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CONTENTSGreat interview and insights into preparing for medical school

Six weeks in Washington, DC, at theHertog Political Studies Program.

GAMING INTERNSHIPS!

Tips and invaluable links about social networking and careers

Medical School andGreat Books with Daryl Breithaupt (SF13)by Allen Matsika

Daryl Breithaupt is a graduate student in the SJC EasternClassics program. He graduated from the undergraduateprogram in May, 2013, and applied to the Graduate Insti-tute, where he was accepted for the 2013 fall semester. He has always had his sights set on medical school and has already taken his MCAT. His maturity struck me instantly as we started talking. Asked whether he is stuckat St. John’s College, he replies good humoredly with another question, “Is that question referring to the factthat I am not 18 to 22 years of age?” “Not at all” I reply.The ice was broken and two people were smiling.

Q: You have always had a strong inclination towardsmedicine and medical school. Why take another yearat St. John’s? Why not go straight to medical school?

That was necessitated by a conversation I had with Mr. Aigla. He recommended that I take more biology orbio-chemistry classes, in addition to the organic chem-istry. My original plan was to take the MCAT during thesummer after junior year and apply to medical schoolduring fall of my senior year. Mr. Aigla recommendedthat I take a few more pre-med classes, so I took bio-chemistry, which proved to be invaluable when I tookmy MCAT. I recommend taking even more biologyclasses, because that was my weak point. Because Iwaited one more summer to write my MCAT, it necessi-tated taking a gap year. I have always been interested in

CAREER SERVICES AT ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE | SANTA FE | NOVEMBER 2013

Daryl Breithaupt, graduate student in theSJC Eastern Classics, and aspiring doctor.

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Dedicatedstaff left toright: BarbaraLucero-Sand,MargaretOdell, and Lise Lookman.

Profiles

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the Eastern Classics, and a gap year seemed to be a perfect time to sit in on that. Since Iwill be busy for the next several years, I decided this was the best time to do it. So that isthe rationale behind me being here for graduate school. If I had not been doing theEastern Classics I would be doing something else, but it wouldn’t be medical school be-cause I applied for it for next fall.

Q: You came to St. John’s already knowing you wanted to go to medical school. How did coming here help you attain this goal?

Coming to St. John’s was partly independent from my desire to go to medical school. Ihad gone to school and searched for something to eliminate insecurities within myself. Iwas always a bright kid. I was told, “You have potential but you don’t seem to be living upto that potential,” and learning to me was always a random process. I had no control overmy learning, or seemingly had no control. If I did well, it was great and, if I did badly, I didnot understand why that happened either way. It was not until St. John’s that I found aprogram of self-reflection and wrestling with facts that let me figure out who I was as alearner. I had an inkling this would happen and that was the push for me to come to St. John’s. I thought if this can happen, then this dream I have of going to medical schoolcan also happen. It was a gamble and so far it’s paying off.

Q: How has it been paying off?

I have done well at the traditional classes that I took over the summer. I now know who Iam as a learner and how to use this knowledge to achieve goals and do good things. Ithink I now have the capacity to perform consistently well at a higher level because of myexperience here at SJC.

Q: That will be good for patients right?

Yeah it will be (chuckling).

Q: I am guessing that the traditional classes you took have something to do with thescholarships that St. John’s College offers – namely the Braziel-Lynn and Thornescholarships for Pre-Medical Study. Would you say they were instrumental in yourgoal of applying to medical school?

Yes, I received both scholarships, actually, and they were very helpful. I would not be applying to medical school without them. The application process was pretty painless.The timeline was relaxed: you hand in your application before the end of the first semes-ter and you get your decision in February when you get back for the spring semester.

Q: Many people want to be doctors because they want to help people. Others do it forprestige. Why do you want to be a doctor?

When I was in high school, teachers noticed that I was good at memorizing material and Iwas also good at science, so they asked me if I had ever considered medical school. WhenI did my first undergraduate degree right out of high school, I met the stereotypical pre-med students. They were more superficially motivated—for money, for prestige, or fora high-status career. I asked myself, “Do I want to spend my career with these kinds of

John Brookes (SF15) Ariel intern at the University of Nebraskaworking on Neuroscience research. Another way of preparingfor medical school..

