Activities:  Undergraduate Research Assistant at Hill Lab, Teaching Assistant for Public Health 101 and Principles of Economics, President of Society of Undergraduate Public Health Students, Managing Editor at Journal of Undergraduate Research, Writing Tutor

Why did you choose the University of Rochester?

When I was going through the college application process, I knew that I wanted to go to a school much larger than anything I had previously experienced, but I also wanted to go to a school that offered me the flexibility to take courses in multiple disciplines. Rochester's open curriculum and lack of general education requirements, paired with its mid-size research focus turned out to be the perfect fit for me. Here, I have been able to pursue my interests in both public health and economics while still enjoying the benefits of going to a research university.

So far, my favorite experience of my college career has been serving as a teaching assistant for Principles of Economics, a class of about 300 students, most of whom are first-years at the University. I have learned so much from working with these students. A big part of my responsibility in this role is to hold a weekly small-group discussion of recent research in economics, which has quickly become the highlight of my week. This opportunity has allowed me to further immerse myself in the recent literature of econ and to share my passion for the topic with the students who could be my colleagues one day. 

Julia Costacurta ‘16, Johns Hopkins University

Major: Double Major in Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics

Activities: Homewood Chamber Music Seminar, Cooking Club, Jail Tutorial, Filipino Students Association

Why did you choose Johns Hopkins University?
When I was a senior, my college decision ended up boiling down to a choice between Hopkins and a very similar institution, at least academically. I attended the accepted student weekends for each college and ended up choosing Hopkins because I liked the urban location, I enjoyed the personality of the campus, and, at a deeper level, it felt right. I know it always sounds super cheesy to pick a college based on some gut feeling you get when you’re on campus, but I think there’s some truth to be found in that feeling.

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?
When I arrived at Hopkins I didn’t intend to pursue a double major, as I assumed it wouldn’t be feasible with BME as my primary major. However, I quickly fell in love with the math department here and discovered that I could fulfill both major requirements fairly easily within four years due to the AP credit I’d earned at Moravian. It’s not really a single event, but the highlight of my college career thus far has been joining the math department as a major. Since then I’ve gotten to enjoy many fascinating theoretical classes, get mentorship from faculty and graduate students in the department, and serve as an undergraduate teaching assistant.

Shelby Nickerson '16, Moravian College

Major: Accounting

Minors: Management, Econ, History

Activities: Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority, Amrhein Investment Club, Note-taker, Accounting Club, 26 Point Ambassador 2016-2017, United Student Government Representative 2017

Major: Business with a double concentration in Management Consulting and Operations

Activities: Varsity Track & Field, Residence Life, Goizueta Consulting Club, Emory Student Ambassadors, Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Fraternity

 

Major: Double major Art History and Italian Studies
Minor: Economics 

 

Activities: President and co-founder of Italian Club,  Lafayette Student Alumni Council, tour guide with Lafayette College Ambassador Program, community service group Alpha Phi Omega (APO), Tri Delta sorority, Arts Society 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexander Battisti ’14, Lafayette College

Major: Accounting and Business Administration

Minor: East Asian Studies

Activities: Associate Director of Williams Investment Society, Sigma Chi Fraternity, WLUR 91.5 Campus Radio Station, Traveller Safe Ride Program, Squash Club

Why did you choose Washington and Lee University?
“I chose Washington and Lee for its strong sense of community and also because it is one of the few liberal arts colleges that also has an undergraduate business school. I attended Moravian from pre-kindergarten until my senior year, so I wanted to go to a college that would also have a strong and caring community, a rich history, and a certain level of friendliness in the student body. I was lucky enough to find Washington and Lee which fit all of these criteria and more. The school has a student-run honor system which guides student life and creates a student culture that is very similar to what I experienced at Moravian. I was also attracted to the combination of a business school and liberal arts college that exists at Washington and Lee. Coming from Moravian, I wanted to attend a college that was on the smaller size and had small classes where I could develop meaningful relationships with my professors. Since I also wanted to major in business, I found it somewhat difficult to find a school that had both the intimate feel I desired and also a well-respected business school. Washington and Lee fell into this intersection and turned out to be the perfect fit for my college education and personal growth.”

