Graduate School Bound Program

Online Module #1 Topic: Graduate School 101, Career & Educational

Goals

Graduate School Bound Program Objectives

• To provide undergraduate CI students with assistance in the exploration and preparation process for graduate school through a series of online, self-guided modules• To connect undergraduate CI

students with the resources provided by Career Development Services

Module #1 Learning Outcomes

1. Identify graduate school timeline, types of graduate degrees, and application process.

2. Describe how career goals are aligned with the graduate school exploration process.

3. Set goals related to the graduate school application process.

4. State 2 reasons for attending graduate school.

Reflective Journal Questions

Before you begin, reflect on the following questions and take a few minutes to jot down your responses…

1. What lead you to Graduate School Bound Program?

2. What is your commitment level to pursuing graduate school?

3. Where do you see yourself in the next five years academically and professionally?

4. When during each week can you devote time to the graduate school preparation process?

Types of Graduate Degrees

Professional & Research Master’s

• Professional Master’s Overview– Skills– Hands-on Experience– Fieldwork– Practice Oriented

• Examples:Master of Arts (M.A.)

Masters of Education (M.Ed.)

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A)

• Research Master’s Overview– Academic Scholarly

Focused– Research Oriented– Thesis

• Example:Master of Science

(M.S.)

Professional & Research Doctorate’s

• Professional Doctorate’s Overview– Research related to

professional practice– Practical hands-on

training

• Examples: M.D., J.D.

Doctorate in Psychology Psy.D.

Doctorate in Education

Ed.D

• Research Doctorate’s Overview– Research related to

contributing to the breadth of scholarly work.

– Research-focused

• Examples:Ph.D in Sociology

Ph.D in History

Ph.D in Chemistry

Research Careers & Educational

Requirements

Fastest Growing Occupations

Find out about the fastest growing occupations at the following link…

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Journal on the following question: Does the career you are interested in

require graduate level education? If so, what type of graduate program?

Choosing to Attend Graduate School

Why do People Choose to Attend Graduate School?• People want to achieve a specific career

goal: Find out if graduate school is required to qualify for your career goal.

Go to http://www.myplan.com to search for careers. Review

education required for careers.

• People want to earn more $• People want to stay marketable:

Although many “entry-level” jobs do not require a master’s degree, to move up in a company having a master’s makes you more competitive

Questions to consider when deciding whether

to pursue Graduate School:

• What do I want to accomplish in my lifetime?

• What are my long-term and short-range professional goals?

• Is graduate school necessary for me to achieve these goals?

• Do I have the interest and passion to succeed in a graduate program?

• Will the amount of time and money spent on a program ultimately translate into greater career mobility and financial possibilities?

• Am I willing to meet the extensive research, course work and major paper demands of another academic program?

When should you consider graduate

school?• Reasons for going straight to graduate school after obtaining your bachelor’s degree: – You’re accustomed to being a student and have the

motivation, student skills, and momentum– Some occupations require an advanced degree even

for “entry-level positions”

• Reasons for working a few years before going to graduate school:– You can better understand your career goals by

working in the field for a few years – Some graduate programs require experience – Some employers will pay for your graduate school– Waiting could allow time to gain financial stability

Combining Work and Graduate School

• Another solution to balancing graduate school and full-time employment….– Find employment with a company that offers

tuition assistance programs as part of their benefits package

– Some companies combine a tuition assistance benefit with a “front-pay” option that allows direct billing from the college to the company

– Usually, classes must be taken during evenings or weekends to qualify for assistance

– Find a graduate program that is flexible to a working professional’s schedule

Setting Goals & Achieving Them• You should be setting both long-term and short-term goals related

to graduate school preparation.

– Long-term goals are those that you should be able to achieve in about three to five years

– Short-term goals are those that you should be able to achieve in about one to three years

• For goals to be achievable they must be:

– Specific- what are you going to do? Why is this important to do? What do you ultimately want to accomplish?

– Measurable-select a goal with measurable progress and establish criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal/

– Attainable-a goal should stretch you slightly so you feel you can reasonably attain the goal.

– Realistic-is this goal do-able? Devise a plan or way of getting there which makes the goal realistic.

– Timely-set a timeframe for the goal. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

Practice Setting Goals• Set five goals related to graduate school

planning and preparation. Remember to use the acronym below to “test” out your goals.