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people?” and my answer at that time was ‘NO’. I stepped back a little, but I was always inter-ested in health issues. It wasn’t really until I got to the Peace Corps that I realized I couldwork with ‘bozos,’ and that I shouldn’t let bad experiences with people keep me from pur-suing something that I think I may be good at. That started a ripple effect and I startedthinking that medical school was something doable. I also felt that if I didn’t do it, it wassomething I would really regret for the rest of my life.

Q: Do you have any advice for would-be doctors or people who are hesitant aboutapplying to medical school?

I think if you have an inclination towards medicine in freshman year, then you can make itwork. You won’t have to do a post-baccalaureate program if you can hustle over the sum-mers. The MCAT is also in transition. The questions and pre-requisites for the exam aregoing to be changing. I am hoping that the Braziel/Lynn and Thorne sscholarships willnote this because I think the MCAT will at some point include social sciences like psy-chology or sociology and more biology, along with the usual chemistry. I hope that withsome Alcibiadean persuasion they include these courses on their list for possible funding.

Daryl and I ended up by talking about my political ambitions coupled with my waning desire to be a doctor and how they could be collated in a masters of health degree pro-gram. His advice had me teetering on the brink of persuasion: I might just revisit those biology texts again.

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Six weeks of studying politics in Washington, DCby Allen Matsika

The Hertog Political Studies Fellowship offers an opportunity to study politics in theheart of the capitol city of the United States. Asked about my experience at this program,I feel divided between what I did and how I grew as a person. I have spent time reflectingon my six-week experience in a fast-paced, East Coast environment. Having a very visualmemory, I vividly remember most of the eye-opening events and wince at some of thememories. Washington, DC, made me realize there is a great gulf between who we areand what we do.

What I did in Washington, DC, and why.

Politics is the first word that comes to mind when one thinks of Washington, DC. I studied politics and the practical sides of this rudder of people’s livelihood. I had an awe-some experience. The first thing that impressed me was the architecture of the city.Washington, DC, is a beautiful city whose architecture reminded me of Roman and Greekstyles. This impression gave an atmosphere of purpose and seriousness to the politicaltopics we were to study. The curriculum was very rigorous, with texts drawn largely fromthe store of great books we study at St. John’s College. Every week we were required towrite a 500-word essay. This writing exercise helped me hone my writing skills and hasproven to be invaluable in writing recent St. John’s papers. I was part of a group of stu-dents who were passionately dedicated to diverse causes. The caliber of students, profes-sors, scholars, and guest speakers I met through the Hertog Fellowship gave me a higherstandard to aim for. They helped me to seriously consider my dream to be president ofZimbabwe someday. We visited a number of monuments and museums and I had so manyengaging discussions, both inside and outside of class, with the other students. I think ifanyone is interested in a serious program that will take one far in one’s political thinking,he or she should definitely give the Hertog Political Studies program a shot.

Profiles

The 2013 Hertog Fellows pause in front of the entrance to theSupreme Court of the United States after an audience withJustice Scalia. (Allen Matsika in the back row on the far left)

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Allen Matsika

I applied to the Hertog because of my interest in political issues. I have been informed byvarious well-wishers that the future of politics belongs to those who have an internationalperspective on situations. I felt that immersing myself in American politics and Westernculture would help me in creating this world view. I hoped to create for myself an under-standing of the world whilst turning myself into a cosmopolitan being—an Afropolitan. Theresults have been wonderful, with a seemingly slight blow of culture shock, from which I amstill recovering.

Who I am because of the Hertog experience in Washington, DC.

The question of who I am because of the Hertog experience carries for me two other ideas:who I was before DC and who I was in DC. What do I stand for now; what would I die for?As human beings we are always changing. I think the question of who we are requires not ananswer that alludes to a stagnation but one that points to a perpetual process. It is a veryhuge question, yet I would like to give it a small bite.