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?
“My involvement in the Williams Investment Society has been one of my favorite parts of college so far. It is a student-run investment organization which is responsible for investing $10 million of the university’s endowment in equity securities. I had always been interested in finance, a passion I was able to explore and solidify during economics classes with Mr. Eckman during my senior year at Moravian. It has been great to pursue my passion for finance and investing with real money and real responsibility, and this has become especially rewarding since I was named an associate director of the group this past fall. Overall, I have really enjoyed the ability to involve myself in a variety of organizations and activities while at school—truly a benefit of the liberal arts education.”

How did your time at Moravian Academy prepare you for college?
“Moravian prepared me well for school, both inside and outside the classroom. Moravian’s rigorous academics helped prepare me for nearly any challenge in my coursework that I’ve experienced in college. The focus on discussion and analytical thinking in many of my high school classes helped to build a solid foundation for my coursework at Washington and Lee, where most of my classes are seminar-based. At Moravian, almost every student is involved in a multitude of activities. This prepared me well for college where I find myself involved in a variety of extracurricular activities on and off campus. Without my education at Moravian I do not believe I would be as well equipped for college.”

What are your career aspirations?
“I hope to work in investment banking after my graduation. I will be pursuing this aspiration with an internship at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in their equity capital markets group this summer.”

Major/Minor: Regional & Comparative Studies: Middle East & Latin America

Activities: The Caravel (International Affairs Newspaper); Turkish Students Association

Why did you choose Georgetown University?

“I started freshman year at Lehigh University thinking I wanted to study business, but quickly realized my passion was international relations and history. Spending another year in Bethlehem also made me realize I was a city person and sought adventure, so I looked into transferring. I applied to Georgetown because it fit the city criteria and is one of the best schools in the world for international studies.”

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?

“I’ve enjoyed the variety of people I have been able to meet and the opportunities that being in DC brings. Most of my friends are from different countries, from places as close as Mexico to as far away as Iran, and this has given me the chance to understand different cultures, hear incredible stories, and basically have a place to stay almost anywhere I want to go. The city of Washington has so many offerings from museums to concerts to restaurants and there is always something going on if you have time for it. Even on campus we get incredible speakers such as Jon Stewart, Tony Blair, and the Clintons.”   

“I honestly did not have to change my study habits; however, I did need to get used to studying much longer than normal. I learned time management junior year when I was taking six classes, three of which were AP. Other than that, Moravian truly prepared me to write clearly and eloquently. My major constantly has me reading and writing and without Moravian I would have had a lot of trouble getting used to this type of competitive academic atmosphere.”

Double major: Finance and Economics

Activities: Previously involved with the varsity golf team; currently an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity; heavily involved in the Investment Management Group

Why did you choose Lehigh?

"My college search process was slightly different from most in the sense that I was looking for a school at which I could potentially play golf, so that narrowed down my list of schools. I selected Lehigh for a number of reasons. First, I wanted to attend a university with a reputable business school as well as an active alumni network that would help me get my career off the ground and the Rauch Business School does exactly that. I also wanted a school that had a lot of school spirit; after starting the MA Spirit Club I needed a university that had plenty of school pride. Lastly, I wanted to go to a smaller school. I wanted to go to a place where I could not only get involved but make an impact on the campus and the people I would be working with and Lehigh gave me the perfect opportunity to do that."

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?

"The highlight of my college career has to be joining Sigma Chi. Going into Lehigh I never expected to join a fraternity, I thought I would be involved with just the members of the golf team. After a few months of thinking it over I decided to join and I haven’t looked back. Having a house of 65 brothers who are pushing me everyday to be a better person and challenging me to do more is exactly what I needed at Lehigh. If it wasn’t for the fraternity I wouldn’t have decided to do a double major, join my investment group, or apply to study abroad. Living with and being around friends who are from all over the world has definitely helped to broaden my perspective on the world."

"Looking back on my time at Moravian the thing that prepared me the most was essentially just good study habits. It was shocking to get to Lehigh and meet other students who were at the top of their class in high school who didn’t know how to study properly. Although studying in high school and studying in college are quite different, you learn certain study habits at Moravian Academy that other schools just don’t teach. I find that other students need to spend significantly more time in the library to accomplish the same amount of work that I can using techniques I learned at the Upper School."

