Graduate School Bound Program Online Module #1 Topic: Graduate School 101, Career & Educational Goals ADD ALT TEXT TO BOTH IMAGES

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 Identify graduate school timeline, types of graduate degrees, and application process. Describe how career goals are aligned with the graduate school exploration process. Set goals related to the graduate school application process. 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 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 Center Bell Tower 1548 career.services@csuci.edu (805) 437-3270