First and foremost, I was a black person in Washington, DC. I had never encountered as hugea population of African Americans as I did when I went to Washington. In an instant I realizedI was black, but not their kind of black, and they were African but not my kind of African. Idon’t even know what I mean by this, but I know that someone looked at me one day after wehad a good laugh and some fun together and he said innocently but, I will also add, disconcert-ingly, “I don’t know why, but I get along with black people very well.” I did not know what tosay and did not understand what he meant. Why was he making a distinction between gettingalong with one race of people, as opposed to getting along with people in general? I am not astickler about race issues and I wish my entire experience was not somehow colored by this experience, but it was. His remark disturbed me, but I told myself to develop a thicker skin.The next day I discovered I was indeed black. Soon we were making a few remarks about myskin and I was laughing too. Soon I was not only a black person but a good-looking, buff, blackyoung man—not so bad! I did not realize just how much all this was making me uncomfortableuntil I became self-conscious of my own accent, the sometimes inscrutable way I expressedmyself in English, and some of my weird pronunciations. All of a sudden I had been movedfrom being a human being like everybody else, to being a black young man from Africa.Things had changed and they affected the way I thought. This is just one aspect of who I was inDC, but it cast so many things in a different light.

I quickly began to sport some of the biases towards a certain demographic in certain poli-cies we studied. I quickly began to notice where lines could be drawn between peoples –Jews, non-Jews, victims, non-victims, Anglo this, American this, American that (so manydistinctions in this one), third-generation immigrants, etc. Even gender issues carried somuch profundity and tension now than I had ever realized. All of a sudden someone hadgiven me magnifying glasses in place of contact lenses. Politics suddenly seemed like beingsandwiched between a rock and a hard place. One no longer had to look just at conserva-tives and liberals but also at ethnicities, skin colors, countries of origin, religious beliefs,and other small things that distinguish us fromone another other. This sounds like a paradoxical way of approaching and fostering unity among a people, in a country or in the world.

I look back now and I am grateful for such an experience. It was not necessarily fun when Iwas in the heat of things, grappling with various cultural and personal issues, not to men-tion the political material we were encountering. Now, I am glad to say, I look in the mirrortoday and I smile proudly at the color of my skin. However, I am quick to reassure myself

that I am more than a skin color, religion, or de-nomination; I am more than a gender or a sexualorientation; I am more than a title I get fromwhat I do, more than a future politician — I ammore than what I do. I am a human being, but tome that simply means I am a work in progress,and the work goes on. I would love to say I ammore than a human being, and that all creaturesare my equals, but I am still working on that as-pect of my own being. It might take another six-week fellowship on Environmental Awareness inthe Caribbean Islands to learn more about that.

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Internships

Internships Teaching internships

Groton School, a coeducational boarding school of 370 students in grades 8-12, located in Groton, Massachusetts, is offering, for the thirty-seventh year, the CharlesC. Alexander Teacher-Intern Program. This program serves recent college graduatesinterested in working under supervision, helping them to develop the varied skills required of secondary boarding school teachers. The program offers as wide an expo-sure as possible to all aspects of boarding school life. The fields open to interns areEnglish, French, Spanish, Chinese, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Religion, and Arts.Interns can also help coach athletics and participate in other areas of school life com-mensurate with their interests. Teacher-intern appointments are one-year salariedpositions.

For more information visit www.groton.org

Arizona Teaching Fellows – For students interested in positively impacting the lifeand education of children and young people, Arizona Teaching Fellows provides anoutstanding opportunity to learn, teach, and make a difference. Arizona TeachingFellows recruits talented individuals to teach full-time in K-12 classrooms across Arizona. Arizona schools especially need math, science, special education, elemen-tary, and language arts teachers. Previous educational experience or study are not required. Arizona Teaching Fellows provides training and teacher certifications, and benefits include opportunities for student loan forbearance/forgiveness andAmeriCorps Awards. Applications submitted December 17, 2013, or later will require a $30 processing fee. The fee will be waived for candidates who submit theirapplication before December 17, so apply early! Applications are accepted on arolling basis, but the program is very competitive and encourages early applications.

For more information visit: http://tntpteachingfellows.org/

Theater Internships

foolsFURY Internship—foolsFURY Theater Company in San Francisco, California,regularly has internships in three areas: production, artistic, and theater education.Internships with foolsFURY offer a unique opportunity for aspiring theater-makersto learn hands-on the many aspects of working in a small, innovative ensemble. Ingeneral, interns split their work between research projects, observing and assistingthe artistic process, and office work. Internships are 15-25 hours per week for a minimum period of six months (with some possible exceptions for students on sum-mer break). Schedules are flexible to allow interns to find other work.

