Monday, April 14, 2014

Open Houses

Sunday April 6th was the last of our open houses for the spring semester. Further tours will be held in the fall, and I highly recommend those who inquire to attend. This is a chance for potential undergrad and graduate students as well as their parents to take a tour of the campus, and learn of the different programs our school has to offer. Those who attend, get a chance to meet with staff, faculty, financial counselors, athletics, current students etc. All associates are very qualified to answer any questions that may come up.
These information sessions also give you access to see the Stockton community and explore our campus housing, classes, new facilities, recreation, and transportation.  You may also learn about the bright future and plans Stockton has ahead and the potential advantages it holds for its students. If you are interested, sign up for the next available open house. The schedule for the fall open houses have not been posted as of yet, but when they become available you can just click on the link below and it will take you to the page where you can register.
https://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=64&pageID=124

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Days are Numbered-Goodbye Undergrad Hello Grad School

In about two months I will be considered a graduate of Stockton College with a Bachelor in Health Sciences. It was a long, but enlightening journey with many great and memorable experiences. I feel that Stockton has prepared me well thus far for the professional world and if I were to end my education after I graduate I would be successful in finding a desirable job. However, I am lucky enough to be presented with the opportunity to continue my education further, and so I have decided to enroll in the Masters of Occupational Therapy Program here at Stockton College. I am very lucky to be accepted in such an appealing and competitive program. It is a career that recognizes the unique individuality of each client and incorporates this by working with the client to accomplishing meaningful goals and activities. Occupational therapy (OT) in my opinion is one of the greatest careers any person can hope to practice.
In 2011, OT was rated number nine in the top ten least stressful jobs (Brienza, 2011). It is a career that has a great job outlook with an increasing need for occupational therapists in the coming years. OT is projected to grow 29% from now until 2022, much faster than most occupations. This career also pays well. In New Jersey, the average salary for an OT is $88,170 and you are able to move up from there (Occupational Employment and Wages, 2013). This career has so much diversity, you have the option to choose your preference of domain whether it be in mental health, rehabilitation, inpatient, outpatient, school setting, geriatrics, pediatrics, home health care, adult care etc. Do not worry about falling into routine; this is not a boring job by any means. Every client provides a new challenge to the OT's skills and each patient has different goals to be achieved. This is a fun and exciting career that requires hands-on and creative therapy with each patient.
This is a great opportunity for me, especially since I am a male going into a predominantly female field. Females make up roughly about 90% of the OT workforce, but this is starting to change (Darden, 2010). There is a push for more males in occupational therapy, and males are starting to take notice.  In just the recent years here at Stockton, the number of males who have been accepted into the program have increased. There are just two males in the class two years above mine, and four males in the class year above mine, and I think it is safe to assume that there will be more males in my year and the years to come.
I am looking forward to starting my graduate education and further expanding on the knowledge that I have learned from my undergrad. My health sciences degree has contributed tremendously to my success in being accepted into the occupational therapy graduate program. The knowledge that I have learned throughout my undergraduate classes has put me on the level necessary to do well and succeed in my quest through higher education. I am eternally grateful for all of the opportunities and doors that have opened from attending Stockton College, and now I am counting down the days where I can say goodbye undergrad and hello grad school.


Works Cited
Brienza, V. (2011). 10 Least Stressful Jobs of 2011 - 9: Occupational Therapist. Retrieved 2014, from CareerCast: http://www.careercast.com/content/10-least-stressful-jobs-2011-9-occupational-therapist
Darden, J. (2010, January 26). Wanted: Men For Occupational Therapy Jobs. Retrieved March 31, 2014, from npr: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122970930
Occupational Employment and Wages. (2013). Retrieved 2014, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291122.htm


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Wellness Center

The Wellness Center is a Stockton College owned facility dedicated and centered around the well-being of students. Students can go to the Wellness Center for multiple reasons including health services, stress management, counseling, lifestyle changes, networking with support groups and much more. The facility is conveniently located within walking distance for any student on campus. The facility has the flexibility to allow students to make an appointment or decide to just walk-in, both are welcome. Students are encouraged to visit the Wellness Center whether it be for rigorous workloads, classes, and/or stresses that daily life throws at them, it is a center designed to be extra support for students in need. They have diverse specialists ranging from nutritionists to stress management counselors that are very capable in helping each individual student. Students are encouraged to come in and utilize this facility for its various benefits. It is located in West Quad Suite 108 for Health Services and main campus J-204 for Counseling Services.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Get-Involved-Fair/Career Fair/Career Center

Getting involved in clubs and networking with businesses are very helpful in preparing for the future after graduating. Whether you make the decision to go on to graduate school or prepare to search for a career, it is equally helpful to reach out to these organizations. A great place that helps students in their venture to achieve these goals is the Career Center.
Visiting the Career Center is a great way to get expert advice on resumes, graduate school applications, interviews, etc. Staff that work at the Career Center are great at critiquing and giving valuable input on a variety of different work to make it the best it could be. It is highly recommended to take advantage of this tool, you will be glad you did. Another great way to build your resume or to be more involved at school would be joining a club or organization. 
Just recently passed was Stockton's semi-annual Get-Involved-Fair, hosted by the Office of Student Development. This occurs at the beginning of each semester where over 100 clubs line the halls, from A wing through I wing, with the purpose of encouraging students to join their club. This fair gives students the opportunity to become a part of not only clubs, but different organizations and community services as well.  With a wide array of options, one could pick from clubs that involve hobbies, like the jiu-jitsu club or fencing club, or clubs that are focused on fundraising and giving back to the community, like the occupational therapy club. 
There are also organizations, like Relay for Life, or community services like Service Learning. For those who are primarily interested in seeking a career, there is a great opportunity coming up. Coming up on February 6th is the Career Fair, presented by the Career Center.  This fair gives students  the great opportunity to meet potential employers or acquire internships. Even if students are not quite ready to search for employment, it is a great way to get ideas, network and build business relationships.
It is important to jump on these opportunities when they present themselves. Keep an eye out for the flyers advertising on the designated bulletin sites all around school. If you have any questions on up coming events involving the Career Center or Student Development you can visit them at their office in the Campus Center. If you want general or specific information regarding graduate school, you can visit the Office of Graduate Admissions in F-101. The competition is strong at both the graduate and career level. Utilizing these services and opportunities are just some of the ways to guarantee your future success.