Fall 2023 Catapult Course to Help Students Explore Different Career Options

Whit Pruitt

This fall, honors students will have the opportunity to make the most of their honors experience as they envision and prepare for life after college. The Honors College Catapult course will bring in top faculty and experts to guide students both in thinking about innovative career areas and in taking concrete steps toward chosen goals. 

Taught by Vice Provost Suzanne McCray, Honors College Catapult is designed to place ambitious, high-achieving students on a trajectory toward nationally competitive awards and/or graduate and professional programs of study. Students will prepare their academic resume, construct a personal statement and answer essay prompts, all of which will be consistent with graduate or professional school admission. Additional topics include studying for advanced tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), building a graduate or professional school timeline and preparing for interviews.

"Catapult is a great way to learn strategies for applying for post-graduate opportunities," says McCray, who has worked with hundreds of U of A students around nationally competitive award and graduate school applications. She has personally advised all 59 of the university's Goldwater Scholars, all 11 Udall Scholars, all four Gates Cambridge Scholars, 19 of 25 Truman Scholars, five of eight Marshall Scholars, two of 11 Rhodes Scholars and a Schwarzman Scholar, as well as many NSF Graduate Research Fellows and Fulbright Scholars. "The class does not create excellent students who are making a difference on our campus and beyond it, but it does provide guidance on how passionate and engaged students can effectively frame their accomplishments."

John Treat, director of interdisciplinary and curricular learning, reiterates the unique value of the course. "Catapult is a master class for ambitious students. McCray is a nationally recognized expert in enrollment and nationally competitive awards, and a chance to get to work with her in a small-group setting is an opportunity no student who has set their sites high should miss," he notes. 

Class will meet Monday/Wednesday, 12:55-1:45 p.m., first eight weeks, fall 2023. Applications are required and due March 31, as seats are limited. Interested honors students are encouraged to learn more and apply from the course page linked here.