The Graduate School Process

1
The Graduate School Process

• FAQs and other helpful info!

2
Objectives

• Career Showcase Papers due
• Networking Activity
• Grad School Decisions Advice
• Guest Panel QA at 445pm
• Education
• Law School
• MBA Program

3
Networking

• Pick a word from the envelope and find others
  with the same word in different languages (i.e.
  good night, bonne nuit, oyasumi)
• Talk about
• what you plan to do after graduation (work, grad
  school, time off)
• Future grad school plans or experience that you
  have around the grad admissions process.

4
Tim StephenTorn Between Classes Working to
Educated

• Both Tim Stephen came from working class
  families. Tim felt the need to prove his success
  to others through law being in the inner
  ring Stephen worked hard to become a business
  owner in solar energy.
• What do you take away from these stories?
• Are your reasons for pursuing grad school or a
  particular career to prove your worth to others
  or to realize your own dream?

5
What do you want?

• What do you want your life to look like in 5,
  10, or 20 years?
• Will your major or current job/ internship/
  education help you get there?
• Do you need more schooling or experience?
• Do you need a back-up plan?
• If you fail to plan then you plan to fail

6
First things first

• Decision-making to attend or not to attend
• Requires careful thought
• Here are some questions you should ask yourself

7
Do I really love the field enough to obtain an
advanced degree?

• Need enthusiasm in this area you plan to pursue
• Investigate
• Ask professors or professionals
• Talk to alumni/graduates from a program
• Research your options and school info
• Ask your family if you seem comfortable
• Books (printed, online, or CD-ROM)
• Rankings printed in news magazines and newspapers
• Consider accreditation or licensure requirements

8
Is an advanced degree required to enter a
particular profession?

• In many professional fields, advanced education
  is a necessity (e.g. medicine, law, psychology,
  etc.)
• A degree may enhance your earning power
• Increased degree increased responsibility

9
Do I have the financial resources to cover the
cost?

• Take time off and work to save up
• Work with education paid or waived through the
  company
• Finance grad school through other means such as
  fellowships, assistantships, or loans.

10
Am I burned out or is experience required?

• Think about whether or not you are ready to
  handle another 1-7 years of school
• Do you need time off to get a better perspective
  of your life or career goal?
• Some students need time to discover themselves
• Your field may require work experience
• (e.g. MBA)

11
When to attend?

• Most opt to wait a year or two before continuing
  their education
• 20-30 of college seniors enroll immediately
  after graduation
• However, if you do go right away, there is more
  continuity and undergrad loans can be deferred

12
How to Approach a Grad School

• Find out which schools offer the degree you want
  (www.collegeboard.com or www.florida.echoices.com)
  
• Go to University Web page and then the Department
  Web page
• Look up specific specialty areas
• Look at course requirements
• Look at info of currently enrolled students

13
Making it into a Top Graduate School hints

• Book available in reference section of Ed
  Library- refer to it for more details
• Offered a ten step process for deciding and
  applying to grad schools

14
Steps One, Two, and Three

• Make sure you are ready for grad school
• Assess academic record- can you get in? Look at
  school requirements to determine competitiveness
• Study programs carefully!
• Give yourself every opportunity to experience
  work, volunteering, or internships to confirm
  your choice
• Explore as many schools programs and profiles of
  entering candidates
• Make a timetable of all application deadlines for
  application, recommendations, test scores,
  financial aid applications, etc.

15
Steps Four, Five, and Six

• Examine GPA and test requirements- do you have a
  shot? Be realistic
• Try to strengthen weaknesses
• Prep for graduate tests (40-80 hours)
• Do your personal statement / application questions

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Steps Seven, Eight Nine

• Relate work experience to graduate aims
• If you lack it, spend some time getting it
• In application, write about relevant experiences
  with enthusiasm!
• Market yourself- call schools, talk to people in
  the department
• Identify strengths and call attention to them
• Study financial aid data of schools you apply to
• Pursue financial aid

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And Finally Step Ten

• Read application thoroughly, looking at all
  deadlines and requirements
• Limit responses to space given
• PROOFREAD!!!
• Keep record of everything you send in
• Keep file of correspondence with people writing
  recommendations

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Letters of Recommendation

• Figure out what you would want them to say about
  you
• Provide resume, personal statement and list of
  activities or ways they knew you in an
  educational/professional capacity (write them a
  rough draft)
• Provide envelope addressed to admissions dept w/
  self-addressed postcard to indicate they have
  received it.

