Getting In: Preparing for Grad School

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Getting In Preparing for Grad School

• Career Development Center Presentation
• Kerri Quick Kaplan Test Prep

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Session Agenda

• Who Are We and What Are Our Services
• The Future

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The Career Development Center

• Individual appointments with Career Counselors
• Resumes
• Applications
• Cover Letters
• Interview Preparation
• Internships
• Graduate School
• Targeting Your Dream Job
• Monday Friday
• 800 430
• Drop in Hours no appointment necessary
• W-TH, 100-300
• Tuesday Evenings open until 630
• We are here to help Top Floor University Center
• 570-422-3219

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RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and
youre entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks
Brothers gift certificate!
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RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and
youre entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks
Brothers gift certificate!
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RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and
youre entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks
Brothers gift certificate!
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November 8th
Seniors Only
EVOLVE College to Careers
In order to help graduating seniors prepare for
the next step, the Career Development Center
invites all graduating seniors for a program
designed to help them make the most of their
spring term and prepare for life after college.
Seniors will be informed of best practices on how
to increase their chances of success during an
interview, money management and transitioning to
a new community. Become informed of what soon to
expect in life after graduation.
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 100 p.m. 400 p.m.
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The Future

• There will be 55 million job openings through
  2020
• 24 million new jobs
• 31 million due to baby boom retirements
• 35 of job openings will require a bachelors
  degree
• Fastest growing industries - STEM, Healthcare
  Professions, Healthcare Support and Community
  Services
• Will require high levels of post-secondary
  education
• The U.S. will fall short by 5 million workers
  with postsecondary educations by 2020 at the
  current production rate

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NACE Salary Outlook 2014/Bureau of Labor
Statistics Occupational Outlook
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Reasons to Go..

• Intellectual interest
• Money
• Vocational interest

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Free Money..

• Teaching Assistantships
• Research/Graduate Assistantships
• Fellowships
• Grants
• LOANS

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Application Checklist

• Take appropriate standardized graduate admissions
  tests
• Forwards scores to schools of interest
• Obtain letters of recommendations
• Obtain original transcripts

• Draft, rewrite, polish statement of purpose
• Send materials to schools

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Additional Requirements/Items

• Writing Sample
• Clinical Hours
• International Applicants
• Interviews

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GPA

• Long-term indicator of your performance as a
  student
• Reflects motivation ability to do good or bad
  work
• Masters program requires a GPA of 3.0 or 3.3
• Doctoral programs require minimum GPAs 3.3 or
  3.5
• Admission committees look at courses taken
• Look at overall GPA and the relevant program
  courses
• Standardized exams GRE, MCAT, LSAT GMAT for
  comparisons

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GRADES

• It is what it is!!
• Obtain transcripts - learn your worst grade,
  worst semester, worst class
• GPA in Major vs. GPA Overall

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What if I Have a Low GPA?

• Take high quality courses
• Take more classes
• Take summer classes
• Consider delaying graduation with an extra
  semester
• After graduation take a few graduate courses to
  show aptitude

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Statement of Purpose

• The most important document of your Graduate
  application
• Can be 300, 500 or 750 words
• The Statement of Purpose required by graduate
  schools is probably the hardest thing you will
  ever write
• Through the essay you will speak to the committee
  and demonstrate your unique fit to the program
• Incidentally, the statement of purpose may also
  be called an Application Essay, Objectives for
  Graduate Study, Personal Background, Cover
  Letter, or some comparable title

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Essay Dos

• Prepare an outline and create a draft
• Answer all the questions being asked
• Make sure your essay has a theme or a thesis
• Provide evidence to support your claims
• Speak in the first person (I)
• Make your introduction unique
• Write clearly and make sure it is easy to read
• Be honest, confident, and be yourself
• Be interesting and positive
• Make sure your essay is organized, coherent, and
  concise
• Write about yourself and use examples from your
  own life experiences

