Michael McClelland '07

Three countries in three years sounds like a traveler's dream. But for Michael McClelland, this dream will soon be reality. McClelland is working on his Master's degree in communication regulation and policy at the acclaimed London School of Economics. His passport will be put to use again when he graduates in September. "I was awarded a three-year fellowship with WPP, the world's largest advertising conglomerate," says McClelland. "Each year, I'll be in a different country and a different discipline within the communications world."

McClelland, who studied English at Allegheny, notes that his undergraduate education has proven beneficial in graduate school. "I find that I am better prepared than many of my classmates, who are from top schools all over the world, because of the attention Allegheny professors paid to making sure students knew how to structure essays and critically analyze readings," he says. And the comp was particularly helpful, he explains. "Graduate school revolves around so much independent work and self-structuring of time. Working on a comp is great practice for this."

McClelland advises students to follow a path about which they are extremely enthusiastic. "Enthusiasm and commitment rank just as high as grades in anyone's book," he says. "I always get the strangest looks when I say I was a creative writing major and music and history minor. However, that's what Allegheny does for you, no matter what. You get a core set of skills that will benefit you no matter what field you enter."

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The First Five is a series of profiles celebrating the accomplishments of recent Allegheny College graduates in their first five years as alumni. Read more First Five profiles here.