Brown Bag Lunch
Highlights
Thursday, November 7
Presenter: Dr. Tom Edwards, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Why go to graduate
school?
Leading toward specialization – M.B.A., M.Ed., M.S.W., etc. can enhance your undergraduate degree and provide advanced training in a particular career focus (and usually leads to increased earning potential).
Leading toward diversity – on the other hand, a graduate degree doesn’t have to be based on your undergraduate studies. You can major in anything and still apply to law school, med school, and master’s programs. In graduate school you basically start all over; the programs teach you what you need to know (though there are pre-requisites for some programs, and the obvious things like understanding basic biology and chemistry before starting med school…) Graduate school will give you another few years to figure out exactly what you want to do, and can open new doors for career options. For example, combine your undergraduate studies in business and marketing with a graduate degree in a foreign language and work for an international bank.
Helping figure out what’s next – grad school is different than undergrad school. The learning environment is demanding, but the rewards are greater too, including personal and professional contacts that will last a lifetime. Obtaining an advanced degree is often regarded by employers as a demonstration of your commitment to learning, your motivation, discipline and basic intelligence.
Timing
Don’t underestimate how much time it takes to research graduate school opportunities, prepare applications, write essays, sit for required entrance exams, and even squeeze in one last course or internship needed as a pre-requisite!. Start at least six months ahead of the application deadline.
Research on-line, check out the Career Services resource library, talk with people who have obtained advanced degrees to solicit their opinions of graduate programs.
Sometime you can even get responses by e-mailing professors and program advisers with your questions.
Make a time line.
Pick at least two or three schools to apply to. Many schools offer on-line applications.
Yes, it takes time and costs money, but if you put all your eggs in one basket…Be open to new possibilities and opportunities! Any option is going to be interesting and you never know where it will lead; by building choices into your plans you can pick what’s most exciting.
Do you need to take the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT? Some people choose to take prep courses before taking the exam. Think SAT – do you generally do well with standardized tests or will preparation make a difference in your score. Many of these tests can now be taken on-line. Even if you aren’t sure about applying to grad school right away, take your GRE or other entrance exam now. It’s amazing what you forget just months out of college! These exams contain a lot of general knowledge questions; everything from algebra and biology to geography, grammar, economics, and more.
Letters of recommendation – how many and from whom? Take time to meet with the people you’d like recommendations from. If they are fully aware of your plans, they will be in a better position to comment on your ability and suitability for a graduate program.
Your essay. Put deliberate thought and effort into one good essay that can be tweaked for several applications. The same essay can likely be adapted and used to apply for scholarships!
Do it now. It’s easier to do when you are still young and relatively unencumbered. You can eat mac and cheese and drive a clunker for another year or two!
Finances
Research the possibility of a Teaching/Research Assistanceship. Many offer free or reduced tuition, sometime a stipend and/or campus housing. You won’t know if you don’t ask.
Explore other types of financial aid – scholarships,
employment related tuition reimbursement, student loans that can be forgiven or
reduced in exchange for your service (Americorps, Teach for
Remember that while you are a full-time student, your undergrad student loans repayment is usually deferred (be sure to check!!).
Are there others costs to consider? Travel to a