For more information please visit: http://foolsfury.org/fury/internships/

Ariel Internship Alert!

How are you doing on your

Ariel Internship research and

Application? Remember, Career

Services staff are glad to help

in any way they can

to assist you in getting this

prestigious and enabling award!

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52nd Street Project Theatre Internship – The 52nd Street Project accepts three toeight interns each year. These interns assist in all aspects of theater production,classes, and administration, as well as participating in the education programming.These positions are extremely hands-on. The interns work closely with the staff, withchildren in classes and rehearsals, and with a number of professional actors, directors,and stage managers from the New York Theater community.

For more information please visit: http://www.52project.org/?page_id=349

Fall Anchor Bay Post-Production Intern – Starz Entertainment, LLC, in BeverlyHills, California, seeks interns. Interns will work directly with the post-production department of a fast growing DVD home entertainment and theatrical film studio,gaining hands-on experience. You will help to oversee the finished products of featurefilms and trailers, make notations for television edits of films, and general office duties. Applicants must be currently enrolled students at an accredited college or uni-versity to be considered. A basic knowledge of post-production terms, organization,and time management strengths are required, along with strong attention to detail andreliable transportation, as the intern will split their time between the Beverly Hills office and various post production facilities.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information please visit: http://www.internmatch.com/internships/starz-entertainment-llc/fall-anchor-bay-post-production-intern--2

Directing Internship: Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, MN – It is best to think of thisopportunity as an “observership,” but the specific responsibilities of a directing internare entirely dependent upon the wishes and needs of the production’s director. There-fore, the nature of each experience is unique. Directing Interns begin their assignmenton (or, on occasion, before) the first rehearsal date of the production and the commit-ment then continues through the opening performance or understudy rehearsal (whichis usually scheduled shortly after the official opening). The period of time may varyfrom about four weeks to two months, depending upon the specific production’s schedule. This commitment is full-time for the designated period. The rehearsal day istypically eight to 10 hours a day, Tuesdays-Sundays. (Mondays are the customaryweekly day off.) Some days span a 12-hour time period. Responsibilities might also include meetings and duties outside of the rehearsal hours.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information please visit: http://www.guthrietheater.org/guthrie_opportuni-ties/career_opportunities/internships

Check out http://www.santafe.com/calendar/for Santa Fe events!

Gaming Internships

EA SPORTS—YES!!! – What better way toget into the game industry than by working asan EA intern or co-op? EA offers paid intern-ships or co-op positions (pay-ranges vary depending on experience and skills), so youcan actually get paid for working on games.Their offices are located across the UnitedStates, Canada, Europe, and Asia. This in-ternship or co-op just might lead to a careerin games after your graduation. An EA internship/co-op is a great way to get real-world experience in the games industry. Youget hands-on experience working on actualprojects, and the EA team you’re workingwith benefits from your fresh perspective.

For more information please visit: https://ca-reers.ea.com/students/intern_and_co-op/

Game developers/ MICROSOFT – As askilled creative person with exceptional visualtalent, you have the unique vision to bring ex-citing characters and environments to life inthe next generation of interactive gaming.Artists play a crucial role in creating visuallycompelling experiences in production de-sign, conceptual art, prototypes, and in-gameassets. As an artist at Microsoft Studios in theUnited States, the United Kingdom, Europe,or Asia, you will be able to collaborate withother world-class artists, designers, and pro-grammers to craft emotionally compellingcharacters, creatures, and gaming environ-ments. Whether your creations grace thecover of the season’s biggest blockbuster or appear deep in active gameplay, you are responsible for the face of Microsoft’s interac-tive game development. Internships for designer and software developers are alsoavailable.

Deadline: Rolling

For more information please visit: http://ca-reers.microsoft.com/careers/en/us/intern-ships.aspx

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Internships

Riot Internship Program (MAKERS OF LEAGUE OF LEGEND!)

If you’re an ambitious undergrad or grad student who shares our passion for games(especially League of Legends) and are eager to get into scrapes with challengingwork, think about spending your summer with us. Interns will join a specific team atRiot in Santa Monica, California. Each hosting team will supply its interns with meatyprojects, honest mentorship, and lots of opportunity to get to know Riot Games over-all. Interns will playtest new champions and features, gain first-hand experience serv-ing on the front lines of player support, attend leadership seminars and industryeducation via Riot U, and enjoy events with the rest of Riot including Show and Tell,Riot Rumble, skills training, and early new-movie screenings.

