Grant for Tech Skills

Macaulay Honors College Receives a $150,000 Grant

Funds Will Support New Media Lab Fellowships in the Tech Sector for Student Interns

Macaulay Honors College is pleased to announce a unique professional development partnership with the NYC Media Lab led by Justin Hendrix and NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The partnership will grant $150,000 over the course of three years to create fellowships and facilitate internships for Macaulay students at cutting edge technology firms.

The Macaulay students selected to become New Media Lab Fellows will have an unmatched opportunity to gain professional and technological experience at startups in New York City, and will also gain insight from larger, firmly-established tech giants. As team participants their work will include hands-on experience with augmented reality/virtual reality technology and media projects.

Just 10 talented students from the classes of 2020 and 2021 were selected to be New Media Lab Fellows from over 100 applications. In the fall of 2018, the Fellows will attend networking events, skill-building boot camps, and conferences. Then, in spring 2019, they will begin their internships with technology and media companies, at building 22 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

“This grant helps give our talented Macaulay students a chance to integrate with startup businesses as team members and provided them with valuable tech experience that will give them a professional advantage,” said Macaulay New Media Lab Director Robert Small. “AR/VR research and innovation is going to be driving the city’s economy in the coming years, so it’s fitting that Macaulay students are part of that creative force.”

Contact: Robert Small
Director, Macaulay New Media Lab
robert.small@mhc.cuny.edu

Healthy, Easy Snacks for Work or School

By: Sebastian Leung

We spend most of our day working, studying, or taking care of important issues. Sometimes, we can get so engulfed in our work that we don’t want to “waste valuable time eating a meal”. But this can be detrimental to our health and even our overall productivity. There are quite a few healthy snacks that are easy to prepare and can be kept at your desk, ready for consumption. Here are some options:

Fruit. Of course, fruits are on the list. Fruits are a great snack because they provide healthy, natural sugars and are quite tasty. You can cut them up fresh, eat them whole, or even buy dried fruit to keep at your desk!

 

 

Nuts. A great snack to eat is a variety of nuts. You can mix and match as you like, put them in a container on your desk, and have them ready to eat. Nuts are healthy because they provide some of the healthy fats needed with a good amount of protein.

 

Edamame. These beans are a great and delicious snack. Usually sold frozen, edamame can be boiled, pan fried, or steamed! My favorite way to make easy, delicious edamame is to roast the beans in an oven with a bit of olive oil and a touch of sea salt. Edamame is high in protein, calcium, and iron, and also has other great health benefits.

 

 

Trail Mix. Trail mix is a fun snack because it’s very versatile. You can buy it in stores, or if you want to have a bit of fun, you can pick your favorite dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, and mix them together! Trail mix provides a balanced amount of healthy fats and sugar, as long as you don’t buy ones with artificial sweeteners.

 

Seaweed. Last but not least on our list, we have roasted seaweed! This is one of my favorites, and it can be purchased in packages in stores. It’s easy because you buy it in individual portions. It’s also super-delicious, crunchy, and fun to eat! Roasted seaweed is high in key vitamins, contains protein and fiber, and low in carbs and saturated fat.

 

 

Hopefully, this list makes finding healthy snacks a bit easier. Bon appetit!

Becoming a LinkedIn Expert

By: Sebastian Leung

Technology is evolving ever so quickly, and with these changes the way we go about our lives is never the same. The same goes for the business and career world. With so many technological developments, the way we do business is changing rapidly as well. One of these big changes is LinkedIn. Gone are the days when people searched the yellow pages, searching for “help wanted” signs or checking the classifieds.. LinkedIn has simplified that process by providing a home for your resume, job search, professional groups, networking tools and more. Because of this seamless tool and it’s increasing popularity, it is very important to create a LinkedIn profile that will be effective in aiding our job search.

To create an effective LinkedIn profile, follow the instructions below.

