditions and have to be comfortable around both insects and heights. Ladders and harnesses are common tools that we use, and insects like centipedes or spiders can not be avoided either. You will be working mostly with high-end clients as most people still can't afford green roofs, though as the industry keeps growing that will continue to change as they become more accessible. The final con, the pay in this industry lags behind other trades. Starting pay ranges from $20-$25 hourly and for a job as technically involved and labor intensive as this, that is not great. As the industry grows that may also continue to change for the better, but as of right now, it is a major factor.”

“Hey, my name is Caleb and I’m a tattoo apprentice. Growing up I only had an interest in art, and that showed negatively in my grades throughout high school I wasn’t interested in college, so I knew I needed to start working fast. I spent a little over 2 years working farming and landscaping jobs. But I knew I didn’t want to do this kind of work for long. It took a lot of courage to leave my secure job to seek out a tattoo apprenticeship. I was lucky enough to have a strong support system, so I wasn’t alone. I had the freedom to try and commit to something I’ve wanted since I was 12 years old. If I had to give you one piece of advice, life is unpredictable so never stop yourself from going after something you’re passionate about. All of the limitations set in your path, all of the doubt others give you, cast that aside, and don’t lose faith in yourself. I don’t recommend becoming a tattoo artist. Although I would never stop someone who was passionate from trying, I would inform them of all the risks involved. Tattooing is seasonal, you will go long stretches of time without having any revenue from walk-in clients. Oftentimes you will spend full work weeks in a shop and barely make anything near minimum wage. The profession is over-saturated (there are so many new artists getting into the industry, making it extremely difficult to stand out from the crowd unless you’re extremely proficient at a style). A tattooer will only get good enough at tattooing to do small quick things. Tattoo artists completely invest themselves in the industry and lifestyle. ”