Deadline: TBD (keep checking the website)

For more information please visit:http://www.riotgames.com/articles/20130509/595/interns-wanted

Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs) provides opportunities for stu-dents to participate in long-term research projects in a number of fields. These arepaid summer positions which often include funding for transportation, room andboard, and a significant stipend. Below are examples of websites and programs youmay be interested in. (However, many may not be updated to include the Summer2014 information until sometime between November 2013 and January 2014.Check sites to confirm current information.)

National Science Foundation (NSF) is the major funding source for mostREUs: http://www.nsf.gov/

Rochester Institute of Technologymaintains an excellent list of internshipprograms. For more information visit:http://people.rit.edu/gtfsbi/Symp/summer.htm

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) also posts numerous op-portunities. For more information visit:https://www.aamc.org/members/great/61052/great_summerlinks.html

American Psychological Society: http://www.apa.org/about/awards/resexp-ugrad.aspx

American Mathematical Society (AMS) list numerous REUs. For more infor-mation visit: http://www.ams.org/programs/students/undergrad/emp-reu.Application deadline: March 1, 2014. For more information visit:http://mtbi.asu.edu/summer-program

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Corps! Corps! Corps!Peace Corps Response – The Peace Corps has introduced a new program, the Peace Corps Response. Peace Corps Response providesqualified professionals the opportunity to serve in rewarding, short-term assignments in various programs around the world. When youserve as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer, you bring your skills and experience to projects in places where you are needed most.

For more information please visit: http://www.peacecorps.gov/response/

Student Conservation Association (SCA) – Live and work with like-minded individuals who share a connection to the land and thepeople who live there. Corps members are usually based on a team experience, are supervised by an on-site SCA staff member, and willgain critical skills, training, and field experience to set them on a path towards careers as conservation leaders.

For more information please visit: http://www.thesca.org/serve/conservation-corps

SCA AmeriCorps

Members who serve in SCA’s Conservation Internships and Conservation Corps programs have the option of joining AmeriCorps for theirterm of service. When you join AmeriCorps as part of your SCA experience, you’re joining tens of thousands of Americans each year whodedicate themselves to service to make our country a better place.

For more information please visit: http://www.thesca.org/serve/special-programs/sca-americorps

ScholarshipTraining and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools (TRIALS) – is a residential scholarship program thathelps talented and motivated college students of modest means gain admission to the nation’s leading law schools. This rigorous five-week summer course enhances opportunities for students of underrepresented backgrounds by bolstering their skills and focusing theirgoals.

For more information please visit: http://trials.atfoundation.org/index

LOOMING DEADLINES!December 2: Projects for Peace proposal deadline, noon, in Career Services office.

December 16: Braziel/Lynn Pre-med or Bio-med Scholarship application deadline.

December 16: Pathways Fellowship application deadline, noon, in Career Services office.

December 16: Thorne Endowment Pre-med Scholarship application deadline.

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Start Thinking About Graduate School in Your Junior YearBy Lise Lookman

If you aren’t thinking about going to graduate school, start thinking now. The entiregraduate school application process starts in the spring of the year BEFORE you wantto start graduate school. You will have to choose schools to apply to, prepare for theGRE, take the GRE, write your statement of purpose, get letters of recommendation,request transcripts, submit your application, and then wait to see which schools acceptyou. It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but it can be done without losing your mind ifyou pace yourself and start early.

Juniors who want to go to grad school in fall 2015 should start researching potentialschools in spring 2014. Please refer to “Graduate School—Choosing Programs andApplications” in the October issue of Odyssey Bound for tips on choosing schools towhich you would like to apply. See what the prerequisites are for these schools andwhether they require you to provide a GRE score.

If a GRE is required, you may want to take a practice GRE test in May. There are manyfree practice GRE tests available online. Depending on how you do on the practice test,you may want to take a GRE test prep course. The GRE test is generally taken duringthe summer and GRE subject tests are taken in the fall. Registration for GRE tests isdone on ETS.org. This website also offers tips for those taking the GRE tests. Keep inmind that the GRE score not only has a direct relation to your acceptance to graduateschool, it can affect offers of financial aid as well. In other words, take a diagnostic test,see what areas are giving you trouble, then study and take more practice tests!

