#BE

Tag: #BE

Navigating Grad School: Advice and Experiences from Lawrence Alumna Shreeya Tilva

For many college students, graduate school can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Questions about applications, funding, choosing programs, and balancing responsibilities often make the process seem complicated. To better understand what graduate school looks like in reality, I spoke with Shreeya Tilva, a Lawrence University alumna currently pursuing an MSc. in Industrial Organizational Psychology at Rice University.

Industrial Organizational Psychology focuses on understanding workplace behavior, specifically, how organizations can help employees work more efficiently while also keeping them motivated and satisfied. Through her graduate experience, Shreeya has gained valuable insight into the application process, academic life, and financial realities of grad school.

One of the biggest pieces of advice Shreeya shared was the importance of starting early. According to her, students should ideally begin preparing for graduate school applications during the summer before their senior year. Since Lawrence is academically demanding and students often juggle multiple commitments during the school year, starting early can significantly reduce stress later on.

Before even beginning applications, she emphasized the need to decide whether you want to pursue a master’s degree or a PhD. Understanding your long-term academic and career goals helps narrow down programs and makes the application process more focused. In addition, students should think carefully about the location where they want to study, since the environment, opportunities, and lifestyle can all shape the graduate school experience.

When it comes to applications, Shreeya recommends applying to at least ten to twelve universities. She suggests creating a balanced list that includes top-choice schools alongside safer options to increase the chances of acceptance. Having multiple options can also provide flexibility when comparing financial aid packages and opportunities.

Shreeya also stressed the importance of completing Statements of Purpose (SOPs) and personal statements during the summer. Writing these documents takes far more time than many students initially expect. She explained that students should not worry if their first draft does not feel strong, as it is completely normal. Instead, she encourages students to seek feedback from advisors, professors, and mentors to continuously improve their essays.

Another key point she highlighted is that an SOP or personal statement should not simply repeat what is already listed on a CV or resume. Rather than listing accomplishments again, students should focus on discussing the outcomes of their experiences, the impact of their work, and how those experiences connect to their future goals and applications.

Financing graduate school is another challenge many students worry about. Shreeya explained that master’s programs may not always fully cover educational expenses, but there are several ways students can manage costs. She encouraged students to explore Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), and Graduate Assistant (GA) opportunities, which can provide financial support and valuable professional experience.

As an international student herself, Shreeya balances both internships and on-campus employment. She shared that international students can work up to 20 hours through internships and another 20 hours on campus, allowing them to support themselves while gaining practical experience. She also encouraged students to actively search for scholarships and university aid opportunities.

While graduate school can be hectic and demanding, Shreeya believes that proper planning and early preparation make a major difference. Her experiences highlight an important message for students considering graduate school: start early, stay organized, seek guidance, and trust that improvement comes through the process.

For students preparing for life after Lawrence, Shreeya’s journey serves as both a practical guide and a reminder that graduate school is achievable with thoughtful preparation and persistence.

Computer & Data Science double major, and Mathematics minor at Lawrence University, and the President of the Lawrence University Data Science Club. Connect with Sabin on LinkedIn

Her Next Play: Sophie Morey’s Summer Experience

As we approach the end of Spring term, summer is almost here! With that comes summer jobs or internships for the 2026 summer. Yet, what were Lawrentians up to last summer?

Sophie is a current senior about to graduate with two Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Gender Studies, with a minor in Government. As well, she is on the Women’s Basketball and Women’s Lacrosse teams.

In the 2025 summer, Sophie was an intern for Her Next Play, a nonprofit in the Twin Cities focused on developing the next generation of female leaders through sports. She worked virtually and helped maintain and run their social media accounts, primarily on Instagram.

With this, she started cleaning up their page, mainly matching color schemes and aesthetics. Sophie has been running the Wellness Center’s social medias for the past three years, so this felt very natural. She also created posts for events and various spotlights, such as the intern alumni series “Motivation Mondays”. Here, she would post a female athlete with a quote about their leadership style, including both incredibly famous and more lesser known athletes. The goal was to motivate and encourage women and girls in sports in every capacity.