"My current career aspiration is to go into investment banking. I’m not entirely sure what I want to focus on in the world of investment banking but I love studying market trends and macroeconomic variables. I find trading to be exceptionally interesting."

Major: Psychology
Minor: Classical Civilization

Major/Minor: Biology and Human Health (Double Major)

Stefan Joseph ’15, Cornell University

Major/Minor: Computer Science Major, Game Design Minor

Activities:
Love Knows No Bounds – Furniture Redistribution Volunteer
Cornell Cinema – Volunteer Usher

Why did you choose Cornell University?
Having already recognized my interest in gaming, I wanted to make sure I could get some exposure to it during my undergraduate years. As such, I searched for schools that not only had strong Computer Science programs but also offered courses in Game Design. Cornell fit this bill and also matched the rest of my college criteria: a well-defined campus environment; a reasonable, yet not an inconvenient distance from home; and a wide-range of extraneous course offerings for me to explore.

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?
During the spring semester of my sophomore year, I took my first course dealing heavily with gaming: Introduction to Computer Game Architecture. I had been waiting for that opportunity since I had chosen Cornell in high school and the course did not disappoint. I spent that semester working with five other students to create our own game, complete with original characters, levels, and music. We even underwent the continual process of formally documenting our concepts and progress, as would be done in the industry. I left that course with five new friends, valuable teamwork experience, greater insight into game development, and a truly fun game. We were even able to enter our final product into the 2017 Boston Indie Games Festival and become finalists in the Student Games category.

How did your time at Moravian Academy prepare you for college?
Time management is often cited as the most difficult skill to learn in college for good reason. In college, students are not policed to adhere to deadlines; students are expected to get their work done or face the consequences. As such, college success demands discipline in an environment that essentially enables laziness. Beyond time management, what students really need to master is self-management, which Moravian introduces by challenging students academically in a college-like setting. This takes shape in the decisions Moravian students make every day, whether it is deciding when and how to start studying for an exam or even choosing how to spend a free period. This training prepared me for college the most, as I could evaluate my own habits at Moravian and work to improve them in anticipation of similar trials in college.

What are your career aspirations?
I want to put my programming skills to work making video games, constructing fun and interesting experiences for people to enjoy. I hope to also bring some of my own ideas for games to life using this powerful interactive media.

 

Major/Minor: Mechanical Engineering Major, Finance & Mathematics Minor

 

Leonard Carmichael Society - Play Pals, Animal Aid

Men’s Lacrosse

Delta Tau Delta Fraternity

 

“A big reason why I chose Tufts was because it was a smaller-sized liberal arts school that offered an engineering curriculum. I knew that I wanted to do engineering at a small school, but I wanted the opportunity to take non-engineering classes and interact with non-engineering students. Tufts is also in an ideal location—about 20 minutes outside of Boston—so it is not right in the city, but the city is easily accessible. Finally, I jelled with the atmosphere on campus and liked the social and athletic opportunities Tufts offered.”

 

“The highlight of my college career so far was a spontaneous 3:00 a.m. trip to the only 24/7 diner in Boston with a couple of my friends.”

 

“Moravian Academy taught me the ways I can most effectively learn material, to manage my time, to be a leader, and social skills. These skills have been invaluable to my success in college thus far.”

 

“I would like to have a career in engineering project management or in finance.”

Major/Minor: BA Sociology, minors in Film, Media, and Communication Studies & French

 

Activities: “I am a two-sport student athlete at Drew University. I am proud to be a NCAA Division III athlete and play both field hockey and softball. I am also involved in the intramural basketball program at Drew and play on a co-ed team. I have an on campus job, as well, in the athletic department.”

Why did you choose Drew University?

“I was looking for a small liberal arts college where I could balance academics and athletics. I knew that I wanted to move away from home, but not too far, and the hour to Drew University was perfect! Once I visited Drew, I liked the size of the school and the opportunities that awaited me there.”

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?

“The highlight of my college career so far, is having the opportunity to be a DIII student athlete, and to build so many valuable friendships at Drew.”

“My time at Moravian Academy prepared me very well academically for college. I was prepared for the large amount of work and the demands of a being a student athlete. Having attended Moravian since the first grade, I learned many important life skills that helped make my transition to college fairly easy. The valuable skills of time management and organization have been the most beneficial to me at Drew.”