Create an Attractive, Findable Profile

Creating a profile that is visually appealing and easily found by employers on LinkedIn is key. Often, people will take a quick glance at your profile and the first thing they will notice is your profile picture and the headline underneath it. A professional looking headshot is always important (even if you can’t afford a photographer!).

What to wear/Where to take the photo: Make sure you’re wearing a professional shirt or dress. Additionally, you want a simple background that is not distracting and allows your picture to shine.

Macaulay Honors College’s  Career Fairs offer complimentary Linkedin Headshots.

Upcoming Fairs:

 

The Headline: It should also remain professional. Emojis, slang, and swear words do not belong in your headline. Many people decide to list their skills and experience in the headline. This is always a good option; however, you may also want to add a personal touch, such as some hobbies or other interests you may have to make things a bit more interesting.

Use the Given Space, Don’t List the Bare Minimum

When searching for people, the LinkedIn algorithm doesn’t search just your job title or headline. It searches your whole profile, down to the descriptions in every experience or educational history you have.  LinkedIn gives you the space to describe what you’ve done at every job, at school, and even at any voluntary experiences or club activities. Use this space wisely. List your accomplishments, your projects, everything that you can’t put on your resume! You can even add links to any publications, videos, or work you may have done that you want to showcase. Regardless, make sure you take advantage of all the space LinkedIn gives you to really exhibit anything you may have done.

Your resume should typically be 1 page. Rule of thumb: For every 10 years of work experience, you get an additional page. Thus, Linkedin defies that rule by allowing you to list all experience dating as far back as high school.

Make Meaningful Connections

One of the main features LinkedIn has to offer is not only the ability for you to be discovered by employers, but the ability for you to find people you may already know, people you want to work with, or even people you don’t know at all who you simply want to learn more about! However, this doesn’t mean you should connect with anyone and everyone on the site. Connect with people you know, such as family, friends, employers, past employers, and co-workers. You can also search for people in certain industries who you may want to meet. If you’re sending a connection request to someone who you do not know, be sure to include a personalized message. Saying something along the lines of: “Hello, my name is Sarah, and I noticed you work for X company/industry and I’m interested in learning more about the company and/or industry. I’d love to ask you some questions to learn more from your perspective. Hope to hear from you soon! Best, Sarah”

Bonus Points: if they’re an alum of MHC/your CUNY home campus or you have a mutual friend/connection. People are more likely to help others from their alma mater or through a personal reference.

This is a good starter, and you can switch it up however you’d like. Remember, don’t connect with everyone – connect with people who will be meaningful connections or help benefit your career.

Tip: In your initial message, you will only have 300 characters to message them. Use the icon with three dots seen below under the name of the contact. Click Connect and it will prompt a message to Add a note. That is where you can start your conversation.

Be Active!

After you’ve set your profile up and made some connections, don’t leave your profile alone and expect job offers to come knocking at your door. Update your profile, share interesting posts (especially ones relevant to the industry you hope to work in) and look for new connections and opportunities. Employers notice when you’re an active user and if you make the effort to keep up with the latest news.

Overall, take the time and make the effort to really make a nice LinkedIn profile. Stay active, stay professional, and start your search.

 

Reasons to Meet with Medical School Admissions Before Applying

By Sebastian Leung

Applying for medical school can be one of the most intimidating and overwhelming hurdles in pursuing your dream. There are essays to write, recommenders to find, research to be done – not to mention the fact that you’re applying while still finishing up the school year and taking care of other responsibilities. Given that you already have little to no time for yourself, why should you put effort into meeting with medical school admissions officers? Here are three good reasons:

 

  • The School Will Get to Know You

 

Meeting with admissions officers allows them to put a face to your name, which will help them remember who you are come time to review the applications. Instead of picking up your application and viewing you as “applicant number 597”, you’ll be remembered as the applicant they spoke with a short time ago and someone they had a good conversation with.

 

  • You Can Strengthen Your Application

 

Through meeting with a medical school admissions officer, you can learn how to strengthen your application. Why? Well, because they work there! The admissions officer knows what the school is looking for and may be able to help you with your application, giving you tips to make you a better candidate.

