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Grad School vs. Job

I’m about to get my diploma… and everyone is asking me… “…what’s next?”. Grad School vs. Job. Exploring Careers & Making Choices. Connie Horwitz, Associate Director. Think big. Plan big. Succeed. Career Development Center Project Center, Lower Level • www.wpi.edu/+CDC

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Grad School vs. Job

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  1. I’m about to get my diploma… and everyone is asking me… “…what’s next?”

    Grad School vs. Job

    Exploring Careers & Making Choices Connie Horwitz, Associate Director Think big. Plan big. Succeed. Career Development Center Project Center, Lower Level • www.wpi.edu/+CDC (508) 831-5260 • cdc@wpi.edu • AIM: CDCatWPI
  2. Agenda This session is intended to cover 3 things: Provide key questions to consider when deciding on attending graduate school vs. accepting a job Provide resources to guide your decisions Offer you time to reflect on your current and future priorities Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.~Author Unknown
  3. So where do I begin? Four keystones to deciding on Graduate School Self-Assessment Research Jobs/Careers Researching schools and programs Application/Acceptance Feasibility Review : Personal obligations- e.g., timeline, budget
  4. Self-Assessment: Key Questions Go ahead- start writing down your own answers! What are my short and long term goals? Where do I see myself a year after WPI—really? Will an advanced degree help me to obtain these goals? or is it downright required? Will work experience help me to obtain these goals? Could it actually help me select the right grad program? Am I able/willing to invest the time, effort, and expense required for graduate study? or depend on myemployer to foot the bill?
  5. Self-Assessment:Key Questions Am I pursuing graduate school because I don’t know what else to do with my life and career? Ask Yourself: Am I really ready to focus on one topic or a narrow range of topics for the next 2-7 years? Am I comfortable initiating and carrying out independent research? Teaching? (Ph.D. programs are highly academic and research oriented) Are you prepared to spend the majority of the next 2-7 years studying while living on a limited budget? Living a student lifestyle---again? Do you need a psychological break from school? “Am I ready to wake up and find myself in a classroom again after just graduating---finally?!”
  6. Self-Assessment:Compare Careers Empirically What jobs are you qualified for with a Bachelor’s degree from WPI? Check out WPI JobFinder www.indeed.com What jobs will a Master’s degree make you eligible for? Will programs take you right out of college? .
  7. Research is VERY Important Researching for Grad Programs Using CDC Resources, Online Resources, Networking Meeting benchmarks, e.g., tests, visiting Researching for Jobs Using CDC Resources, Online Resources, Networking Tracking and evaluating progress
  8. Research: Exploring Careers & Programs WPI CDC – Search for graduate programs more on next slide! Sloan Career Cornerstone – explore career paths www.careercornerstone.org/ Occupational Outlook Handbook – explore forecasts www.bls.gov./oco/ Professional Associations – explore industry
  9. Online Resources for the Sciences Biochemistry American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biotechnology Industry Organization Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology NIH (National Institute of Health) NSF (National Science Foundation) Biology American Institute of Biological Sciences American Physiological Society American Society for Microbiology Interdisciplinary Plant Research PreHealth Center Career Corner Stone Resources Biotechnology American Institute of Biological Sciences American Physiological Society American Society for Microbiology Botanical Society of America Interdisciplinary Plant Research PreHealth Center Groups Mass Bio Council Biotech & BioPharma Professionals Bio Careers The Official WPI Alumni Group Hash-tags #Bio #Biology #jobs or #careers - in TweetDeck search Bio Jobs #MassBio #digPharma #BioMed
  10. Research:Finding Schools & Programs Resources on: http://www.wpi.edu/Admin/CDC/grad.html Some online resources include Petersons - Peterson's is a leading search provider of colleges and universities, graduate schools, online degrees, private schools and study guides to students Graduate Guide Home - US graduate schools, masters, doctorate, law programs - Search for graduate school, law school, doctorate and MBA programs by major and state, university contact details and email forms. Sections cover admission tests, financial aid and more Best Graduate Schools—US News and World Report - U.S. News has collected data from more than 12,000 graduate programs to bring you this year's rankings. Start by selecting a discipline for access to our top program rankings. US News You Tube Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUtxtqPIx0w
  11. Grad School Applications:Resources WPI CDC webpage: Application Needs www.wpi.edu/Admin/CDC/application.html WPI Graduate Programs: http://grad.wpi.edu/Prospective/degrees.html
  12. Choices:When Choosing Graduate School Is the school accredited? Who is the competition? Does geographic location play a role for you? Cost of living? Access to lifestyle needs? What are your research interests? What has the faculty pursued at the institution? Is there Financial Aid/Research Fellowships? What Academic resources are at your disposal? What is the profile of a successful student in the program?
  13. Choices:When Choosing Graduate School For Master’s students- do they offer Ph.D. programs? For Professional programs- What are the career prospects after graduation? How do they help? For Doctoral Candidates: Average length of time Previous Dissertation Topics Possibilities of funding for research/previous grants awarded?
  14. Exploring a Potential Job Research actual job descriptions (e.g., indeed.com) and select those that resonate with you the most (top 10)---regardless of location Conduct Informational Interviews to learn about what people do to gain entry in these roles Attend Career Fairs now: speak with Recruiters and learn about what roles they like to hire entry level candidates for with your major---Apply!! Be proactive in introducing yourself to a potential employer---don’t just look at major well-known companies: tap the smaller ones who could use help!
  15. Choices – Job Search Who has given me an offer? What are my responsibilities? Is there room for growth? Will I learn something? Will I work well with the people there? Who ARE the people that will surround me? Is the location one I am genuinely ok with? Are the benefits “good” benefits? Does the whole thing sound exciting?
  16. Choices: Jobs vs. Grad School What is my financial situation? Will I recoup the cost of the degree when I enter the workforce? Am I absolutely certain about an advanced degree? Is this the right one or a repeat of my Bachelor’s? What are the pros to each? … the cons? What do I feel comfortable with? In my heart, where do I really want to be upon graduation: immediately in the real world or holding the real world off to remain in the classroom a bit longer?
  17. The combined search: Grad School vs. Job Similarities: Cover Letters & Personal Statements Resumes & Applications Interviews & Interviews  Differences: Timeline Cost of application
  18. Upcoming Career-Related Events Resume Writing, Wednesday, 1/16/2013, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM, Salisbury Laboratories, SL402 How to Find an Internship or Job, Thursday, 1/24/2013, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM, Salisbury Laboratories, SL105 Practice Interview Day, Tuesday, 1/29/2013, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Project Center, CDC Write Your First College Resume, Thursday, 1/31/2013, 5:00 PM-6:00 PM, Salisbury Laboratories, SL104 Learn How to Interview, Monday, 2/4/2013, 6:00 PM-7:00 PM, Salisbury Laboratories, SL104 Employer Resume Critiques, Monday, 2/4/2013 - Friday, 2/8/2013, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Project Center, CDC How to Prepare for the Career Fair, Wednesday, 2/6/2013, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM, Salisbury Laboratories, SL115 Panel: Company Representatives Talk about Interviewing, Wednesday, 2/13/2013, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM, Salisbury Laboratories, SL104 Summer Internship & Job Fair, Thursday, 2/14/2013, 12:30 PM-4:30 PM
  19. Remember… Choices are the hinges of destiny.  -Pythagoras- So in choosing: To thine own self be true -Shakespeare- And as a result…
  20. …You Will Do Great Things ! Thank You  Career Development Center 508-831-5260 cdc@wpi.edu Connie Horwitz, Associate Director chorwitz@wpi.edu
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