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Essay Dos

• Use a mixture of long and short sentences
• Discuss your future goals
• Mention any hobbies, past jobs, community
  service, or research experience
• Mention weaknesses without making excuses
• Discuss why you're interested in the school
  and/or program
• Show, dont tell (Use examples to demonstrate
  your abilities
• Ask for help
• Proofread and revise your statement at least 3
  times
• Have others proofread your essay

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE-example- BORING

• Introduction
• First Sentence is the most important. Be
  creative.
• The following sentences should provide a brief
  explanation that supports the claim made in the
  first sentence.
• I am applying to the Master of Fine Arts program
  in creative writing at the University of Utah
  because I believe my writing will blossom at your
  program since it is a place where I will be
  challenged and I can hone my writing skills.

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE-example- HOOK!

• I am honored to apply for the Master of Library
  Science program at the University of Utah because
  as long as I can remember I have had a love
  affair with books. Since I was eleven I have
  known I wanted to be a librarian.
• When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed
  away and left me something that changed my life
  a library of about five thousand books. Some of
  my best days were spent arranging and reading her
  books. Since then, I have wanted to be a
  librarian.

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The Body

• Usually 3 paragraphs providing detailed evidence
  supporting the intro statement
• Each paragraph should have a transition statement
  to start a resolution statement to end
• Include experiences, accomplishments or other
  evidence to support claims
• Short summary of educational background is
  appropriate in first paragraph
• Do not repeat application information
• Last paragraph should explain why you should be
  accepted

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The Conclusion

• Last paragraph of your personal statement
• State why you are interested in studying the
  subject of interest
• State key points mentioned in the body in a
  conclusive brief manner (accomplishments,
  experiences)
• End on a positive note with 1-2 attention
  grabbing sentences

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Essays Donts

• Be defensive or arrogant
• Complain
• Preach
• Have your essay focus too much on other
  individuals
• Discuss politics or religion
• Give excuses for a low GPA
• Make lists of accomplishments, awards, skills, or
  personal qualities (Show, dont tell)
• Write a term paper or an autobiography
• Summarize your resume
• Include information already cited on the
  application

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Essays Donts

• Becoming increasingly popular/preferred
• Replacing objective statement
• Replaces the this is what I want objective
  statement with a this is the value that I offer
  branding statement Have any grammar or spelling
  errors. (Proofread!)
• Be wordy or use jargon (dont try to impress the
  readers by using big words)
• Swear or use slang
• Digress or be repetitive
• Be boring
• Generalize
• Include clichés
• Use gimmicks
• Be comical (a little humor is okay but remember
  it can be misconstrued)

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How To Get The Best Letters Of Recommendation

• Build relationships over time
• Be nice!
• Start in SEPTEMEBER
• Have your transcripts/resume ready to familiarize
  them with your performance
• The reference may take it upon themselves to call
  the person directly
• KEEP IN TOUCHdont burn your bridges!

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Deadlines

• Apply for acceptance in SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
• DEADLINES fall around DECEMBER, JANUARY AND
  FEBRUARY
• Be sure to check for open or rolling admissions

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GRE Test Breakdown
Section Number of Questions Allotted Time
Analytical Writing (One section, Two timed tasks) One Analyze an Issue task and One Analyze an Argument task 30 minutes per task
Verbal Reasoning (Two sections) Approximately 20 questions per section 30 minutes per section
Quantitative Reasoning (Two sections) Approximately 20 questions per section 35 minutes per section
Unscored Varies Varies
Research Varies Varies
Total Testing Time About 4 hours Total Testing Time About 4 hours Total Testing Time About 4 hours
There is a 10-minute break following the third
section and a 1-minute break between other
sections.
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The GRE Multi-Stage Test (MST) Adapts at
Section Level

• Verbal Section 2a
• 20 Questions
• 6 Text Completion
• 4 Sentence Equivalence
• 10 Reading Comprehension

Highest potential score range

• Verbal Section 1
• 20 Questions
• 6 Text Completion
• 4 Sentence Equivalence
• 10 Reading Comprehension

