Sydni Smith
Sydni Smith (right) started her education at VCSU in 2017 as a Chemistry major. After taking some time off, Smith came back to school to finish her degree with a new career path in mind.
Hometown: Walum, N.D.
Graduation Year: 2026
Major: University Studies
What inspired you to pursue a degree in University Studies?
I wanted to finish my degree as a business major, but due to me starting college as a chemistry major, if I went to get my degree in business, I would have had to start all over. By changing my degree to University Studies, I was able to utilize all the credits I had already worked hard to get. University Studies gave me the option to finish my degree in a timely manner, while focusing on business related classes.
What does a typical day look like as an online student?
On top of being a full-time online student, I also am a remote full-time employee for a psychiatrist office and a full-time stay at home mom with my 2-year-old daughter. I work my full-time job from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and then do my schoolwork after that or on the weekends.
What do you enjoy most about learning online?
I would say what I enjoy best about learning online is the flexibility. There are of course deadlines and due dates, but you can get your schoolwork done as fast as you want or if 
you like to procrastinate, last minute too! Some weeks are less busy, and I can finish my work by Wednesday, and some weeks are a bit more jam packed, and I am finishing up on Sundays.
What tools or strategies help you stay organized and motivated?
I would say I am a rather organized person the way it is, which makes it helpful to stay on top of my work. My motivation would be to show everyone that you can go back to school at any time you want. I think there is some sort of persona around going back to school or if you leave then you won’t ever go back, but I think that is silly. If you truly want something, you can put your mind to it and you are never too old to go back and finish what you started! Or start in the first place!
How do you balance school with work, family, or other responsibilities?
It is not always easy, but I thankfully have a great support system behind me. I am not saying it would be impossible to finish my degree without them, but I know if it were not for my husband, parents and siblings, I would not be able to balance everything so well. I thankfully started during a summer semester, so I feel that gave me a good head start on learning how to balance school into my daily life before taking on more courses come the fall and spring semesters.
Who has been your biggest supporter while earning your degree?
My husband is definitely my biggest supporter while earning my degree.
What are your career goals after graduation?
My career goal after graduation is to find a job within finance. I found a love for auditing after taking a course on it, so I think it would be awesome to get a job as a financial auditor, but I am honestly open to taking on any finance related jobs.
What advice do you have for someone considering a degree in University Studies?
I think it is important to realize at the end of the day that being able to push through and finish a bachelor’s degree is a lot more important than the type of degree you hold. I say this because I feel as if people talk down on University Studies due to it not being a specific major, but it holds just as much value. This degree allows a student to change their mind on their career path, without having to back track. You also get a pretty great advisor as a University Studies major too, so that is a plus!
