By Sindhu Priya Kondapuram, GCC Fashion Business Student

Did you know that GCC offers scholarships for both domestic and international students? if you’re already aware, you probably know where to find the application process and the requirements for these scholarships. If you’re interested in learning about GCC scholarships, stick around- I’ve added some tips that might come in handy when applying..

How many scholarships are available? 

• GCC has over 110 scholarships, some of these scholarships are only  for domestic students, others for both domestic and international students, and some categorized by major.

Where to find them?

• logging  into your MyGCC account, click on the New Experience Dashboard. It takes you to the tab that looks like this. 
• Click on the Foundation Scholarships link in the Financial Aid section. 
• There, you can select the scholarships based on your eligibility 

What are the deadlines of scholarships for each semester?

• January 1 – May 31 for the fall semester.
• September 1 to October 31 for the spring semester.

Are there scholarships for international students?

• Yes, GCC offers many scholarships for international students. You can find them under the “ Pay for College” dropdown menu on the main GCC website banner. Some are major-based, while others have specific criteria.

 Chances for international students?

• GCC’s financial aid department has no priorities; it treats all applicants equally. If your essay stands out and you meet the scholarships criteria, you have a good chance of being awarded, regardless of your student status  

Emergency Funding:

• Emergency Funding may be available for students facing emergency financial needs that hinder their education. If you’re among one of those students, I would suggest talking to your success coach to determine eligibility based on your emergency situation.
• For more questions email financialaid@genesee.edu 

What are the requirements for all scholarships?

• Some scholarships may require supporting materials

How will I know I have been awarded a scholarship?

• The Financial aid department will notify you through your GCC email account, and  your student account will get updated.

How do I know that I did not get awarded a scholarship?

• If you did not receive an email, it’s likely you didn’t receive a scholarship. If in doubt, contact Alex Misiti, Financial Aid Retention Specialist.  aemisiti@genesee.edu 

Some tips

Tip one– Apply before the deadline.
Tip two  – Write a concise and compelling essay let the scholarship committee know why should they consider your application.

Tips from GCC’s Financial Aid Retention Specialist, Alex Misiti:

• Get involved on campus
• Be a genuine community member
• Express your authentic self in your essay, explaining why the committee should consider your application. 

Returning to school as an adult was a terrifying thought! About a year ago I began thinking about it. How am I going to pay for it? What has changed since the first time I was in college? Can I really be successful in the online environment? Can I balance work, family, and school life?

The idea of getting a degree or certificate in Accounting lead to an online search. In my search, I came across the Micro-credential program on the GCC website. I took the leap of faith and clicked on “request more information” button.  At this point I had nothing to lose. I learned what had changed since the first time around… I had changed. 

I was successful in the online environment, because I wanted to be and was given all the tools. I also learned to balance work, family, and school because this education was important to me. Establishing good use of time was paramount. The Accounting Fundamentals Micro-Credential program provided the path to find the passion for learning that I thought I had lost long ago. 

For more information about the Accounting Fundamentals Micro-credential, email Amy Conley, Professor of Accounting at AVConley@genesee.edu or visit our website at www.genesee.eduhttps://www.genesee.edu/academics/programs/accounting-fundamentals-micro-credential/.

Hi everyone, I’m Oliver Alaviuhkola, and I’m from Helsinki, Finland. I’m a Finnish international student athlete here at GCC majoring in Business Administration. Finland is a relatively small northern European country, best known for Santa Claus, northern lights and our harsh winters. As an athlete from the north, the logical sport would have been ice hockey, but from a young age I fell in love with football or soccer as it is known in America. 

Beginning

My early introduction to soccer came through my father and many of my friends. The first club I joined was founded by my father and other local parents for me and my friends and everything just kind of progressed from there. One of the biggest European youth tournaments “Helsinki Cup” is hosted in my hometown and my dad trained me for it all summer when I made the choice to become the team’s goalkeeper after my first year playing.

