Mitchell alumna Brittney Marcucci (’20) took time out recently from her busy schedule as a graduate student to talk to a Mitchell class about her experiences in graduate school. She offered insights into finding, applying to, and thriving in graduate school to a Graduate School and Beyond class taught by Nancy Parent, Ph.D.

Marcucci always knew she wanted to go into social work. At Mitchell she got her foundation by earning a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. An internship with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families that was part of her Mitchell degree program “opened my mind and made me realize what I wanted to do.”

Now a student at the Boston University School of Social Work, Marcucci will graduate in May with a master’s degree in social work as a licensed clinical social worker. She plans to work in a therapeutic setting with adult and geriatric clients, a group that she says is underserved. As part of her clinical preparation, she is working at the Waterford Senior Center facilitating groups and doing individual sessions.

A third-generation Mitchell College alum, Marcucci credits Mitchell College with honing her critical thinking skills and teaching her the importance of empathy—both essential abilities for the field of social work.

“Critical thinking was stressed in my classes on human development, and it helped me analyze things from different perspectives. Likewise, through the diversity that is Mitchell, I learned to be understanding, empathetic, and patient. There is such a strong sense of community and acceptance at Mitchell, and that stuck with me.”

Marcucci said that, as with anything, the transition to graduate school can be hard and you have to learn how to adjust. She urged students who are looking at graduate school to pay attention to the values and mission of an institution to make sure they align with themselves.

Similar to an undergraduate program, “finding a community in graduate school that supports you and you want to be part of is crucial to your success,” she said.