• Verbal Section 2b
• 20 Questions
• 6 Text Completion
• 4 Sentence Equivalence
• 10 Reading Comprehension

Middle potential score range

• Verbal Section 2c
• 20 Questions
• 6 Text Completion
• 4 Sentence Equivalence
• 10 Reading Comprehension

Lowest potential score range
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The GRE Multi-Stage Test (MST) Adapts
at Section Level

• Quantitative Section 2a
• 20 Questions
• 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
• 9-10 Problem Solving
• 3 Data Interpretation

Highest potential score range

• Quantitative Section 1
• 20 Questions
• 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
• 9-10 Problem Solving
• 3 Data Interpretation

• Quantitative Section 2b
• 20 Questions
• 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
• 9-10 Problem Solving
• 3 Data Interpretation

Middle potential score range

• Quantitative Section 2c
• 20 Questions
• 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
• 9-10 Problem Solving
• 3 Data Interpretation

Lowest potential score range
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GRE Score Distribution
162-164
130
151 151
162 159 153
164 159 154
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GRE Scoring and Other Details

• Scoring for Verbal and Quantitative Sections
  130-170 in one point increments and 150 will be
  the mean AWA has a 0-6 scoring scale in
  half-point increments
• Unofficial Quant and Verbal scores are available
  right after you finish the test with a 130-170
  score official scores, including writing score
  are mailed to you and the schools you select
  10-15 days later
• Must wait 30 days to retest
• The test is offered every day of the year except
  Sundays and major holidays. Register at
  www.gre.org
• The cost of the test is 185
• Test scores are good for 5 years

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What the GMAT Covers
Integrated Reasoning Questions 12 multi-part
questions Time 30 minutes Question Types
Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two-part
analysis, Multi-source reasoning
VERBAL
Length 4 hours
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Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) Scoring
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GMAT Scoring Scale
90th
7700
80th
660
60th
590
550
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GMAT Scoring and Other Details

• Total GMAT score ranges from 200 800, AWA has a
  0-6 scoring scale in half-point increments
• Integrated Reasoning scores range from 1 to 8 in
  single-digit intervals. Like the AWA, the IR
  scores are computed separately from the
  Quantitative and Verbal sections and have no
  effect on the Total score.
• Unofficial scores will be available immediately,
  official scores will be sent in approximately 20
  calendar days
• Must wait 30 days to retest
• The test is offered every day of the year except
  Sundays and major holidays. Register at mba.com
• The cost of the test is 250
• Scores are good for 5 years

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LSAT Test Breakdown
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LSAT Scoring Scale
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LSAT Scoring and Other Details

• The LSAT is a paper and pencil test offer 4 times
  per year June, September/October, December, and
  February
• Scored by raw score (number of questions
  correct), scaled score (120-180) and percentile
  score (you score compared to other test takers)
• Can be taken 3 times in 2 years, scores good for
  5 years
• Cost of test is 160, register at lsac.org

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MCAT 2015 Test Breakdown
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MCAT 2015
Test Cost Offered Retaking Validity Avg Prep
Time Application Deadlines Where to register
275 Approx. 28 times/year in Jan, Mar Sep No
lifetime limit can only take 3x/year 3
years 300 hours Accepted on a rolling basis
starting in June www.aamc.org
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MCAT Scoring and Other Details

• Registration opens up in February 2015 with a
  registration cost of 300. A 150 Amazon gift
  card will be given to April 2015 examinees. Test
  dates run April through September of 2015.
• Each of the four sections on MCAT 2015 will be
  scored 118-132, for a total possible score of
  528.  The mean is expected to be 125 per section
  for a total mean score of 500.

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Take a Free Practice Test

• Experience the exam under proctored conditions
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• Learn strategies to prepare
• Choose your date and register http//bit.ly/EastS
  troudsburg

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Thank You Kerri Quick Market Manager Kaplan Test
Prep 570-225-8648 kerri.quick_at_kaplan.com www.kapte
st.com