Nik Filip Shares Valuable Work Experience Post-Graduation and Acceptance into Notre Dame

Nik Filip, a Spring 2022 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) graduate, shares his valuable work experience post-graduation and acceptance into the Master of Nonprofit Administration at the University of Notre Dame.

Nik, can you tell us about your academic history when you were a student at Virginia Tech?

While at Virginia Tech, I majored in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). In my senior year, I was inducted into the nation’s oldest academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. I found that Virginia Tech had excellent professors who were always willing to go the extra mile to see their students succeed in the classroom. I would not be where I am today without my excellent professors during my undergraduate career.

Outside the classroom, I worked as an ambassador for the PPE program and served as Editor-in-Chief for the program’s newly founded undergraduate journal, The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Review. These experiences expanded my socializing and leadership skills.

Tell us about your post-graduation work experience.

After graduation, I worked in a Congressional office. I started as a Staff Assistant and was promoted to Field Representative after about a year. In this role, I would travel throughout the district to represent the congressman at events and meetings. Perhaps the most rewarding part of my job was working cases on behalf of constituents. A case is basically an issue someone is having in dealing with the federal government. Our office would assist individuals in getting their social security benefits, acquiring their passports, receiving their federal tax refunds, among other things. It felt good to carry out Virginia Tech’s motto Ut Prosim every day at work.

Can you tell us what sparked your interest in applying to the Master of Nonprofit Administration at Notre Dame, and what the application/acceptance process looked like?

During my time as an undergraduate, I was a firefighter and EMT for Blacksburg and other local communities. While performing these duties, I witnessed a pressing need for more mental health services. I have had access to some of the best mental health resources throughout my life, and I feel it is my responsibility to work to expand access to such treatment for everyone. After graduation from Notre Dame’s Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) program, I hope to go into a mental health nonprofit in the Chicago area.

The application process was extensive, but certainly manageable. The University of Notre Dame has individuals who are always more than willing to assist in the recruitment and application process. There were a few short essays and statements of purpose. Additionally, there was an interview at the end of the process. Last December, I got a phone call from the university that I had been accepted to the MNA program!

How did PPE help set you up for success?

PPE was instrumental in the process of training me to look at social issues from a variety of angles. So far, I have noticed parallels between the PPE program at Virginia Tech and the MNA program at Notre Dame. For example, when looking at a nonprofit’s activities and programs, one has to consider the financial cost of performing the activities and account for them accordingly, the legality and ethics of the activities, as well as the practicality and feasibility of the programs.

Nik, thank you very much for taking the time to share your experiences. The faculty and staff of the Kellogg Center wish you the best of luck going forward. We are proud of your achievements!