by Dalton Greene ’22
Lately, it’s been all too easy to get caught up in the stress of what life will look like post-graduation for many Macalester students. If you’ve found yourself worrying about your next move, fret not, because we have just the fix: Apps & Alums! Sponsored by the English Honor Society and open to all English majors and minors, the event is now in its seventh year and has become a staple of the department’s calendar. And, though it will look a little different this year, it promises to be as beneficial to students as ever.
The beloved appetizers which usually characterize the evening will be absent, as the event is going fully remote, but in lieu of delicious finger food, we hope that the appreciation all will have for one another’s company can cover the “Apps” portion of the title just as meaningfully. Whether or not this proves true, the Alums will be there as usual, ready to answer all your burning questions, from specifics about certain industries to “what can I do in the real world with an English degree, anyway?”
While networking can be intimidating, Apps & Alums is a unique opportunity for undergraduates to sit down with English alumni and learn from their experiences in a cordial, low-stakes setting. This year, it will be conducted over Remo, a video networking platform that allows much flexibility. The alumni guests—representing a range of careers and graduating classes—will be sorted into “tables” (akin to Zoom breakout rooms) based on categories such as grad school, publishing, and the like, so that students can meet alums working in the fields they are curious about. After a brief introduction from the EHS officers, these relaxed, small group conversations will commence, and the bulk of the evening will be spent with students chatting about their particular interests and aspirations with those who have been there and done that. You never know where a cool story about life after Mac or a little tidbit of advice may take you!
So mark your calendars for Apps & Alums on Friday, March 26 from 4:30PM – 6:00PM CST. All English majors will receive a link to the event via email, but in the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected]. We hope to see you there!