Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael D. Finkley.
Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When growing up in rural South Carolina, my mama always told my sisters and I to aim for a career instead of a job. In the 8th grade, I had my first and only black male teacher. I told myself, “I want to do what he does!” At the time, I did not know you had to go to college to pursue this dream. Fast forward to senior year in high school to where the conversation was more focused on college. Currently, I did not have any college in mind, nor did I apply for any scholarships. Through the assistance of my university, I was able to complete the admissions process, my financial aid and even apply for scholarships.
When I entered the halls and walls of my institution, I began working in the Office of Admissions my first year. This was when I found out I was a first-generation student. I fell in love. I did this all four years. When I graduated from college, I started working in college admissions professionally. Over the past ten years, I have worked for HBCUs, PWIs, For-Profit Institutions, and Technical/Community Colleges in admissions. With my experience, I launched The Finkley Experience. The Finkley Experience is an educational consulting firm that guides students (first generation) and trains administrators on the college process. We call this: FIRST GENERATION EDUCATION.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had this conversation with many people. I see this process of starting a business as building a house. Many cheers you on to start the process of building, but they never tell you how to build and form the blueprint; that is all up to you! Over the years, I have knocked down walls to extend and add on, changed colors of rooms, and currently the roof is almost done. The process of building a brand is hard, but it is so worth it. I am enjoying the process. I am learning a lot about myself and that is the point. The process is about you (the tears, laughs, smiles, and frowns), but the result is for everyone else to enjoy along with self.
The Finkley Experience – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Did you know that only 11% of low-income, first-generation college students will have a college degree within six years of enrolling in school or 36% of first-generation students in their first or second year of undergraduate education reported taking a developmental class? This is what the “experts” are saying about us, but these statements do not have to be our “period.”
Here at The Finkley Experience, we focus on college readiness for low-income, first generation students. We call this FIRST-GENERATION EDUCATION. We provide the resources needed for students to be successful within the college admissions process while in high school, we train school administrators how to prepare their first generation high school students on the college process, and finally, we partner with colleges/universities in preparing their first generation college student population on their first year of college.
What makes us different?
Finkley is equipped with a unique array of experiences at colleges and universities—in the Northeast to the Deep South—in a variety of roles including college admissions, career services, and teaching. No one can deliver, train and capture an audience like The Finkley Experience.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When students I have worked with over the years come back to me with updates of success (in their right), this gives me a charge like no other. This charge allows me to keep going and assist the next student fully and effectively. I can say to myself, “I am made a small difference in their lives.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheFinkleyExperience.com
- Phone: (603) 661-1600
- Email: michael@thefinkleyexperience.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinkleyexperience/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefinkleyexperience/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_finkleyex
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChIPlW58EaMX6eqlnMX1rPg
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