 

Major/Minor: BFA Stage Management, Communication Minor

Production Manager, Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre (2015-2017)

First Year Experience Mentor, Millikin University (2015 and 2017)

Greek Life Ambassador, Millikin University (2016-2017)

Videographer, Millikin School of Theatre and Dance (2014-2018)

Script Library Manager, Millikin School of Theatre and Dance (2015-2018)

Active Member/PACE Chair/Greek Week Chair, Alpha Chi Omega

Lifetime Member, Alpha Psi Omega

President, Physical Graffiti Campus Hip-Hop Dance Team (Spring 2017)

Student Representative, Student Advisory Council (2016-2017)

Administrative Support and Videographer, Shakespeare Corrected*

(Spring 2017)
*Shakespeare Corrected is the only program in the nation that involves undergrads in the therapeutic process of working with offenders in a correctional center to produce a Shakespeare play

“I picked Millikin on April 30th, which is the day before we had to decide our collegiate fates and ultimately it came down to Millikin v. Muhlenberg. At the time, I had an internship at Muhlenberg for the summer and I felt really comfortable going there. However, I decided life was too short to go to a school I was already comfortable at so I moved 14 hours away to really challenge myself personally and professionally. Millikin has a very strong program that is growing into one of the best collegiate theater programs in the nation and I really wanted to be a part of putting this random school in Decatur, IL on the map.”

 

“The highlight has been getting to production manage for our student-run theater company, Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre. PDST was the first theater experience I had at Millikin and I knew I wanted to give back to the company and help it grow. Consequently, I interviewed for the Production Manager position as a freshman. I ended up not getting it for the training semester, but the student who did get the job dropped at the end of her training so I got called in. I ended up not having my training semester under the last Production Manager, so I literally just had to sink or swim. I could not imagine a better way to get an irreplaceable theater education than this opportunity. I have gotten countless second and third round interviews and job offers because of this position and it has made my collegiate education that much more valuable.”

 

“Moravian Academy absolutely prepared me time-management wise. I understood my needs academically before getting to school and I knew how to work in order to give my best academic performance. Also, since Millikin is a smaller school I already knew how to communicate well with my professors and make the most out of those connections. Overall, I had an excellent academic foundation that a lot of my peers did not have prior to Millikin. My academic discipline learned at Moravian Academy afforded me countless opportunities and I was absolutely prepared to continue into higher education.”

“My plans for post graduation are to work on National Tours as a Production Stage Manager for a few years and then ultimately end up in New York working on brand new workshopping musicals tracked for Broadway.”

Major: Materials Science and Engineering, with a concentration in polymer and fiber materials, and a certificate in business

Major: Neuroscience

Activities: Research assistant in psychology lab; volunteer in pre-med hospice program; dean’s tutor for psychology; Principal Chair of second violins in orchestra and member of chamber music groups; Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

Why did you choose Swarthmore College?

“I chose Swarthmore College because of its reputation for academic rigor, its intimate atmosphere, and its proximity to Philadelphia. I knew that going to Swarthmore would challenge me both in and out of the classroom and I was looking forward to growing as a student and as a member of society. I loved the small class sizes and how approachable, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable the professors were. Being close to Philadelphia also meant that I could explore the city and have access to new experiences.”

What has been the highlight of your college career thus far?
“I have had many challenging and rewarding experiences at Swarthmore. For three years, I have conducted neuroscience research, using a rodent model of PTSD to study the mechanisms underlying abnormal fear memory and the effectiveness of various methods of treatment. We have discovered some interesting findings and I continuously strive to keep in mind the clinical implications of my work. The ultimate purpose of our daily experiments is to provide a viable treatment for people suffering from PTSD and what we discover in the laboratory has the potential to improve the lives of patients.”

 

“Moravian Academy was extraordinary at preparing me for college. Through demanding classes and inspiring teachers, Moravian gave me a strong work ethic and love for learning that I have carried with me throughout my days at Swarthmore. Moravian’s emphasis on community service and camaraderie has also taught me the importance of compassion and open-mindedness. The community and support at Moravian has been amazing and I wouldn’t be the same person today without it.”

 

“As a neuroscience major pursuing the pre-med track, I am hoping to go to medical school. My love of science and my desire to help people has motivated me to become a doctor.”