“Leadership takes many different forms and I wanted to encourage girls to find their voice and leadership style that works best for them! I really enjoyed my experience at Her Next Play and would really encourage folks to check them out and consider partnering/donating!!” exclaimed Morey.

Her Next Play works directly with Lawrence University, as a Lawrence Funded Internships. When applying for these kinds of internships, you are only competing with other Lawrentians, as they hold spots directly for us. Keep an eye out for Her Next Play around winter term next year, and a huge congratulations to Sophie as she graduates in a few weeks!

Good luck Lawrentians!

Branding and Design Forage Simulation: What to Expect

Job simulations can be great tools when it comes to understanding an industry you aren’t yet in, or aren’t sure if you want to go down that route. It helps you get a decent idea of what kind of work someone in your simulated role would be doing, so you can get a feel for if this job is something you may want to do. I recently completed the Branding and Design Forage Simulation and simulated working with a clothing company called Lumea. The entire simulation was about their new tote bag.

With this tote bag, there were tasks that had to be completed, but don’t worry I won’t give you spoilers. Thinking about branding and what that means, the tasks were related to how to set yourself apart as a brand and how important continuity and consistency are. Think of any brand, maybe Apple, Google, Old Navy, or lululemon. They all have very specific things that make them unique and well known. This simulation walks you through how that may look in practice.

Social media is a huge aspect of branding, and of course design. Knowing how to use it properly is key to success in this industry. How do you engage your followers? Local communities? How do you partner with other brands? What about influencers? How do you choose which influencers to work with? How do you go about expanding your audience? Or keeping those already in yours? These are all questions that this simulation actually works through pretty well.

Overall, I enjoyed this simulation and it felt more engaging than i was expecting. I think you learn a lot of valuable information, and it’s definitely worth your time.

Good luck Lawrentians!

There’s No Right Path to Arts Administration: Informational Interview with Kathryn Reinardy ’05

In the Fall of this academic year, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kathryn Reinardy ‘05, the current Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. 

Kathryn is from the Milwaukee area and graduated from Lawrence University in 2005, with a Bachelors of Arts in History. After Lawrence, she pursued a Graduate Certification in Nonprofit Management from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has been working at MSO for almost 15 years.

When asked about how she went from studying history to working in the arts, Kathryn said this job fit in between her life plans. As well, she has always loved to write and wanted to be adjacent to the arts in whatever career she ended up in. After graduation, she reached out to the Career Center and they connected her with an alum in the opera world. Reinardy also mentioned how her foundation in history really did help her in arts administration, as well as Lawrence as a whole. “The Lawrence Difference is real!” she exclaimed. She continued to describe how our liberal arts college creates strong writers, teaches adaptability, and hones in on creativity. These are all skills that go great with working with the arts. 

While in her position, Kathryn says there really isn’t a typical day at work, as each one is different. However, that’s part of what she loves about it. In her role, she doesn’t stick to one thing. She partners frequently with various departments, such as fundraising, the box office, communications, public relations, and even data. Her current position involves a lot of artistic planning, helping others in their respective positions, and providing leadership direction. 

For my fellow aspiring arts administrators, there are a few key traits that are bound to lead to success in the industry, according to Kathryn Reinardy. Having strong adaptability, critical thinking skills, curiosity, brain power, and a go-getter attitude really do make a difference. As well, it is so important to ask questions and observe, which is something LU tends to prepare its students for pretty well. Getting used to a workplace environment vs a classroom is also a crucial change to get used to, but is something once again we are capable of doing. 

