Allister Wenzel of Trabuco Canyon, California, transferred to SESP and found “the perfect balance” in his Learning and Organizational Change major. The personal nature of SESP and the flexibility of its curriculum stand out for him. He says SESP is the reason he is motivated to learn and is enjoying his college experience.
Why did you transfer to SESP?
Before transferring to SESP, my major was rather boring, impersonal, too competitive, overcrowded and homogeneous. The more classes I took within the major, the more I desired smaller classes, personal advising, a practical curriculum, and people that I could collaborate with, not just compete against. … Learning and Organizational Change (LOC) fixed all the characteristics of my old major I disliked, while allowing me to still study similar subject matter as I did before. It is a perfect balance between my academic necessities and my intellectual curiosity.
What have you appreciated most about SESP?
The personal nature of the school. My adviser is remarkable. She knows my class schedule and my four-year schedule like the back of her hand and is extremely helpful in advising my academic decisions. My classes are small, and remarkably I've made friends through classes, something that never happened previously in 200-person lectures. Everything about SESP radiates a quality of warmth, and I really feel welcome and appreciated as a SESP student instead of just another number.
What are your goals after college?
I will probably go to graduate school, but after a few years of work, maybe in consulting or nonprofit management. Whatever I decide to do, though, I really want to try and make a difference in my local and national communities. I want to make a difference and strive to change the world that we live in for the better of everyone. It sounds idealistic, but I actually think it's realistic. That's something I can credit to Northwestern: allowing me to realize I can do anything and be anything I want to be.
What experiences in your life influenced you to choose SESP?
Throughout my life, I've truly had a innate desire to learn. But when I take classes like those in my previous major, that desire is suppressed and turns into a marathon of busy work and test cramming. A wish to return to this desire to learn brought me to SESP. I now actually care about what I am learning and immerse myself in the pursuit of knowledge, which should be the point of higher education in the first place. I currently find myself enjoying my classes, school and really my entire college experience much more than I ever did before, and SESP is largely the reason.
What unique programs, services, or opportunities that SESP offers would be of interest to high school students looking at Northwestern?
Take a look at the practicum. It's really brilliant that while many university juniors will be scrambling to find some sort of job for the summer, SESP practically guarantees placement in a useful experiential internship. And the connections SESP has forged allow you to explore some great organizations. These companies want SESP students, and that's great for someone like me looking at a career future. … I also think the flexibility within SESP curriculums that allow students to study abroad, do research, graduate early, combine the aforementioned or even pursue something entirely original is very attractive to me, and it is something high school students would be pleasantly surprised to discover.