(Describer) Beside four different-size different-color circles connected by lines, title: Career Connections. Under a line graph, title: Financial Literacy.
♪
(Describer) Title: Admission and Financial Aid Counselor.
My name is Shyra Thomas.
I'm an admission
and financial aid counselor
at the University of Dayton.
Every university
is different.
We have admissions
and financial aid as one unit.
Other colleges may have it
as two separate things.
On the admissions side,
you're a people person,
talking with families
and meeting with them,
you're doing presentations.
It's more education.
The financial aid realm,
you're working with numbers.
It's behind the scenes.
You're putting packages together
and loans and scholarships,
not necessarily working
one-on-one with the families.
For us, it's unique
because we've combined that.
We do all those things.
We support, educate,
and guide families
going through the financial aid
and admissions process.
We go over their individual
financial aid package
and help them figure out
what's best for their family.
Will they search
for more outside scholarships
or look for different
payment options or loan options?
Just seeing, economically,
does it make sense,
or will it be
a strain on them?
You don't go to college to be
a financial aid counselor.
There's no degree for that.
In high school, making sure
you follow the guidelines
that you need to graduate.
In addition, take four years
of science and math.
Take some type
of financial literacy class.
It's something where people see
that you're a people person
and that you are good
at giving presentations
and helping people
navigate through things.
You just need
a bachelor's degree
and some experience,
I would say,
showing that you've had some
management or leadership skills,
and then whatever
experience you have,
how you can make that
applicable to this position.
My degree was in
psychology, sociology,
and women and gender studies.
I planned to work with
adolescents and young adults.
High school, college students,
helping them figure out,
"What am I doing with my life?"
I tell people I use
my degree indirectly.
It feels great
actually helping people
navigate through this process.
I like that sense of community
and being a servant leader.
Helping families,
I find it exciting and awesome
that I helped
someone's dream come true.
What do I dislike?
Sometimes it can be challenging
having that tough conversation,
"I know you want
to come here,
"but economically,
this is going to be a strain
on not just the student,
but also the family."
Having that discussion saying,
"I know this is your dream
"and you want them here,
but economically,
it doesn't make sense."
I don't say,
"You can't come."
"This isn't the path.
Try this."
We really try
to work the numbers
so that it's more feasible
for the family.
I've always been
in the service realm.
I'm active in performing arts,
so with that comes public
speaking and professionalism.
You need interpersonal skills,
that confidence.
(Describer) Speaking to a group...
I'm glad you've
joined us today.
You will tour our campus
and see our presentations.
Previously, I worked
at a credit union.
I was manager of education
and community development.
We had many branches
inside of high schools,
where I would give
presentations,
talk to students about
financial education literacy
and how important it is to learn
those skills and practice it.
Not just talk about it,
but have students
open an account
and keep track
of their registry.
Helping students
create that budget
has helped me
in this position.
I'm working with high school
students going to college
and working
with their families,
helping them build that
financial literacy foundation,
understanding budgets and
how to look for scholarships
and the importance of saving
and what are interest rates--
things of that nature.
This is an important career
because without counselors,
how would you go to school
or go to the next step?
One thing I hold
close to my heart
is that first-generation student
or transfer student
because I've been through that.
I'm the first generation
going to college.
Navigating through the admission
and financial aid world
is difficult.
Admission and financial aid.
This is Shyra.
It's nice to get phone calls
or have people come in
and they are where I was,
and I could say,
"Here's what you need
to know and do.
I'm here to help you."
(Describer) Titles:
For more information, visit OhioMeansJobs.com.
CET, Think TV, Public Media Connect.
Copyright 2014.
Funding to purchase and make this educational program accessible was provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Contact the Department of Education by telephone at 1-800-USA-LEARN, or online at www.ed.gov.
Funding to purchase and make
this educational production
accessible was provided by the
U.S. Department of Education:
PH: 1-800-USA-LEARN (V)
or WEB: www.ed.gov.
♪
