Tylor Collier
Tylor Collier, MPP Class of 2023

Tylor Collier, MPP Class of 2023, writes about how she landed her job as a Graduate Assistant (GA) with the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach team and what her day-to-day work entails.

Interested in applying for graduate assistantships at Harris and across campus? Incoming students can apply through the GRAD Gargoyle and HarrisLink websites.

You never know when an opportunity may present itself to you. In my case, I learned about the open GA position on the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach (a.k.a. Admissions) team from Blake Edwards, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications. After I had participated in a small roundtable discussion he had organized, he emailed me and invited me to apply for the position. The job description matched my previous work experience as an admissions ambassador at my undergrad university, so I knew right away it would be a great fit. 

The majority of my work as an SRGO Graduate Assistant is communicating with prospective applicants and admitted students through individual Zoom meetings and email. I frequently talk to prospective students about what it’s like to be a Harris student, the Harris Core Curriculum, and what it’s like to live in Chicago. Applicants often have questions about the day-to-day of a Harris student, and I’m happy to answer.

I also assist the Admissions Office staff with their programs like Fall Open House, Diversity Days, and Admitted Student Week. In this capacity, I talk to event attendees about their interests and why they’re applying to Harris, and share information about the application process. 

The work schedule is flexible—about 10 hours per week. Below is an example of an average day for me as a GA in the Admissions Office:

  • noon—Arrive at Admissions Office and answer emails from applicants, recommenders, and admitted students
  • 1 p.m.—Answer phone calls from the Admissions Office front desk
  • 2 p.m.—Hop on a Harris Zoom event with one of the Admissions Office directors 
  • 2:30 p.m.—Finish responding to emails in the inbox and leave for my afternoon class 

Now that my first year as a  Graduate Assistant with the Admissions Office is winding down, I definitely appreciate how it has helped me be more connected to the Harris community, and it allows me to help personalize the application process for many prospective and admitted students. I look forward to working with the Admissions team during my second year—and meeting some of the prospects and admits I've only interacted with virtually!