Besides test scores, you will also need to provide a statement of purpose. Career Serv-ices is offering a three-part workshop series, “Writing for Graduate School Applica-tions” (see events page for dates and times) which will help with writing a successfulstatement of purpose for graduate school, internship, and job applications. This work-shop series is appropriate for juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

Letters of recommendation should be requested in early fall, and official transcriptsshould be ordered in October, depending on the application date for the programs inwhich you are interested. Find out when the applications are available online. Someschools put them up very early (Yale applications were online August 15, 2013). Applyas early as you can. Make sure that your application is complete and is sent in on time.Then just sit back and wait for the offers to roll in!

Don’t hesitate to seek help from Career Services for any of the steps in this compli-cated process. We are happy to read multiple versions of your statement of purpose,can assist in de-mystifying unusual application requirements, and even help you keepthe whole process organized. You don’t have to undertake this important project all byyourself.

Graduate School

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Graduate School Programs

Stony Brook Medicine: MD-PhD Medical Scientist Training Program

Stony Brook is eager to recruit students to their MD-PhD program who have a passion for the physician-scientist career path. Employment opportunities at StonyBrook are opening up fast and will continue to do so in the coming years as their Children’s Hospital opens and slowly increases its capacity. Stony Brook also has anursing school.

For more information please visit: http://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/

Mississippi Teacher Corps (MTC) Graduate Program

This fellowship/graduate program is a great program for obtaining a teaching certifi-cate. MTC is a two-year program, similar to the Peace Corps, that recruits collegegraduates to teach in Mississippi schools, primarily in the Mississippi Delta. The program is designed for non-education majors and offers a host of benefits, includ-ing: teacher training and certification; full scholarship for a master’s degree in educa-tion from the University of Mississippi; job placement that includes full salary andbenefits; the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students in one of thepoorest areas of the country. Coursework for the master’s degree is specific to theMTC program and occurs during the summer and selected weekends. MTC teachersare certified for grades 7-12. About 70% of its teachers are placed in high schoolsand 30% are placed in middle schools.

For more information please visit http://www.sfsu.edu/~fellows1/grad_fellow-ships/566.html

Essay CompetitionTo all juniors and seniors, we are pleased to announce The Elie Wiesel

Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest 2014. This annual competition

challenges college students to submit essays on urgent ethical issues

that confront them in today’s world. Students are encouraged to write

thought-provoking personal essays that raise questions, single out issues

and develop rational arguments for ethical action. Students entering the

contest are required to partner with a faculty sponsor. Awards are

granted up to $5,000.

Deadline for entering competition: December 2, 2013, by 5 p.m. PST

For more information please visit: www.ethicsprize.org

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Study Abroad

Study AbroadBy Lise Lookman

Studying abroad can be a wonderful experience.It’s a chance to learn a new language, view how people from other cultures live their daily lives, andsee the sights of a foreign land, all while getting college credits. Most students study abroad for oneor two terms or during the summer. Even though thestudy period is not very long, a lot of work must gointo research and preparation.

Research the programs: what do you want to study? Where do you want to go? Peruse the flyers and brochures on Study Abroad programs inthe Career Services office. Look at the links at theend of this article. There are many colleges that offer study abroad programs, such as Beloit and St. Olaf College and they welcome student applicantsfrom other institutions. There are also a multitude ofthird-party program providers for study abroad, in-cluding Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA) and International Studies Abroad (ISA).

If you are interested in studying in France or Italy, check out two programs with tiesto St. John’s College:

The Marchutz School in Aix-en-Provence, France where you can combine studio arts, field trips, and museum study with St. John’s-style seminarshttp://www.marchutz-school.org/school.html. For first-hand information, talkwith tutor Susan Stickney.

The Rome Institute of Liberal Arts (RILA), started and staffed by SJC tutors, is aplace where you can combine philosophy, theology, art, architecture and politicaltheory through familiar seminar-style classes and educational tours throughoutItaly. For specific details, check out http://www.rilarts.org/ or speak with DeanSterling or tutor Jay Smith who have both taught at RILA.

