New Site Helps Students Prepare for Life After Holy Cross

Holy Cross has launched a new website to help students identify their passions and interests, navigate the many opportunities available at the College, and help them meet career and professional objectives.

The Post Graduation Preparation website brings offices, programs and opportunities available at Holy Cross under one virtual roof. In addition to resources, the site offers a recommended timeline for exploring options, common questions, and examples of graduates’ paths during and after Holy Cross.

“We want to encourage students to realize that who they are called to be in this world is the journey of a lifetime — not a decision made at the point of graduation,” says Margaret Freije, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. “This website is a way to introduce them to the process of reflection, information gathering, discussion with mentors, advisors, friends and families, and experiences inside and outside the classroom. It's designed to guide them from the time of their arrival at Holy Cross to long after they have graduated. From alumni stories to career planning and academic resources, the site offers myriad ways for students to reflect on the questions that will help them to identify their interests, talents and strengths so that will indeed be prepared to serve the world in a variety of ways.”

The site is the result of a recommendation made by a College task force on post graduation preparation. Members included deans, faculty members, and administrators.

Current students who know exactly what they want to do, as well as those who have absolutely no idea can benefit from the site, says Amy Murphy, director of the Career Planning Center and chair of the task force. Murphy expects parents will discover practical resources and information as well. And prospective students will find a reflection of the hallmarks of Holy Cross’ Jesuit, liberal arts, and personalized education: content that encourages students to explore many fields of knowledge, to immerse themselves in their main interests, develop their individual talents, and find their place in the world.

"Finding a job has less to do with writing a résumé or learning how to interview. Those things are important, but students need to have a clear understanding of their interests, strengths, passions and goals. Discerning what those things are takes time," says Murphy.

True to the liberal arts tradition, the site doesn't tie careers to specific areas of study.

"A student can major in anything at Holy Cross and be competitive in any field. But they are only going to be competitive if they are prepared and take advantage of the programs, classes and opportunities offered by the College," says Murphy.

Murphy hopes the site illustrates that there is no single path to post graduation success.

"Our graduates can defer law school to complete a Fulbright. They may work for a few years and then decide to go on to graduate school. The more resources and opportunities students avail themselves of while they are students, the more opportunities and options they have after they graduate."

Visit the post graduation preparation website.

Related Information:

• Career Planning Center