Soon Excelsior will reach the subconscious minds

[april004]

of U of C students, faculty, staff....then they will go on to other institutions of higher learning or to corporate America,etc.. An Excelsior grad will walk through the door for a job or for grad school.. and they will remember seeing something about Excelsior College...somewhere but won't question whether it's legit or not because the name has been ingrained in their heads...somewhere...

I had to send in my bio for the athletic center's brochure to be printed up in a few weeks. Might not seem like a big thing, but I loved seeing -"April Harkness is a graduate of Excelsior College."

The pamphlet will be on the U of C website as well as in print..



Gettin' the word out!

[Maniac Craniac]

I informed a few friends of mine about Excelsior, and many of them said that the name sounded very familiar to them. If anything, the name sounds really cool, like that of a division of NASA or a secret society or something.

Truthfully, I don't think that the college itself will ever gain notoriety, nor, honestly do I think it should. What I mean is, not an insult to EC, but a recognition for just what it is. The methods of obtaining an EC degree vary much more widely than any other college. In fact, I think them to be the most flexible of all of the Big Three. This means that each EC degree must be evaluated on its own merits. Some people may have 95% of their credits transferred from top colleges with rigorous programs, while others may have 95% of their credits from schools with poor reputations, others may have tested out, others have professional certifications and military experience, etc, etc.The rigor of EC's courses are inconsequential since, it seems, most students don't take very many of them on their way toward a degree.

Excelsior is what it is: a nontraditional degree-completion college. Its reputation as it is right now reflects that and will not likely ever change. The only question, really, is if DL will continue to make great gains in public recognition. If this happens, Excelsior will benefit (even though many of its students have degrees that are principally through B&M transfer).

[skyfall123]

Great job April. You are right....and when the fine folks at U of C associate the degree with such a positive, engaging and intelligent person, you will make us all proud.

[april004]

Yeah! My bio is up!

University of Chicago Athletics - Personal Training Services

But the comps I placed high in are not listed! They picked my worst competition and put it in my bio. Oh well. Pic isn't there yet... but there it is in print in a U of C brochure and on the web- Excelsior College!

[Maniac Craniac]

Wow, your profile sounds really impressive. No wonder why they hired you!

[Tasman]

A well accomplished bio

[april004]

Thanks! Still a little miffed they put down my worst place competition finish and left out my other competitions. GRR! I guess there is only so much space.

Anyways, thinking of another post about being realistic about degrees that I just read. My job definately doesn't need a degree. All it needs is a cert. The degree got me in, and I was competing against others for this job.

Good to bulk up the resume with other things to make one stand out...because Excelsior is not very well known, it's DL and there are still alot of biases.

So I bulk up my resume/ experiences by doing competitions(even if i don't do as well as I like at some competitions I can still put down I am a fitness competitor and that goes on my resume) and keep challenging myself to go above and beyond those that have a degree.

I know plenty exercise science degree holders that can't do a pullup.
Or a pushup!

This is what sells and keeps the clients wanting more.

pushup variations :: one arm pushups video by apriltrainer - Photobucket



I was a little terrified at first about working @ U of C. I was even asked if I would be able to conversate with Phd's! (A bit funny since my boyfriend is a post doc!) Would I be able to explain? Could I challenge them?

So bulk up your degree from Excelsior or Charter Oak, TESC any way you can. It's a stepping stone, not the end destination.

I was surprised by the reaction I received from my boyfriend. We were out for a walk the other day, and I told him I was working on pushup variations and progressions. So I showed him my one arm by dropping and knocking out a few one arm pushups with each arm, a few variations with the non working hand on leg or stretched out,etc My geneticist boyfriend who continually amazes me with his brain, dropped his coffee and his mouth just stood open.

I jumped up and asked what was wrong...and he said, "That's....that's mythical. I've never seen anyone do that but on tv..."

I actually was able to impress an Ivy league grad...not with my degree but with the application of my knowledge of human anatomy and physics.

Just by doing a one-arm pushup!

[CLEP101]

Congrats April,
I remember the good old days when I was able to impress my Soldiers with the One Arm Push-up. I have to admit though that your form is much better than mine was.

[wb.john]

April, I think your one handed push up has inspired me to exercise more.

[Maniac Craniac]

Some people may decry, but do not let them steal your thunder. You earned your degree, whether they like it or not