So, how can we prepare to enter the world of arts administration as current college students? Well, Reinardy has some thoughts on that. Engaging in the industry can be extremely helpful. Connect with alumni in your field through the Career Center or personal investigation. There are also arts marketer groups on social media or professional arts administration organizations you can join (Jillian Johnson in the Conservatory is a great resource for this). Lastly, try different things. Don’t be afraid of something just because it is new or you’ve never tried it before. Most people who study history don’t end up working at a world-renowned symphony orchestra, but Kathryn Reinardy did and genuinely loves it.

Good luck Lawrentians!

M3 Insurance 

An insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, M3 Insurance (M3) has evolved from a local agency into the largest insurance broker in the state and one of the top 50 brokers in the nation. With over 300 employees and a footprint extending across Wisconsin and into Illinois, M3 manages complex risk and employee benefits for thousands of businesses, ranging from local family shops to global corporations.  

What They Do 

M3 acts as a high-level consultant and advocate for businesses. Rather than just selling insurance, they provide strategic risk management, employee benefits consulting, and financial services. They specialize in specific industries like construction, healthcare, and manufacturing ensuring their clients have a playbook designed specifically for their unique challenges.  

Culture & Values 

M3 describes itself as having the bench strength of a national firm with the soul of a local partner. Their culture is built on a work hard, play hard mentality, underscored by values like merit-based decisions and uncompromising integrity. They are heavily invested in the M3 Way, which emphasizes a team-based approach where specialists collaborate rather than working in silos.  

Entry Points for Students & Grads 

  • The M3 Internship Program: This is a highly structured summer program that includes the Gavel Club (for public speaking), mentorship, and swaps where interns spend time with insurance carrier partners.  
  • Account Specialist/Coordinator: A position perfect for recent grads, these roles support client service teams and provide a deep dive into the technical side of risk and benefits. 
  • Business Development & Sales: For those with high energy and a competitive streak, M3 offers paths into consulting and client acquisition. 
  • Data & Analytics: As insurance becomes more tech-driven, M3 increasingly looks for grads to help analyze risk trends and financial modeling with their AI(Analytical Intelligence) team. 

Why M3? 

If you are looking for a fast-paced, professional environment that feels like a big-league career without leaving the Midwest, M3 is a top contender. They provide the freedom to grow, meaning they provide the training and resources to help employees own their career path. For students, it’s an opportunity to learn the business of business, seeing how companies operate from the inside out while building a massive professional network. 

Computer Science and Data Science major, Mathematics minor at Lawrence University, and the President of the Lawrence University Data Science Club. Connect with Sabin on LinkedIn

Learning UX Design with Lloyds Banking Group: My Forage Experience

I’ve always been curious about what UX (user experience) design really is and how designers create digital products that are easy and enjoyable to use. Recently, I explored this through the UX Design Introduction Job Simulation with Lloyds Banking Group on Forage, and it was both eye-opening and very helpful.

In this simulation, I took on the role of a junior UX designer, working as part of a team tasked with creating a new digital banking feature. My first challenge was to conduct a competitive analysis, researching what other banks were offering and analyzing customer spending data. This helped me understand how companies identify market trends and make decisions based on data, skills that are useful in almost any field.

Next, I focused on customer research, designing surveys and observing user behavior to see what real customers need. This experience taught me practical ways to collect feedback, analyze patterns, and use insights to make digital products easier and more enjoyable to use. I especially enjoyed learning how UX design combines research, creativity, and problem-solving. It showed me that great design is not just about aesthetics, but about truly understanding the user.

This simulation was incredibly helpful because it gave me a hands-on experience with real-world UX tasks. It clarified concepts I had only read about and gave me tools I can use in the future, whether in design, marketing, or other creative projects. For someone like me, always curious about UX, it was a clear way to see how research and creativity come together to improve user experiences.

Overall, completing this simulation strengthened my skills in research, analysis, and designing with the user in mind, and it gave me confidence in exploring careers that combine creativity and data-driven decision-making.

Try it for yourself: https://www.theforage.com/virtual-experience/N65hfzBKXRiATv6yd/lloyds-banking-group/ux-design-introduction-xhef/intro-scenario