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| Welcome to Wesleyan Weekend |
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Bethany Kriznik came to Wesleyan College from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduating from a large co-ed high school among a senior class of 614 students, the change to a small women's college was quite an adjustment. But the focus on sisterhood made the transition interesting and fun, and she remembered, "we were all focused on meeting each other and becoming an active part of the Wesleyan environment.” For Bethany, sisterhood was an important part of the Wesleyan experience and she believes the bonds she formed with the women at college with will last a lifetime.
Aside from the sisterhood and support found in an all women's environment, Bethany places a high value on small class size and accessible faculty. Through her four years on the Wesleyan campus Bethany became more assertive, confident, and well-prepared for many challenging post-graduate opportunities.
“It was wonderful to feel like I knew every part of the Wesleyan campus well by the time I graduated," she said. "You don’t get opportunities like that at larger colleges. Since most of the students live on campus, you really get to know all of your fellow Wesleyannes – not just students in your own year or major.”
Bethany formed valuable relationships with her professors, also -- another advantage of a small campus. She quickly developed a rapport with her professors and found that when she had a question or a problem, her professors knew her as a person, not just a number or random face from a massive lecture hall. High academic standards and unique research opportunities prepared Bethany for great challenges. She believes that in a different undergraduate environment, she would not have done as well at the post-graduate level.
After graduating magna cum laude from Wesleyan in 2005 with a B.A. in History and Political Science, Bethany moved to London, England, to study at the London School of Economics and Political Science. In November of 2006, she was awarded a Master of Science (MSc) in Public Policy and Administration from the LSE. Currently, she lives in London and is pursuing a position in the public affairs and consultancy field.
While at Wesleyan, Bethany had several unique opportunities. In the fall semester of her junior year, she traveled to London and studied British history, politics, and law with professors from UK universities. As a result of the study abroad experience, she realized that she wanted to pursue a post-graduate degree abroad. An internship at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2004 proved to be another valuable opportunity. Bethany was nominated for a summer program that combined academic seminars, guest speakers, and hands-on participation to educate students about political party conventions.
“My four years at Wesleyan were amazing. I loved the campus, the faculty and staff, and most of all, my classmates. It may be small, but the education I received was world-class,” Bethany said. “I truly don’t think that I would have had all the great opportunities, particularly the internship at the Democratic National Convention, if I’d been at a different college.”
She recommends Wesleyan to any young woman who wants to be challenged academically and form friendships that will last a lifetime. The faculty and staff care about the success of each student and it shows in their dedication to Wesleyan. “Don’t let anyone feed you stereotypes about what type of woman chooses a women’s college. There are women from all over the country, not to mention all over the world, at Wesleyan and we’re all different. Those differences make Wesleyan unique,” she said.
From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Macon, Georgia, to London, England, Bethany's journey continues. Most Wesleyan women will agree -- there are no boundaries, only possibilities. Ask Bethany Kriznik. |
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