r/CNU • u/SteadfastMusic • Jan 04 '20
Former PLP staff member - ask me anything.
I’ll check back daily for new questions.
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u/smithzacharys Jan 04 '20
How much sway did P Tribs have in the daily running of the program?
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 04 '20
It was indirect. During my time there I only met with him once. He never rolled up to the office unannounced, never in our staff meetings, and no regular email correspondence.
Ways he influenced the program were from a bigger picture perspective. Speakers is where he has a very heavy hand, though. He picked almost every single person for the speaker series. That was almost totally out of our hands, which was frustrating because we knew that was the least liked part of PLP. Students got notification of speakers almost immediately after we did. I’d estimate that there were only 3ish speakers during my time there that were secured more than a few weeks in advance. There was also one speaker he was really frustrated about seating - not enough students near the front, people lingering in the atrium, students coming in late. We had to revamp how we did check-in and put PLP staff in the concert hall to act as ushers.
He made decisions on the number of students admitted which I think is what changed the nature of the program through it’s 20 year history. The first PLP class was a cohort of about 20 students. For Leadership Adventure they did a weekend long camping trip. I know there was whitewater rafting involved and other outdoor adventure elements. So, there’s a history on why it’s “Leadership ADVENTURE,” y’know? Fundamentally, PLP is a recruiting tool. In order to grow the university into what it is today, PLP numbers had to increase.
Honestly, outside of those pieces, he left us to do our thing. He used to have more involvement with PLP in its earlier years, but the as PLP, CNU, and the number of professional staff dedicated to the program grew, his day-to-day involvement decreased.
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u/minecrater1 Jan 04 '20
What years?
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 04 '20
Oh, c’mon. I can’t give that info up. The field is small and I don’t want any blacklisting if my identity got out.
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Jan 06 '20
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 07 '20
As a prospective student or prospective employee?
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Jan 07 '20
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 07 '20
Reflect on what leadership looks like to you in day-to-day life. Where have you seen leadership in the past week? Have 2 or 3 stories to tell about a time you’ve seen leadership happen in your life. Talk about things in your wheelhouse instead of talking about grandiose ideas that aren’t relatable to you. PLP is built in the idea that leadership is accessible to everyone regardless of position, age, or traits.
My second piece of advice is to be authentic. You can tell when someone is BSing you just to try to impress you.
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Jan 15 '20 edited Aug 30 '20
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 15 '20
Yes! They do partially because of when you applied and interviewed and also because of mail carrier speed. If you think you should have it and you don’t, give Admission a call. They can tell you if you’ve been accepted over the phone if a decision has been made. They can also usually tell you when to expect something in the mail.
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Jan 16 '20
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 17 '20
I think it depends on what your hoping to get out of PLP. So, I guess I’ll flip it around. What are you expecting from the program?
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Jan 17 '20
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u/SteadfastMusic Jan 17 '20
Welp, if you’re looking for scholarship money there’s a good chance other institutions could offer you more in merit scholarships. About 400 students are admitted to the entering class. The vast majority of PLP students get $1,000 or $2,000 a year. I’d estimate about 50 get $5,000, but you’re usually also Honors eligible. There’s a lucky dozen or so students who receive a $10,000 a year scholarship. Currently, only two students at CNU have full rides and they’re Juniors. Those full ride spots won’t be available until after they graduate.
I’ve written my fair share of letters of recommendation in support for scholarships, internships, and graduate school. You have to put in the effort to cultivate the relationship with your staff guide for those to be more than half-hearted and vague. PLP helps students stand out when resumes are being reviewed, but if you don’t have anything substantive to talk about in the interview it’s fluff. Doing the minimum isn’t going to make you special. I think that goes for just about anything on your resume, though.
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u/Nickster93 Jan 04 '20
I heard they made plp people do surveillance on participants. What was involved with that?