Senior to Senior Series: Carly Snow ’24
As a senior this year, I have been thinking back on my time here at Chatham. My fellow seniors and I, while eager to walk across the stage, have a lot of memories to recall before it’s time to put on our cap and gown. The Senior to Senior series is an opportunity for graduating students to speak about their time at Chatham and what it means to them.
Carly Snow is a social work and criminology double major, sports enthusiast, and Ohio native. She arrived to our conversation wearing a Pittsburgh Penguins shirt and spoke fondly about her appreciation for social work. Her desire to "plug the social work major” was clear throughout our conversation, but she didn’t need to! Carly makes the social work major intriguing just by speaking about her personal interest in it.
How did you find Chatham?
I went to a convention center, and they had a college fair with admissions counselors. I met a Chatham counselor who got me super interested in the campus. When I came and visited, I loved it. It was just so green and a nature-based campus, you wouldn’t even know you’re in Pittsburgh. But there’s also just so much to do off campus! So technically I guess I found it from a slip in the mail.
Why did you choose the social work major in addition to criminology?
This is something my professors wanted me to rep! I actually started out as a criminology major and what I found was that a lot of the jobs were going to be social work. Working with people and getting my license felt like it was going to be more valuable to me to have a double major in social work and criminology. I’ve always had an interest in pre-law, criminal justice, and criminology work.
What opportunities have the social work and criminology programs created for you here?
Since it’s my senior year I’m currently completing a field placement; I'm working in the employment Insititute Auberle, and I'm really building a network. And I’m learning how to practice social work. I’m working with clients, working with the community, working with UPMC, and getting real-life experience. I’m really learning how to apply what I’ve learned in classes.
I really enjoyed the Juvenile Justice CRM224 class with Professor Pesi; it convinced me to go into social work. I got to work through treatment plans, and you also get a client to develop. It’s available for registration in the spring.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from your studies?
Carly Snow ’24, right
What comes to mind for me is the difference between what we learn in class and actually being out in the field. What they teach you is, we all have stigma or that there’s a stigma against the population we’re serving, or stereotypes. Even though we practice in class, it’s so different in the field. You’re expecting to be working with a certain group of people but then when you meet them they are not always how you’d been taught. You think people might not be pleasant to work with, but they really have been.
What are some activities you like to do on or off campus?
On campus, I’m an officer in the social work club, and we're trying to get our chapter restarted for the social work honor society. Off-campus, I love going to the student rush Pittsburgh Penguins hockey games and I’ll do it whenever I can because it’s so fun. They are always giving away something. I’ve also liked getting involved with stuff on Pitt’s campus; for instance, I just went to a basketball game the other day. I love to go for walks in Squirrel Hill and to my favorite place, TSAOCAA! I’ve been going there weekly since my first year and I get the same drink every time.
Any memorable moments from Chatham?
Going to the Pittsburgh Pirates game; the seats this year were really good. I really enjoyed that. I remember one time we had a Chatham hockey night, and they took us to a Penguins game, and our section won the random aisle generator and won a bunch of Eat n Park cookies. We were on the big screen, and it was super fun. Another memory would be during my first year, there was Make a Difference Day, and we went to a local farm. We got to plant apple trees and do sustainability work. That was really fun.
What advice would you give to your first year self?
Carly Snow ’24, middle
Get more involved. Do as much as you can, but don’t push yourself too much. Join clubs at Pitt, go to sports games, and make more friends because more friends never hurt anyone. Also, I was really stressed out about the roommate thing and she’s still one of my best friends. It’s the best thing to come out of Chatham for me. Don’t be afraid of your roommate; I got a really great friend out of it.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m currently looking for MSW programs that I’m going to be applying to soon. I want to specialize in forensics and forensic social work. I’m definitely looking at places in and outside of Pennsylvania.
What will you miss the most about Chatham?
When I go home for the weekend, I miss how walkable everything is here. If I want to walk to a restaurant or walk to see my friends, I can just go. I will miss being in the thick of things. Having ready connections with the friends I’ve made, and the professors are also something I will miss.
Thanks to Carly for speaking with us! If you’re interested in participating in or nominating someone for our Senior to Senior series, email us at communications@chatham.edu.
Lirit Gilmore is a Creative Writing and Food Studies student. Lirit’s academic focus is centered in food writing and how it intersects with social location and identity. She is from the DMV and the Midwest, and enjoys baking in her free time. See all her work on Pulse@ChathamU here.