Valeria was drawn to the Mount's Financial Economics major and 4+1 program, while participating in a variety of campus organizations to strengthen her skillset upon graduation.
What is your year and major? What is your anticipated graduation year?
I am a senior majoring in Financial Economics. I will be graduating on December 16, 2023.
Why did you choose the Mount?
I chose the Mount because I was looking for a more exclusive education. I was looking to create a professional relationship with my professors, as well as create personal relationships with other students on campus; something I would not have been able to do at a bigger University.
One of the things that attracted me the most to the Mount was their Financial Economics major and their 4+1 program.
Lastly, one of the main reasons why I chose the Mount is because it gave me the most competitive scholarship for my GPA compared to other Universities.
How did the Mount help accommodate your transfer needs?
Transferring to the Mount had to be the easiest and smoothest process I experienced moving to Cincinnati. My advisor (Mary Mazuk) gave me everything on a silver platter. They made the process very easy to understand, and all information was clear from day one.
Moving to a new city thousands of miles away with no friends or family around was a very scary process, but I have to say that all faculty and staff were very friendly, helpful, and welcoming. They were for sure the best part of the process.
Are you involved in any student organizations or extracurriculars? If so, how have these supported your academic success?
I try to get involve in campus as much as I can. I am a senator at the Student Government Association (SGA). I am also a member of Black Student Union, a member for the finance committee at SGA, and a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the School of Business. I also hold two jobs at in the University; I work in the library, and at the Front Desk with the police as a student dispatcher.
All these organizations and extracurriculars have helped me develop and strengthen a set of skills that will support my academic career. Skills such as leadership, written communication, public speaking, problem solving, and time management have to be just some of the skills that I get to practice every day.
How do you manage your course load along with other obligations?
What helps me the most to manage all my responsabilities and commitments is accurate and efficient time management. A well-organized itinerary with all my daily responsabilities and commitments helps me stay on task, and never fail on my academic and personal performance. Some of the tools that help me the most to manage all my course loads and other obligations are making a daily “To-Do List”, and taking advantage of Google Calendar to help schedule my daily, weekly, and monthly events.
Are there any staff or professors you would like to credit who helped accommodate your transfer experience?
I have a long list of staff and professors that helped accommodate me coming into the Mount. I will never forget my first professor on the Mount, Mrs. Georgana Taggart. After a couple months struggling with my vision (I had broken my glasses), she noticed that I was struggling to see the words on the board, and as soon as she noticed, she offered to take me to go get my glasses at a place that was 40 minutes away from campus. Once we got my classes, she offered to take my sister and I to lunch to a Mexican restaurant because we were telling her that we were missing home. Mrs. Taggart went above and beyond to help us out that day.
Describe one of your favorite memories at the Mount so far.
One of my favorite memories at the Mount has to be going to the football games last year with my friends, and watching our football team win every time. The games were so much fun.
What advice would you give to someone looking to transfer to the Mount?
The advice that I would give to other students looking to transfer to the Mount is just to explore all the resources, scholarships, and programs that the Mount offers. I would also recommend coming to get a tour of the campus, and to get in touch with the admissions office as well as their advisor for guidance in their transferring process. You do not have to do it all by yourself; ask all the questions that you have, and do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it.