 

  • You Learn if the School is the Right Fit for You

 

Lastly, meeting with medical schools is not only good for making you a better candidate, but it truly can help you decide whether or not the school is where you want to be for the next few years of your life. This is a chance to ask the admissions officer:

  • what the school is really like?
  • what the student life is like there?
  • what does the workload look like?
  • And any other questions you may have.

 

Take the chance to learn about the school!

 

Meeting with medical school admissions may seem like a time-consuming activity, but it is well worth the time. You’ll be able to get to know the admissions officers, strengthen your application, and learn about the school. Make the time to meet with them, and you’ll find that it benefits you greatly.

Hispanic Reading Discoveries

We asked visiting professor Carmen Boullosa for her Hispanic Heritage Month reading list. She responded with three of her favorites, each one unique in style and voice. They’re now yours to discover. Enjoy!

Thus Were Their Faces

by Silvina Ocampo

Writing during a time of formidable authors, Silvina’s vision was unique and uncompromising. She would later be credited as the main author of Fantastic Literature, a genre that fascinated her companions, Borges and Bioy.

Published by New York Review Books, this story collection is introduced by Helen Oyeyemi, with a preface by Borges, and translated by Daniel Balderstein.

 

Recollections of Things to Come

by Elena Garro

Published in 1963 and considered to be the first “Magical Realism” novel, Garro blends history and fantasy to create a truly singular work. Translated by Ruth L. C. Simms, the novel is published by the University of Texas Press.

 

Iphigenia (The Diary of a Young Lady Who Wrote Because She Was Bored)

by Teresa de la Parra

This masterpiece, a beautiful coming-of-age novel, was written by the Venezuelan, feminist writer to great acclaim. Translated by Berti Acker and published by the University of Texas Press.   

Should You Take a Gap Year?

By: Megan Manlunas

So you’ve just graduated college and you’re deciding whether you want to go on to grad school and pursue a higher degree. However, you don’t have to go straight to grad school. A lot of students have been taking a gap year between college and grad school – which is just a year off from school. There are a lot of benefits and options for a gap year.

  • You can explore and travel

A year off before grad school can be a great time to take time off to explore and travel. Although this can be an immersive experience it will be expensive. In order to make this happen, you would definitely need to set a specific time frame and budget. Once you’ve figured out where, how, and when – it can be a great experience. Getting to know the world is one of the best experiences out there, there is so much culture to help expand your knowledge. By traveling to various countries you’d be able to experience wonders that can’t be done through a textbook. Check out these tips to help you plan your gap year travels.

  • You can gain more experience through working

Another thing you can do in your year off before grad school, is to start working. Through a full-time job or internship, you can gain experience to add onto your resume. A lot of students choose to work during their gap year because it helps fill their resume. Gaining experience is great for going into grad school. There are many gap year programs specifically for students who chose to work before going to grad school.

 

  • You can relax and take a break

You’ve been in school from kindergarten to college, you have just spent the last 16 years in school. Another great thing that you can do it take a break. As students we often train ourselves to study, study and study. That is until you can take a break in your gap year. This is the year you can finally take time off your studies and be an actual person! This can mean picking up hobbies that you’ve put aside or even meeting with old friends you’ve lost touch with.

 

  • You can improve your ability to adapt to new situations

While being away from school, you’re going to be put into new situations and you’re going to have to adapt pretty quickly. Being out of school is a whole new experience for someone who’s just been in school for 16 years (as said in the last bullet). But, in this time off you can really figure out what you are and aren’t comfortable dealing with.

Although it is a tough decision whether you want to spend a year off from school, taking a gap year has been proven to be very beneficial to many students. Although there are many exciting things you can see and do such as traveling, working, or picking up a hobby there are still downsides to taking a gap year. You have to make sure you weigh the downsides. Many students feel that taking a gap year ruins their studying habits and find it to be very expensive. Whichever decision you decide to make, make sure it is beneficial to yourself.