Eventually, after that tournament I fell in love with the role and I’ve been practicing goalkeeping ever since. I transferred after my first year into a bigger club in hopes of improving the environment I was developing in and my dad came with me to coach the team there. The club team KäPa made me take my first steps in my journey with the help of my goalkeeper coach, “Oso”, who I consider to be one of the most influential people on my journey.

 Life of a student athlete

I was always a good student and hard working, but an increasing training load and difficult courses was definitely something I had to adapt to each year. There wasn’t much room for socializing in my early teens because my day consisted of school from 8 am-4 pm and practice from 5 pm-8 pm. Luckily my mom and dad were always there to help me study, feed me and to drive me back home from practice. 

My journey 

By no means has my journey been easy and I don’t think there is a single athlete that hasn’t gone through their fair share of hardships. I consistently struggled to make the cut onto the first team academy and I was neglected in a sense due to not being from a promising background. Wherever I went, I carried the label that is often given way too soon to many athletes that followed me, as the culture tends to favor those who show promise at a young age with the best coaching and opportunities. If you don’t display promise early on you’ll have to grind your way through and pave your own path. 

However, this all turned around when I was lifted at the age of 16, I was unexpectedly promoted to the HJK under-20 academy team due to a freak streak of injuries. I was two years younger than the second youngest player in the team, essentially playing with men. This experience sparked something in me that fueled me to train harder than ever before in my life. I went on to win bronze in the U20 Nationals with HJK and transitioned to Atlantis FC at the age of 18, where they signed me on with my first academy contract for one year. Although I didn’t get paid or get any benefits, it was still a step that highlighted the results of my hard work.

There, I had the privilege of being mentored by a goalkeeper coach with a proven track record in the MLS, Turkish main league and even as a part of Cameron’s World Cup squad in 2014 who would take me under his wing. Despite being overlooked by other coaches once again, the rigorous training under my GK goalkeeper coach, Sammy, pushed me to become the goalkeeper I’m today. The Atlantis U20 academy team went on to secure a bronze finish in the U20 Nationals.” 

Before coming to the USA, I made my final transfer to PPJ, where I spent half a year trying to qualify the team for promotion to the U20 Nationals. During my time there, I was under the guidance of Scott, a goalkeeper from Coastal Carolina and their Hall of Fame alumni, and an ex-MLS goalkeeper. He mentored me into fighting shape so I would be ready for the national powerhouse that is the GCC men’s soccer team. 

Mentors 

My mentors along the way have been my father, three goalkeeper coaches I mentioned previously and Ken Gavin the head Coach of GCC men’s soccer team. They’ve all been tough but fair and have all offered their own individual experiences to improve aspects of my game. I’ve shared a lot of highs and lows with each of the people mentioned and I wouldn’t be in the position I’m currently in without their help. 

Teammates 

I’ve always considered teammates as the best part of sports, even though I have moved between clubs. I’ve always tried to form connections with at least a few of the boys on the rosters, some of whom I still keep in touch with. However, as in life, our paths often separate after a year or two, but that’s just something you get used to. Leading the GCC men’s soccer team as a sophomore and a captain was a learning curve for me, even though I’ve always been a vocal leader on the pitch. Now, having to learn to read people’s personalities and what motivates them has been the most interesting part, and I’ve loved every minute of being here with this group of lads.

Next steps

Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a strong passion for playing soccer, and my next logical step is to transfer to a four-year college to continue challenging myself both academically and on the field. However, before I fully focus on my future, I’m determined to improve upon last year’s heartbreaking national final defeat. After that, I’ll assess where my next move will take me. In a few years, I hope to have progressed enough to secure a professional soccer contract, or if my academics show strong performance, I may use my degree in the business field.

My advice

My advice to future student-athletes is to be mentally resilient and keep working. Good things will come, but there is no set timeline. Eventually, you’ll receive what you deserve.

By Amy Slusser, Business Professor, Genesee Community College

Operating a small business can present itself with a wide range of challenges. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-of-heart; however, the rewards can be abundant. Small business owners start their business to pursue an industry that they are passionate about and can overlook the “other tasks” that have to be done. 

