The Applicant's Edge: Essay & Interview Skill-Building Session

The Career Services Department, in collaboration with the Center for Writing and Scholarship and Admissions, is offering an informational and skill building session for prospective students. Designed to support applicants through key components of the admissions process, this session will give you the tools and confidence to craft a strong goal statement and prepare for the interview.

The workshop is split into two hands-on sections:

1. How to Write the Admissions Essay & Goal Statement

Led by Heidi Fraser Hageman, Director of the Center for Writing and Scholarship, this section will guide you through crafting a compelling goal statement. You'll work through writing prompts, review sample materials, and get practical tips for aligning your goals with the program.

2. How to Prepare for the Interview

Led by Shmee Giarratana, Director of Student Success, this section covers everything you need to walk into your interview feeling prepared and grounded. Expect an etiquette overview, practice questions, breakout room pratice, and a feedback and debrief session — plus embodiment and grounding techniques to help you show up as your best self.

Meet the Hosts

Image

Shmee Giarratana (they/them) supports the CIIS community as the Director of Student Success, positioned in Student Affairs. Shmee builds upon students’ rich academic experience through extra-curricular programs that connect student interest with key resources to thrive. In partnership with the Dean of Students, Shmee focuses on services for veterans and international students, career services, and basic needs programming to cultivate an academic environment focused on student success. Additionally, Shmee is the creator and adjunct professor of Creative Explorations of Self. They developed this course to guide student exploration of the phenomenology of self and social position through art-based inquiry. The course partners theoretical and empirical research with creative projects to help students examine unconscious assumptions and beliefs while integrating new perspectives and understandings.

Image

Heidi Fraser Hageman, Ph.D., is an educator, researcher, writer, and lifelong learner with academic program management, higher education administration, and editorial experience. She has been mentoring undergraduate and graduate students for over fifteen years, including academic and career guidance and university teaching in research and writing. Heidi is editor of the special edition of ‘The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies’ (IJTS) focused on integral and transpersonal education. She has taught at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco for over a decade, where she also resides as writing center director.

Reserve Your Spot