Alumni Profile: Asher Orkaby ’07

At the beginning of Asher Orkaby’s first Ph.D. history class at Harvard, the instructor asked students to share their backgrounds. The other students came from top schools: Stanford, Yale, Cornell, and so on. When Asher said, “Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York,” he could feel people sneer. But he thought, “Yes, you spent a quarter of a million dollars on your fancy university. I got the same quality education from CUNY. And here we both are in the Ph.D. program at Harvard.”

When Asher was deciding where to go for his undergraduate degree, the quality of the education was his top criterion. On a visit to the history department at Brooklyn College, he met Professor KC Johnson, who became Asher’s mentor. “He has the same research, teaching, and publication record as any Ivy League professor,” said Asher.  “CUNY attracts high quality faculty. Being part of the honors college then gives you the space to pursue your interests.”

Another formative experience was study abroad. Asher is an authority on the history of modern Yemen thanks to his Opportunity Fund study, followed by graduate work, in the Middle East. “I have a debt of gratitude to the honors college,” he said.

Today, Asher is a research associate at the Harvard University Davis Center and a lecturer at the Harvard Extension School. His book Beyond the Arab Cold War was published by Oxford University Press in 2017. He contributes regularly to publications and news outlets on Middle East policy and has been interviewed in English and Arabic media. @AsherOrkaby

How to Get Recommendation Letters

By: Sebastian Leung

In our ever-increasingly competitive world, recommendation letters are one of the most important aspects of any application. With more and more people applying for college, graduate school, jobs, and internships, recruiters are often faced with more qualified candidates than they can accept. Because of this, a holistic approach has been adopted by many recruiters. With a holistic approach, recruiters evaluate candidates on more than just their resumes or pure qualifications. They take into account an applicant’s personality, values, and goals in an attempt to get to know the whole applicant. This is why the recommendation letter is so important. It will help bolster your standing as a top applicant, even if you have an outstanding resume.

 

How do I Get a Good Recommendation Letter?

There are a few simple but important steps to obtain good recommendation letters.

Get to Know Your Professors, Supervisors, and Colleagues. Before you begin asking for recommendations or even applying for positions, it’s always a good decision to develop relationships with your professors, supervisors or professionals. Even if you don’t plan to ask them for recommendations, it’s good to start expanding your connections. Look for ways to get to know them better or work alongside them to further develop your professional experience.

Select Your Recommenders. The next step to getting a recommendation letter is to select several people you’d like to get recommendations from. These can be professors, fellow professionals, or mentor figures in your life. Choose your recommenders wisely. You want to select someone that you have a positive relationship with and has seen your academic work or professional ethic career. 

Ask Your Recommenders. Be sure to contact your recommenders leaving plenty of time for them to respond and to actually write the recommendation. When you contact them, don’t simply ask them for a recommendation. It is a good idea to provide some information about the position you’re applying for and even a copy of your resume so they know your qualifications. Make sure to include a link, email, or application where they can submit recommendations. Keep in mind that people you ask to write recommendations for you won’t always say yes. If they decline, thank them politely and reach out to someone else to request a recommendation..

Be of Any Assistance Possible. After confirming your recommenders, be sure to stay in touch with the recommender and provide them with any information they request. Whether it be about you or the position you’re applying for. Some may even ask to interview you, so be ready to help.

Follow Up! Usually, applications will let you know whether or not you’re recommenders have submitted their recommendations yet. If it’s nearing the deadline and they haven’t submitted their letters yet, be sure to follow up with them and ask them if they need any more information. Additionally, you may need to gently remind them about the deadline.

Say Thank You! After the application process is over, be sure to thank them for recommending you, whether or not you got accepted. A simple thank you email thanking them for their time and their efforts should suffice.

Interview Fashion: Dress for Success

By: Megan Manlunas

Congrats! You’ve finally scored that big interview for the internship of your dreams. As the big day approaches, you find yourself asking “What should I wear?” Although the recruiter can already see that you have all the qualifications as listed on your resume, first impressions are still incredibly important. The first thing an employer will notice as you walk through that door is what you are wearing. Remember that it is important to dress for success. Although different interviews may not always require a formal attire, it is best to be overdressed than it is to come under dressed.