Regardless of which study abroad program you choose, make sure you plan ahead. Pay attention to the application deadline and admission requirements. Most programsdemand a high GPA, some foreign language ability, proof of financial support, and im-migration documents. Some programs offer scholarships or financial assistance. Also,remember that proposals to study abroad during the summer are eligible for up to$2,500 of funding through the new Pathways Fellowships Program. Finally, keep inmind that credits earned overseas cannot be transferred and used towards graduationfrom St. John’s. However, the experience of studying in another country and expandingyour world view beyond the boundaries of Santa Fe, your hometown and the US, far outweighs this small disadvantage.

There is always hard work involved in anything worthwhile, and studying in a foreigncountry can be very worthwhile. It offers the opportunity to be immersed in a culture for an extended period of time, learn the local customs and language, make friends with people you otherwise would never meet, and see exotic places. It can change yourperspective on life. So what are you waiting for? Start researching.

Study Abroad Online Resources

International Studies Abroad (ISA)

http://www.studiesabroad.com

American Institute for Foreign Studies(AIFS)

http://www.aifsabroad.com

Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA)

http://www.gowithcea.com

Academic Programs International (API)

http://www.academicintl.com

Education Abroad Network (EAN)

http://www.educationabroadnetwork.org

Spanish Studies Abroad

http://www.spanishstudies.org/

Arcadia University- Study abroad internships

http://studyabroad.acadiau.ca/

SIT study abroad

http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/

Summer service in rural Vietnam

http://cetacademicprograms.com/

Study in India or China 2014

http://www.allianceglobaled.org/

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Social Networking and CareersBy Margaret Odell

In addition to the information available in-house at Career Services or through ourAgora data management system, the world of social media also offers numerous oppor-tunities for current students to ask questions and explore options with the assistanceof St. John’s alumni. The two most dynamic social media venues are LinkedIn andFacebook.

On LinkedIn, the St. John’s College-Annapolis/Santa Fe group is very active with discussions about career information, college-related topics, and individual advice. Thisis a “closed” group, which means that you have to request membership to be a partici-pant. Go to: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/St-Johns-College-Annapolis-Santa-

94256/about, click on “join,” make your St. John’sconnection clear to alumnus Lee Mendelson, thegroup’s manager, and he will activate your member-ship. There are currently 1,654 members in thisLinkedIn group, with subgroups in the arts, educa-tion, government, law, non-profits, and technology.

Over on Facebook are Affinity Groups, createdand powered by St. John’s alumni who are eager toshare information about jobs and a variety of spe-cific career fields. At this time last year there weretwo to three affinity groups, but thanks to activitiesat last June’s Alumni Leadership Forum, there arenow 18 SJC affinity groups ranging from Johnnies

in the Arts, Agriculture, Medicine, and Education to Johnnies in China, Business/Fi-nance, Government and Public Policy, and Non-Profits/NGOs. For a complete listingof Johnnie affinity groups go to: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/2204681668/doc/10151437464666669/. At this address, you can see which are “open” groupsand which are “closed.” Don’t be afraid to click on a group that seems interesting toyou, even if it is “closed.” Once you are at the home page for a group, there is a “joingroup” button in the upper right portion of the screen. Send an email to the group’smanager, mentioning that you are a St. John’s student interested in joining this conver-sation and the manager will be happy to add you to the group. Once you are a member,you will be told about the rules for that particular group and you can read along for awhile or jump in and ask a question. As long as you are asking about subjects related tothis group’s interest, the alumni will be very forthcoming with their replies. This is awonderful easy, non-threatening way to network with people who are friendly to othersin the SJC community and knowledgeable in a field which you’d like to explore. As inseminar, no question is too small and the only “bad” question is the one you don’t ask.

Joining either the St. John’s-Annapolis/Santa Fe LinkedIn Group or one of theaffinity groups will require that you create accounts in LinkedIn or Facebook respec-tively. This is something you’ve probably already done for more purely social reasons,but both of these platforms can be very useful career tools as well. Keep in mind,though, that what you share with “friends” on these sites, especially Facebook, couldcome back to haunt you when you start a serious job search. Keep your postings—whether text or photos—professional!

