Undergrad to Graduate School

There are many reasons Castleton students choose to continue their education beyond a bachelor’s degree. It is well documented that a person’s earning potential increases with their level of education. Castleton’s graduate programs provide an affordable, flexible opportunity for working professionals to continue their career while earning their master’s degree.

These Castleton alumni found success as undergraduate students at Castleton and chose to continue their education at their alma mater.

Max Tempel

Max Tempel ’20 is balancing work and an MBA

Max Tempel came to Castleton University as a transfer student, and he decided to stay for a while.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication concentrated in Public Relations and a Marketing minor in 2020, Tempel chose Castleton to continue his education by pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Leading Organizational Change.

Tempel, who now lives in Averill Park, New York, is currently working full-time for Northwestern Mutual as an associate financial advisor. He chose to continue his education at Castleton because it offered affordability and convenience.

“I have always had an end goal of achieving the MBA. It is the prestige business degree, and I felt it would put me on another level,” Tempel said. “When looking into MBA programs, I picked up on that Castleton had one of the best tuition rates in the country for an MBA. I also noticed that Castleton ran its program fully online, and courses were eight-week blocks. This offered a very time-effective and cost-effective opportunity to continue my education.” Finding a flexible solution to pursue his MBA was important because he had to balance full-time work with his studies and a remaining year of eligibility on the wrestling team. The endeavor has been well worth it.

“Graduate school has broadened my knowledge of the business field, and my classmates have changed my perspective on things in many ways,” he said.

Katie Feeney ’19 is choosing Castleton for the third time

Katie Feeney felt at home the first time she stepped foot on the Castleton campus. That welcome feeling has encouraged her to stay for not just one – but two master’s degrees.

Feeney graduated Magma Cum Laude with a degree in Sport Management and a Marketing minor in 2019. She then became a graduate assistant for the Sport Management program and is graduating with her master’s in Athletic Leadership. She will continue at Castleton once again in the MBA program.

“My undergraduate experience prepared me in many ways for my graduate school success. The Sport Management Program has an amazing balance of classroom learning and hands-on experiences we refer to as service-learning hours,” Feeney said. “This balance allowed me to grow as a passionate student and as a young professional with years of experience in the sports industry even before graduation.”

Feeney said she continued her education with Castleton’s master’s in Athletic Leadership because the program is unique, close-knit, and personal — even when 100% online. She recommends that graduating seniors seek a way to distinguish themselves from the crowd. For her, that meant continuing her education.

“In general, pursuing that next step in your education or even with certifications is the way to go. … I also advise for seniors, alums, and current students to start networking with other Castleton alums that work in the same field as you. ... My transition to graduate school has been seamless, thanks to my undergraduate education at Castleton,” Feeney said.

Aaron Smith ’18 finds confidence in his Castleton Education

Even a four-year college athlete and star student can use someone in their corner. For Aaron Smith, that person is Marybeth Lennox-Levins.

“We are lucky enough in this Athletic Leadership program to have a coordinator and professor like Marybeth. She strives every day to help us and her undergrad students be set up to find employment in the sport industry,” Smith said. “Having someone like her in my corner gives me all of the confidence in the world to apply to any job that I feel is within reach.”

Smith grew up in Middlebury, Vermont, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration with Coaching and Business minors from Castleton in 2018.

Now, Smith is a graduate student in the Athletic Leadership program. He said that the fully-online schedule of the Athletic Leadership program fits into his busy schedule, making it a convenient option.

“We have professors in this program who work collectively to provide students with the best experience in post-graduate education,” Smith said. “The program does not have inperson classes or set class Zoom meetings like an undergrad program. The workload is manageable, but challenging, and gives any student a full scope of how every area of an athletic department runs.”

Smith highly recommends that graduates continue their education.

“To someone who is looking into the idea of graduate school, I would say that if you can find a program that continues your education to absolutely go for it. If you have an opportunity to become a graduate assistant somewhere, it is an experience that one shouldn’t pass up,” he said.

Abby Mayo is executing her plan

Getting a master’s degree from Castleton was always part of Abby Mayo’s plan as a student in the Kinesiology/Pre-AT + Master of Athletic Training program, which allows students to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years.

ABBY MAYO FRONT ROW, SECOND FROM RIGHT

“I was drawn to healthcare to help people and stayed at Castleton because Castleton helps me. My connection to Castleton has a lot to do with the community and how much support those in it have given me,” she said.

The main difference she has found between graduate and undergraduate courses is that the topics covered become much more focused and advanced.

“We take specific classes with our advising professors, then get to apply many of the skills we learn in the classroom to our clinical placements,” Mayo said. “We’ve become a tight-knit group since beginning the Master’s program.”

Mayo is grateful to the many people in the Castleton community who have helped her achieve academic success.

“My favorite thing about Castleton is the way our community feels. It’s like its own little world in a small town. I’ve lived in Vermont for 17 years, and I feel like Castleton is my favorite place in the whole state,” Mayo said. “Castleton’s community is kind, accepting, and hardworking. I feel seen and heard in my community in a way that is unique to our campus. I can get involved anywhere, learn anything, and be supported when the going gets hard.”

“Castleton’s community is kind, accepting, and hardworking. I feel seen and heard in my community in a way that is unique to our campus. I can get involved anywhere, learn anything, and be supported when the going gets hard.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CASTLETON’S GRADUATE PROGRAMS, VISIT: CASTLETON.EDU/GRADUATE