Former Student Government President Heads to Big Apple for Graduate School

For many people, walking across the stage to accept their diploma marks the end of their college education. For 23-year-old Xochitl Yanez , it marks the start of a new career goal to earn a master's degree from New York University's Baruch College of Public Affairs.

Yanez learned about a fellowship from an alumnus of the program and, with their encouragement, decided to apply. The process required her to submit transcripts, an autobiographical essay, a career goal statement, a resume and three letters of recommendation. Once she passed that step she was then chosen as a semi-finalist and flown to New York for an in-depth interview that consisted of a written test, a group project and a panel interview.

Yanez won the fellowship and become the youngest entrant in the program. Her next 18 months will involve three months of academic work at the university, followed by a nine-month internship somewhere in the United States. During the internship she will take correspondence classes for three months. Then it's back to New York to finish her thesis.

"In the long run, I would love to return to San Antonio and help the city grow, specifically in economic development," said Yanez.

After graduate school, Yanez plans to pursue law school and work in the government sector.