Business Professional

  • Finance
  • Law Firm
  • Human Resources

An interview for a big financial firm or even a law firm may require interviewees to come in dressed in business attire. Women can easily wear a matching blazer and pants and it will work perfectly. I find neutral colors such as black, gray, navy and white to  work well around different outfit combinations. Women don’t have to  wear a full suit either! It’s fun to play around with different outfit combinations such as chic blouses, skirts and dresses. Not only can you mix and match with different textures, but you can also have fun accessorizing! However, it’s best to keep the jewelry minimal – simple gold rings and necklaces will always look classy and timeless. For inspiration, check out these workplace fashion blogs catered to women.

Matching suits work not only for women, but also for men! Nothing works better than a tailored suit – but don’t get me wrong you don’t have to settle for the most expensive suit for just a mere interview. Neutral colored button-down shirts paired with dress pants create a clean and professional look. Check out this article for more tips on how men should dress during an interview.

Additionally, some CUNY institutions offer interview clothes for both men and women to rent for FREE. Check it out here: John Jay and Baruch.

Business Casual

  • Technology
  • Sales
  • Trades

Not all companies will require business professional attire for an interview. Many companies – especially in the tech field – will allow you to dress more business casual. Similar to business professional, dressing business casual allows you to look professional but stay comfortable at the same time. Business casual is a great opportunity for playing around with color. Women can definitely play around more with colored skirts, blouses, tops and an informal jacket. Men can create many different outfit combinations with khakis, button-down or collared shirts, informal tie and leather shoes. For more ideas on what to wear, check this image gallery with different examples of what to wear. 

Casual

  • Start- Ups

Many times companies such as start-ups will have no dress code at work and allow you to wear “whatever”. But what does this mean? Well, this does not mean you should come in a hoodie and sweatpants and it is probably best to leave the worn out sneakers at home. Keep in mind, you are still going to work or to an interview, you still want to remain presentable. Wearing dark jeans with a simple tee shirt may suffice! You may be allowed to wear sneakers, but still try to dress respectable. The most important thing is to be comfortable with what you are wearing. Make sure you check what is appropriate to wear when there is no dress code.

It is important to do your research before an interview. You should know what vibe a company expects of its workers. Researching the consumer demographics of a company should give you an idea of how it will feel working there. If all your research does not help, sometimes the best person to ask is the recruiter themselves. They will let you know if you need to come in dress business professional or if they just want you to come in jeans.

Now that you have an idea on what you should wear, you are ready to conquer your interview! Before you go off to your interview, make sure you check Macaulay’s Interview Tips. Now go and get that internship!

 

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

By: Sebastian Leung

A cover letter is one of the most important parts of any job application. It allows you to give the hiring manager a little taste of who you are, a personalized letter telling them why they should hire you.

So how do you write the perfect cover letter? Here are three quick and easy tips.

 

Don’t Regurgitate Your Resume

The whole purpose of the cover letter is to explain why you are a good fit for the company and why your experiences matter. They already have your resume, so there is no need to simply recite your past experiences.

 

Write Thoughtfully

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to write your letter in five minutes and then send it in. Don’t do this. Instead, do some research about the company and the position you’re applying for and include that in your letter. Write precisely, stating why you are the best candidate for the position. Also, do final edits before sending your letter in. Hemingway is a useful website that can help let you know if your sentences are too wordy or complex.

 

Stand Out From the Rest!

The best piece of advice is to simply stand out. Don’t write a generic cover letter, a boring, formatted paper. Instead, care less about the rules and care more about standing out to the hiring manager. Be creative! Write something memorable, something that will leave a lasting impression.

 

To view a template of a well-written cover letter, Macaulay’s booklet to writing resumes and cover letters can be found here.

Good luck with your job search!