Michelle Snyder
College & Career Adviser
Austin ISD
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
College - I applied to 3 schools, and chose to attend Denison University
Switch Majors - I started college as a pre-law student, and quickly realized that wasn't the right fit for me. So I changed to a Religion Major with a Psychology minor
Work Experience - I got a job working as an intern in the university Admissions Office and started volunteering at a local college access non-profit
AmeriCorps - I wanted some real life experience before going to grad school, so I applied to college access AmeriCorps programs and took a position with College Forward in Austin, TX
Build Network - the most important thing I did as an AmeriCorps member was work hard and build my professional network. The people I worked with trusted and respected me, which opened doors for me!
Graduate School - after realizing my passion for college access, I chose to pursue a masters degree in Student Affairs Administration at Ball State University
Dream Job - An opening for a College Advising position fell into my lap thanks to the connections I had built before earning my masters degree. I jumped on it and love my job!
Education
High School
Kokomo Christian School
Kokomo Christian School
Career
College & Career Adviser
I advise high school students on their academic and career options after high school.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
Helping People
Day to Day
I help high schools students plan for life after high school. That involves helping juniors and seniors with college applications, introducing students to different career options, and connecting interested students to military recruiters. Every student is different, so every day on the job is different. I never know who will pop by my office or what I might be helping them with next!
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Gain experience working with students! You want real life experience to talk about in an interview
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"Why are you majoring in religion? It doesn't lead to a clear career path."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
