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 Doctorate’s
Overview
– Research related to
professional practice
– Practical hands-on
training
– Research related to
contributing to the
breadth of scholarly
work.
– Research-focused
• Examples:
M.D., J.D.
Doctorate in Psychology
Psy.D.
Doctorate in Education
Ed.D
• 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 “entrylevel 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 fulltime 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 Center
Bell Tower 1548
career.services@csuci.edu
(805) 437-3270