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November 6 Career Presentation by James BrooksJunior Common Room 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.Dr. James F. Brooks, this year’s Visiting Scholar at St. John’s and ac-claimed international historian, will be leading a discussion related to hisbackground and historical interests. He especially wants to explore howvarious careers may open in unexpected ways for those who are well pre-pared to think in robust and creative ways. If you are interested in historyas a career, either as a professor or researcher/writer, this would be avery informative discussion. If you’d simply like to hear from and askquestions of a scholar with varied career path, this could also be of inter-est. Please get your lunch and join Career Services in welcoming Dr.Brooks. All members of the St. John’s Community are welcome to attend.

November 12 Pathways Fellowships Application WorkshopSenior Common Room 6 - 8 p.m.This workshop, conducted by members of the Pathways Fellowship Committee, is an opportunity for interested students to discuss their ideasfor a Pathways Fellowship for summer 2014, get application tips, or have areview of their application proposal. Deadline for the Pathways Fellow-ships application is December 16, noon, in the Career Services office.

December 4 Ariel Internship WorkshopSenior Common Room 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.Members of the Internship Committee will present and discuss examplesof strong and weak Ariel applications, and provide advice for presentingthe very best application. This workshop is a perfect opportunity to beginthe application process or discuss any ideas or areas of concern.

2013 WRITING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATIONSWorkshop Series - ContinuedThis series will be presented by Margaret Odell, director of Career Serv-ices, with assistance from Alan Zeitlin, tutor and writing archon, and thestudent writing assistants. The aim is to look at what makes up a success-ful statement of purpose for graduate school, internship and job applica-tions, and how this kind of writing is different from what students do forSJC essays. Students who missed the first session can pick up the packetof readings from the Career Services office.

November 13 Writing Beyond the SJC Seminar Essay Senior Common Room 6-8 p.m.Writing for Graduate School and Internship Applications: Students willshare their own writing for current applications or help critique the writingof other workshop members. This will be a safe, supportive environment to learn about what it takes to switch from writing a seminar essay to stat-ing what you plan to do in graduate school or at a proposed internship. We will explore the importance of allowing time for multiple revisions andreview by a variety of impartial readers.

Writing Beyond the SJC Seminar Essay: Students will have an opportunityto try other forms of non-academic writing, such as cover letters for jobsor statements of educational philosophy. We will also answer questionsand spend some time identifying and discussing the hallmarks of goodwriting.

If students have questions about this workshop series, contact MargaretOdell directly at extension 6067 or modell@sjcsf.edu.

Events

Disclaimer:The St. John’s College Career Services office produces Odyssey Bound as a service to St. John’s College students andcommunity members for their career development and educational and life planning. Any jobs or other opportunities listedherein do not indicate an endorsement or recommendation from St. John’s College or the Career Services office. Studentsand individuals from the St. John’s College community are responsible for all necessary precautions when interviewing foror accepting these positions or awards. They are also responsible for checking the credentials and integrity of all employ-ers or organizations.

St. John’s College and the Career Services office assume no liability for acts or omissions by third parties or for materialsupplied by them. The St. John’s College Career Services office is not responsible for anything that happens at a given jobsite. The presence of an employment listing in Odyssey Bound does not guarantee any given employer’s compliance withlegal behavior. If a student or individual experiences discrimination or sexual harassment on the job or in a job interview,he or she is encouraged to call the Department of Fair Employment in the state in which the violation occurred. CareerServices makes every effort to publish the most current information, but unforeseen publishing problems may render someevents obsolete. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the reader.

CONTACT:Career Services 505-984-6066

Fax 505-984-6167

Web address: www.stjohnscollege.

edu/admin/SF/career.shtml

AGORA:www.myinterfase.com/sjcsf/student

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sjcsf

careerservices

Email: careerservices@sjcsf.edu

Office located in the basement of Weigle Hall, Room 13

Office Hours:Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

or by appointment

Career Services Staff:Margaret Odell

Director

Barbara Lucero Sand Assistant Director and Internship Coordinator

Lise Lookman Administrative Assistant

Allen MatsikaPublication Editor

Pari SitaulaResearch Assistant

Melissa Latham-StevensArt Director

Career Services Office

ENDNOTESWe’re on Facebook! Look us up – www.facebook.com/sjcsfcareerservices — and stay updated onimportant dates and opportunities.

Check us out online!www.stjohnscollege.edu/admin/SF/career_newsletter.shtml or in the AgoraResource Library