• For goals to be achievable they must be:

– Specific–Measurable– Attainable– Realistic– Timely

Graduate School Research Databases

Setup Accounts to Research Graduate Programs Using the Following Websites:• http://www.myplan.com

• www.graduateguide.com

• www.eureka.org

Steps for Eureka.org:

– Click Students/Clients

– Enter Site ID Code: X123WKC

– Select “Go to Dashboard” link

– Select “Education” tab

– Select “Colleges/Universities Filter”

– Enter Search Criteria and select “View Summary & Results”

Additional Websites for Graduate School

Research:• Peterson's Graduate and Professional Schools -

www.petersons.com

• Grad Schools - www.gradschools.com

• Grad Guide - www.graduateguide.com

• Graduate and Professional School Profiles - www.gradprofiles.com

• Council of Graduate Schools - www.cgsnet.org

• Association for Support of Graduate Students - www.asgs.org

• National Association of Graduate-Professional Students - www.nagps.org

• U.S. News & World Report Rankings & Guides - www.usnews.com/usnews/rankguide/rghome.htm

Graduate School Applications

Graduate School Application Process:

Application policies and timelines vary greatly between institutions and even among departments within the same institutions. Make sure you have obtained the most recent information from schools to which you are applying. The way you present yourself and your achievements should be tailored to each specific program.

Graduate School Application Process

Cont’d…You may be required to supply the following in order to be considered for admission to a graduate program:

Completed application Official undergraduate transcript(s) from the Registrar's

office Personal essay/statement of purpose Required entrance examination scores Letters of recommendations (minimum 3) Writing sample, tape, portfolio, audition as requested Application fee (typically ranges from $50.00 to $75.00) Personal interview (prepare for the interview by

participating in a Mock Interview at the Career Development Center, Bell Tower 1548)

Graduate School Application Documents:

Completed Application–Be sure that each application you

submit is complete, accurate and on time. –Applicants greatly out number the

spaces available in graduate school, so answer all questions and adhere to the deadlines.

Graduate School Application Documents:

Transcript: –An official transcript from the

registrar's office must be sent directly from the institutions you have attended to the schools to which you are applying. –Make sure you get the addresses

correct.

Graduate School Application Documents:

Personal Essay/Statement of Purpose: – The purpose of the personal statement is

to show the admissions committee how you think and writing ability.

– Your goal in writing a personal statement is to create a portrait that is both persuasive and personal.

– It should be a concise, well-written essay about your background, knowledge of the field and your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the field or profession you have chosen.

Graduate School Application Documents:

Admissions Examinations: – Schools will designate which qualifying

examinations are required for your chosen discipline. Educational Testing Services (ETS), www.ets.org, provides information on a number of admissions examinations.

– There are a variety of private testing preparation organizations.:• Kaplan: www.kaptest.com/• Princeton Review:

www.princetonreview.com/gre/• ETS:

http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare

Test Prep Services to Help You Prepare for the

Appropriate Entrance Exam:• Graduate Records Exam (GRE) - www.gre.org

• Miller Analogies Test (MAT) - www.milleranalogies.com

• Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) - www.lsac.org

• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) - www.mba.com/mba

• Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) - www.aamc.org/students/mcat

• Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) - www.ada.org

• Veterinary Aptitude Test (VAT) - aavmc.org

• Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) - www.opted.org

• Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) - www.pcat.info

• Teacher Testing (PRAXIS) - www.ets.org/praxis

• Plan to take the appropriate entrance examination during your junior year or at the latest during the fall of your senior year if you plan to go on to graduate school immediately after college.

Letters of Recommendation:• Most graduate programs will require three to four

letters of recommendation• The letters should communicate your ability to study

at the graduate level, undergraduate preparation, and commitment level to the proposed field of study

• Your best choices for recommenders are:– Undergraduate professors (preferably in your

major)• Provide a minimum of 2-4 weeks advanced

notice– Professionals who have supervised you in

volunteer or internships related to your graduate field

– Employers

Letters of Recommendation:• It is strongly encouraged that you request letters from

faculty who can comment on your academic preparation, potential for graduate study, and commitment to your proposed field of study. If a professor is not well acquainted with you, provide him/her with a resume of your professional goals and academic background. Also, provide each with a stamped envelope addressed to the appropriate graduate school.

• Professors should be your first choice to ask, however you can also ask: – Teacher's Assistants – Colleagues– Graduate students in your proposed field or program

of interest

Suggested Graduate School Checklist

Timeline:Six months prior to applying: Research areas of interest, institutions and programs

Register and prepare for appropriate admission tests

If appropriate, obtain letters of recommendation

Three months prior to applying:

Take required admissions tests

Obtain application materials

Visit institutions of interest, if possible

Write a draft of your application essay

Get feedback from 3 academic professionals regarding your application essay

If needed for medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school, register for the national application or data assembly service

Suggested Graduate School Checklist Timeline Cont’d…Fall Semester:

1 year before starting graduate school: Take admission tests Send in completed applications Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

and the CSS Financial Aid Profile, if required.

Spring Semester:

1 semester before starting graduate school: Check with all institutions before the deadline to make sure

your file is complete. Send a deposit to your institution of choice. Notify other colleges and universities that accepted you of your

decision so that they may admit students on their waiting list. Send thank you notes to people who wrote your

recommendation letters, informing them of your success.

Questions on this Module?

Preparing for graduate school is a multi-staged process.

Visit Career Development Services during Drop-In Career Counseling to get your questions answered. Every Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Career Development CenterBell Tower 1548career.services@csuci.edu(805) 437-3270