September 6, 2008
San Jose, CA

Over 200 students and parents attended the fifth annual BAPS Educational and Career Development Seminar on September 6, 2008 at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Milpitas.

The six hour event aimed at High School students, College students and parents, consisted of workshops, presentations and panel discussions. Hosted by High school advisers, college advisers and professional experts, the subjects presented included preparing for standardized exams, writing college applications, choosing the right campus, resume preparation, and interviewing techniques.

The event opened with a keynote address by 16-year-old Sejal Hathi, founder of the international non-profit organization titled Girls Helping Girls. Susan Taylor, a student financial aid professional for over thirty years presented to the audience key information on how to apply for FAFSA, Cal Grants, financial aid for various institutions, financial aid for specific populations, federal loans, how to be smart about one’s money, and much more.

While Sharon Noon presented on how to prepare for college while in high school, Kate Augus and Joanne Prewitt explained how to write a personal statement, and what to think about when choosing a college and a major.

The workshops touched on a wide range of topics, from entrepreneurship to presenting oneself at interviews. Aradhna Patel, who has worked in the HR industry for 13 years provided guidance on resumes and interview techniques.

The event was also an opportunity for networking, with representatives from, over eight colleges, five counselors and over twenty career representatives. This was followed by a panel discussion on career choices.

Explaining the role of parents in children’s education, the career day concluded with a panel discussion for parents. This session allowed parents to express their concerns while getting a different perspective from each of the panelists.

All participating students and parents found the event to be very helpful and were thankful to the Kishori and Kishore mandal who organized the event.