By Shaun Kelley, September 2015
There are so many benefits to grad school beyond that piece of paper you get upon completion. In a graduate program, you are with many likeminded people who are enthusiastic about your field to the point where they would like to MASTER it.
Sounds like the kind of people you would want to know, huh?
The mandatory on-site residence is a unique benefit of Utica College’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. It’s an excellent opportunity to exchange business cards, numbers, and email addresses, and get face time with teachers.
You never know who you are going to meet at the residency program. You could mention to someone that you are passionate about a certain area of your field, and then while they are at work, someone might mention to them that they are looking for someone like you!
If you leave a lasting impression, you will be the first person they think of!
Myself, I have a success story from Utica College. The department chair, Joe Giordano, played an important role in my career. I was brand new to the cyber field, and nervous, as many soon-to-be graduates are, about finding a job without experience.
From speaking with Joe at the residencies, he knew that I was passionate about my work and about putting everything I had into what I do. He referred me to one of the professors at the program who contacted me and offered me my current job. It was proper networking and a can-do attitude that got me that job.
My advice to you all is to make every second of your time at Utica count when interacting with classmates and professors. You never know who might be listening or get a good vibe about you. A couple of things to consider before attending your first residency:
Shaun Kelley is from Pearl River, New York. He enrolled in the Utica College Cybersecurity Master’s program in the Fall of 2013 after graduating from SUNY Cortland in May of 2013. He currently lives in the Metro Detroit Area in Michigan and works for KPMG's Forensic Technology practice. He was able to get a job in the field from the networking he did as a Utica College student. Since joining KPMG, he has been able to use the skills he developed in this program (both technical and social) to solve real-world problems in the workplace. In his spare time, he enjoys going to sporting events (Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse).
