Why I Want To Attend Rutgers University

My hopes for attending Rutgers University is to enhance my passion to learn and challenge myself, both personally and academically. In my past two years at the College of Charleston, I found myself wanting a more rigorous academic curriculum. Rutgers has so much to offer, and I am confident I will be able to achieve my my career and personal goals if I am accepted.

Attending Rutgers University will give me the opportunity to achieve my career goals through a high quality education recognized worldwide. It is the only public New Jersey university in the Association of American Universities (AAU), so I know I will receive the demanding workload I am in search for. Communications is my selected major, and I am certain Rutgers will provide me

with the necessary skills to succeed in this field after graduation. After completing the required courses, I will have a strong understanding on communication theories and concepts, and be able to apply them to interpersonal, group, family and organizational settings.

Although I am not certain with a specific career, a communications degree will prepare me for a wide range of jobs because communication serves as the backbone for any organization. The major requirements along with the four specialization options at Rutgers, will offer me knowledge on a variety of different areas within communications. I will be able to explore my interests while receiving an excellent education. I think it is amazing that I can combine more than one specialization to extend my career options even further. The specific courses at Rutgers such as Communication and Technology, Organization Communication, and Persuasive Communication will assist me with the skills I need to succeed in this rapidly changing, digital world. To benefit myself and my education, I am definitely going to take advantage of everything Rutgers has to offer. I am interested in joining The Association for Women in Communications as well as the Public Relations Student Society of American- both organizations sponsored by the Department of Communications. Joining these

two organizations will prepare me for my professional life and provide me with opportunities I can not receive anywhere else. I am also interested in participating in the Communications Internship Program. By doing so, I will be able to obtain important experiences to prepare me for my future career. I have faith that a Rutgers education will lead me to be successful.
Attending Rutgers University will also help me achieve my personal enrichment goals.

Diversity is one of Rutgers greatest strengths, and I hope I can immerse myself into the many cultures at the university. I want to remove myself from my current familiar situation, and surround myself with a more diverse community. I currently attend a college where 80.2% of the student population is white. I walk around the College of Charleston, and everyone looks and dresses the same. I think it is important to recognize, value and respect other cultures to grow as a person, and I know I will have the opportunity to do so if I get accepted. According to the Rutgers diversity statistics of 2015-2016, only 41.5% of undergraduates are white, and the remainder are Asian, Hispanic, African American, and international students. With students from 63 countries, I will have the opportunity to interact with and learn about the experiences and perspectives of individuals and groups from many cultural backgrounds.

At Rutgers, I will have the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom. The Department of Student Involvement includes over 450 student organizations, something my current college lacks. I want to get involved in campus life to enhance my leadership skills and

discover
more passions and strengths of mine. I want to engage in some of the many activities offered, to get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person. Community service is something I take very seriously, and would use my time at Rutgers to serve those less fortunate. I am currently the secretary for a club at the College of Charleston called Charleston Hope. We provide financial and emotional support for the Title 1 schools in Charleston, South Carolina. Students focus less on school when they carry the burden of poverty, so our goal is to provide the families and teachers with the support and supplies they need to succeed. For example, I assisted an organizing an event called Heart for the City. Just in 7 hours on this day, we wrote 100 teacher appreciation notes, provided 4 schools with 3,000 basic necessity items such as paper, pencils and hygiene products, painted 3 murals, and did $3000 worth of school improvement tasks. Dedicating my time to this club has truly been an eye opening experience for me, and I hope I can create a club like this at Rutgers. I grew up in a predominately wealthy town in New Jersey, but other areas are not as fortunate. I want to be a leader while supporting those struggling in my home state, and I know Rutgers will assist me in doing so.
Transferring to Rutgers will open the doors for me to access a new world of opportunities, ideas, cultures and a highly-ranked education. I will be given the ability to show what I am capable of doing, both academically and personally. The programs offered at Rutgers will provide me with the skills I need to be successful as a Communications major, and shape me into a well-rounded woman.