19
Personal Statements

• Answer the questions that are asked - don't be
  tempted to use the same statement for all
  applications.
• Tell a story demonstrate through concrete
  experience and make it memorable.
• Be specific - back up your statements with
  specifics. Your application should emerge as the
  logical conclusion to your story.
• Find an angle - make your statement interesting
  with an angle or a "hook."
• Concentrate on your opening paragraph - the lead
  paragraph is where that you grab the reader's
  attention or lose it and becomes the framework
  for your statement.
• Tell what you know - detail your interest and
  experience in your particular field, as well as
  some of your knowledge of the field. Refer to
  experiences (work, research, etc.), classes,
  conversations with people in the field, books
  you've read, seminars you've attended, or any
  other source of specific information about the
  career you want and why you're suited to it.

20
Personal Statements

• Don't include some subjects - references to
  experiences or accomplishments in high school or
  earlier are generally not a good idea and don't
  mention potentially controversial subjects (for
  example, controversial religious or political
  issues).
• Do some research, if needed - If a school wants
  to know why you're applying to it rather than
  another school, do some research to find out what
  sets your choice apart from other universities or
  programs. If the school setting would provide an
  important geographical or cultural change for
  you, this might be a factor to mention.
• Write well and correctly - Be meticulous. Type
  and proofread your essay very carefully. Express
  yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated
  word limits.
• Avoid clichés - A medical school applicant who
  writes that he is good at science and wants to
  help other people is not exactly expressing an
  original thought. Stay away from often-repeated
  or tired statements.

21
Financial Aid

• File all required forms
• FASFA
• Specific ones for school, program, etc
• Research other financial opportunities!
• FastWeb
• Collegeboard.com/student/pay
• Explore alternate options if your top choice is
  expensive
• Draw up a financial plan with money you have and
  money you will need!

22
Financing your education

• Fellowships or traineeships
• Teaching/Research assistantships
• Grants and loans

23
Fellowships/Traineeships

• Awarded on basis of academic merit
• Could be offered by the school itself or an
  outside organization
• Generally they pay for your tuition and provide a
  stipend for living expenses
• Highly competitive

24
Teaching / Research Assistantships

• Research assistantships
• Found esp. in science/engineering fields
• Assist faculty on research projects
• Teaching assistantships
• Run a lab/discussion or teach an undergrad class
• Generally 20 hours/week
• Both of these are usually reserved for doctorate
  students, but there are exceptions
• Other positions at your school may offer similar
  compensation (e.g. residence hall counselor,
  other positions unrelated to your field)

25
Grants and Loans

• May come from state, school, or employer
• Most are need-based
• If you are not a dependent on your parents tax
  forms, you have a high chance of being able to
  receive a loan or grant
• They consider your gross income from the year
  before you enter grad school
• Subsidized are the best (interest doesnt accrue
  until graduation).

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Grad school financing stats (1995-1996)
27
Helpful Websites

• plaza.ufl.edu/cpence
• www.admissionsessays.com
• www.gradschools.com
• www.justcolleges.com
• studentaid.ed.gov
• Do a search! Try Applying to graduate school or
  personal statements
• There are many sites out there, but be careful of
  those you must pay to use their services.

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What if you dont get in?

• Apply to more schools and have a back up
• Apply again, but get your application in earlier
• Get an internship or a job in the targeted field
• Summer school if missing requirements or you need
  to strengthen your academics
• Take one class at a time as a non-enrolled student

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For next week

• Resumes Correspondence
• Read Bronson Ch 17 29
• Lady J pursues her passion in radio part-time
• Leela left her passion to pursue something more
  realistic, but never really found something she
  loved
• Bring Resume to class!
• Personal Career Visions continued
• Genograms Lifelines due

30
Guest Panel QA

• Colleen Swain, Ph.D.
• Associate Director Graduate Coordinator
• School of Teaching and Learning
• Noemar Castro
• Admissions Office
• Levin College of Law
• Michelle Lovell
• Associate Director of Admissions
• Florida MBA Programs