Research conducted by Business.com, indicates that accounting is one of the top reported struggles a small business owner has. These struggles include managing cash flow, covering unforeseen expenses, filing taxes and tax planning, upholding current laws and more.

There are many tools out there to help organize your finances, however it’s essential to understand the accounting process and be able to analyze the data you’ve gathered, all while following current tax laws.

Wondering where to start? A micro-credential in Accounting from Genesee Community College may be your answer! The courses incorporate technology like Microsoft Excel and Quickbooks, updated tax requirements and exceptional faculty with real world experience.

4 courses: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Computer Applications in Accounting and Introduction to Income Tax

+

2 Semesters: Part-time work

=

1 Micro-credential + A positive Return on Investment 

For more information contact Amy Conley at avconley@genesee.edu or Amy Slusser at alslusser@genesee.edu.

Thank you to whoever responded to the question that we posted on the @sunygcc instagram page and gave the idea to write an article on finding on- campus jobs. I understand how difficult it can be to find a job on campus, especially for students who don’t want to ask their parents for money every now and then. I’ll try to provide as much information as I can. On campuses like GCC, job opportunities are often limited, so you should  be assertive, attentive and a bit strategic. 

Finding an on-campus job was a tough journey for me, like some of you are having right now. I belong to the group of students who are trying to manage a few things on their own without asking their parents for money every single time. These challenges aren’t unique to you alone. I believe every student faces them. This article is for all those students. I hope it can provide you with some useful insights on how to find a job on campus, not just at GCC.

Finding an on-campus job at GCC as an International student 

• First, let’s begin with the where to find on-campus jobs at GCC website. 
• Go to your MyGCC account, and you’ll see the “Career and Employment” option. Click on that, and it will take you to a different tab that looks like this. 

Next, click the 2nd link under the “On Campus Student Employment” if you are a student at GCC seeking employment but do not have federal employment permission This typically applies to international students on F-1 status. This will take you to a page that appears as shown below. From here simply select the job you wish to apply for and submit the required documents according to the job’s specifications. You probably do not see many job openings available now since we are already in mid-semester.

• Tip: If you’re truly committed to finding a job, I would recommend visiting and speaking with the department you are interested in working with, even after submitting your resume. Because the department receives several applications, meeting with them in person could significantly increase your chances of securing a job.

• Tip: Make sure to inquire directly within the department you aspire to work for to see if any openings are available or they are looking for hiring somebody to do some specific work. Don’t restrict yourself solely to the listings on the website. For instance, if you’re interested in working in the arts department, approach them, express your intentions and capabilities, even if you don’t find job openings specifically related to their department on the GCC employment website. This applies universally, not just at GCC.

Social Security Number ( SSN ):

Now let’s assume you’ve applied for a job, aced an interview and received an offer letter. Now you need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). This is a confidential and personal number required to work in the United States. 

• Tip: Expect your SSN card to arrive in 2-3 weeks after you apply. if you plan to start an on-campus job right after your semester begins, it’s better to start the process of finding an on-campus jobs and apply for SSN early 

You can also apply for an on-campus job before arriving in the United States if you have already registered for classes. This can streamline your job- finding process, although it doesn’t guarantee a job. It’s just another tip. 

Networking: 

Networking and meeting people can also make your job search process easier. Just talk to people who are already working in your desired field. This may not not always give you immediate benefits, but it can expose you to different options and approaches for finding a job.

Applying for the work-study: Domestic Student 

Domestic Students seeking part-time employment on campus should fill out the work-study application. After submitting the form, the financial aid department will review your eligibility for work-study. Domestic Students can also explore other job opportunities without applying for work-study by visiting the second link under the work-study form link. At some point you should go through this process, sooner or later, to secure an on-campus job. 

 Questions? email: financialaid@genesee.edu 

I hope this article provided you with some new information that you didn’t know before reading it. In the end, it all depends on stepping out of your comfort zone and networking with people. 

If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends whom you think might benefit from it. Feel free to comment your questions below, I’ll try to answer them.

-Priya