Nicholas  Shearer ‘13

I was attracted to St. Edward's due to a number of reasons, I liked Austin and I thought the campus was well maintained.  I visited campus in the spring when everything was green and nice looking.  The other factor was the small class size.  I liked the idea of the smaller class size and not being one of 100 people in a class.  St. Edward's supports veterans and their families throughout the year.  There is a veterans group that is slowly gaining members.  They are pretty active on campus and are involved in projects to help out deployed military, as well as service projects to help veterans in the Austin Community.  The Veterans Affairs office makes sure you are taken care of to the best of their abilities. They are very knowledgeable and friendly.  They are really more than happy to help out in whatever way possible to ensure you obtain your maximum benefit.

My choice for St. Edward’s was a combination between the low student to faculty ratio and the particular degree plan I was looking for.  Regarding the student to faculty ratio, I am personable but often very busy, so I find efficiency in consistent and dedicated access to the faculty and administration at St Edwards.  Larger universities are more bureaucratic and disconnected from their students, whereas St Edward’s is more of a community.  Additionally, dual-degree programs such as Accounting Information Technology are few and far between.  Upon graduation, I will have two bachelor's degrees (BBA in Accounting and BA in computer Science).

     St Edwards fosters an environment of leadership and there is no better educational venue for veterans than one that allows students to lead.  The University also efficiently and proactively administers to veterans in areas of financial aid which help fill gaps left by VA benefits.  Almost every veteran I know is a beneficiary of the Yellow Ribbon Program and every vet receives financial counseling from the same person, a fellow veteran, upon entering the university.  St Edward’s also sponsors an active student veteran organization whose mission is to assist vets both on and off campus as well as build camaraderie.

     My future and my goals are contingent upon my successful education and completing the degrees I am pursuing.  Ultimately, I find myself in a career that is fulfilling both spiritually and financially.

     Most of us veterans are hardworking and charismatic. It does not matter where you go, you will always find that trait among vets. The vets at St Edward’s are no different. Many have similar goals and are making it happen here.  The intriguing thing about this school is its international ties and approach to globalization. I think a lot of vets are great candidates for jobs in international affairs because a lot of them were often immersed in foreign environments throughout their service.  St Edward’s is a great place to capitalize on this comparative advantage while earning a high quality education and planning for the future away from the military.

Kat Caraway ‘14

         I chose St. Edward's for 2 reasons; I really wanted to attend a small university with small class sizesand a more personal learning experience and St. Edwards's offered that.  Second, after doing some research I discovered that St. Edward's was a very globally and culturally conscious university that placed an emphasis on teaching students how use their passions to make the world a better place and do things bigger than themselves, and that was something that really resonated with me.

         St. Edward's supports veterans by making the transition from military life to student life much easier.  I was very nervous about the transition, but Chris Garcia made the process of using my G.I. Bill very easy and I have never had any issues with the financial aspects of attending St. Edward's.  Being a part of the student veteran organization has helped make the transition to student life easy by helping me meet fellow students who come from a similar background and face similar challenges in the classroom.  The student veteran organization and the university as a whole has also helped put me in contact with faculty, staff and university organizations that have helped me make the transition to student life.  The writing skills center, math lab, and tutoring center have helped me learn study skills that had gotten rusty during the 5 year gap between high school and college.  Lastly, all of my professors have always been willing and able to provide time for me to discuss course material with them during office hours or by appointment.

        As a child born to two working class parents who did not have a college education, I have seen how a lack of education can limit the career paths available to a person.  I hope that my education will open new opportunities for me that were not previously available to my family.  I also hope that as a result of my education I will be able to pursue a career path that not only provides a decent income, but one that I am passionate about and that allows me to help others.

        As a veteran leaving the familiarity of the military to attend college can be very intimidating, but the faculty, staff and members of the student veteran organization all make a huge effort to make the transition process as seamless as possible.  St. Edwards is full of great professors who genuinely care about their students and work hard every day to help their students succeed.

        My favorite memory of St. Edward’s is when I got accepted and realized that having a college degree was a real possibility for me.