A Conversation with Amanda Placencia
If you were to tell someone else the three main reasons you would recommend Westwood College Online, what would they be?
1. Learn a lot in such a small amount of time
2. Receive all the tools you need to be successful after graduation
3. Dedicated teaching staff
What was your degree and has it been beneficial to your career path?
Associates in Graphic Design/Multimedia. I am now a Production Manager at marketing agency. Though my role is not a graphic designer, I will be working with designers and knowing what I know will help me communicate with them and helps me understand the design process.
Do you believe your employer sees your degree from Westwood as an added benefit in having you as an employee?
Definitely! The one thing my new employer liked about me was the fact that I knew how to operate some of their design programs. This is certainly beneficial to them since it saves time when there are design changes and I can quickly fix them instead of waiting for the creative team to find time.
How did Career Development Services assist you in your career switch?
They gave me all the tools I needed to create a professional resume and cover letter and they helped my confidence level when I had an interview. They also gave me great advice when talking to a potential employer and they gave me ideas on how to look for jobs on the internet. They also introduced me to the world of networking!
Tell us what made your Westwood Online College experience posititve for you?
The friendly teaching staff made the experience at Westwood very positive. I liked the response time the teachers gave after I would send emails full of questions about the homework. They were very helpful.
What do you feel was the most valuable benefit to you going to an online school?
It was easy to hold a full time job, have a social life and go to school full time by going to online school at Westwood. The classes were very involved yet gave you enough time during the week to complete the assignments and live your daily life.
Tell us about your experience with the Westwood Online education team: program directors, faculty, curriculum, etc.
The Education Team has been very helpful even when there were bumps in the road they have always been there to straighten it all out. I felt like I was able to come to anyone and get the help I needed or the answers I needed.
Were you able to develop lasting relationships with your classmates?
I saw a lot of the same students throughout the years and there has been at least one that I still talk to even after graduation via email or MySpace.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your Westwood Online experience?
Westwood Online may not be for everyone. If you don't have motivation and determination you may not survive because Westwood is a fast-paced learning environment here to serve those ready to learn and accomplish their goals.
