The Johnnies Blog

What is the Common App—and Should You Use It?
As you start thinking about college applications, the phrase “Common App” is probably already on your radar. But is it a must-have for your application strategy?
In this guide, you will learn about the Common App, how it functions, and whether it provides value for your journey as a future student. You'll also hear from a college admissions office leader on how to create a compelling and memorable application.

What Recruiters Want in Interns: Advice from Career Services
Learn from St. John’s University Career Services, Queens, NY, what recruiters look for in interns.

5 AI-Powered Interview Hacks Grad Students Are Using Right Now (Are You)?
From smart résumé tools to virtual mock interviews, explore 5 AI job tips from experts at St. John’s University, Queens, NY, to help you prep for interviews.

Leadership with Purpose: How Ava’s College Experience Fueled Her Advocacy
Originally from Bowie, Maryland, Ava Wilson arrived at the St. John’s University Queens, NY, campus eager to dive into the full college experience.
What she didn’t expect was that it would take her from the campus stage to national advocacy platforms, shaping her future as a leader and changemaker.

How a Global Service Trip Transformed My Career and Life Perspective
Read how a St. John’s University service trip to Panama helped a communications student learn connection to humanity from Indigenous communities.

5 Financial Literacy Tips Every Young Professional Should Start Now
Landing your first job. Paying rent. Tackling student loans. Whether you’re wrapping up college or stepping into your first full-time role, one thing becomes clear fast: every dollar counts.
When you understand how to protect your money, manage debt, and plan for the future, you give yourself more freedom, not less.

What Should You Know Before Starting Your Scholarship Search?
Your scholarship search just got easier. Get expert advice from St. John’s University on finding real opportunities and avoiding scams along the way.

How to Get into the Cybersecurity Field
Whether you are a career-changer or a recent graduate looking to break into the cybersecurity industry, there are a few key things you can do to succeed.

How to Build Your Personal Brand as a Student or Young Professional
Think personal branding is just for influencers or people with shiny business cards? Not anymore.
Whether in college, working part-time, or still figuring things out, you already have a personal brand. The real question is whether you’re intentionally building it or letting it develop on its own without your input.
As a university career advisor, I’ve worked with dozens of students and young professionals learning to own their voice early. In this post, I break down what personal brand means and give clear, actionable steps to shape your brand with intention.

What Helped Me Succeed as an International Student? A Mentor Who Believed in Me
Starting college is a big step—but doing it in a completely different country? That takes a special kind of courage. When Antonia Cuellar Urrutia ’25C arrived in New York from Santiago, Chile, she was excited, determined, and far outside her comfort zone.
But amid it all, she found something that changed everything: mentorship.
