Considering Grad School?

1. Career Development Center Presentation: Keven Quintero | Graduate Admissions Coordinator Considering Grad School?

2. Session Agenda • Who Are We and What Are Our Services • The Future

3. The Career Development Center • Individual appointments with Career Counselors • Resumes • Applications • Cover Letters • Interview Preparation • Internships • Graduate School • Targeting Your Dream Job • Monday – Friday • 8:00 – 4:30 • Drop in Hours no appointment necessary: • W-TH, 1:00-3:00 • Wednesday Evenings open until 6:30 • We are here to help – Top Floor University Center • 570-422-3219

4. FEBRUARY

5. MARCH-APRIL

6. SO YOU WANT TO BE HIRED? -An interactive interview event to select the right candidate for a hiring opportunity APRIL 15th 5:00-6:30

9. 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 bachelor’s 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

10. Average Salary by Discipline NACE Salary Outlook 2014/Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook

12. Reasons to Go….. • Intellectual interest • Money • Vocational interest

13. Free Money….. • Teaching Assistantships • Research/Graduate Assistantships • Fellowships • Grants • LOANS

14. 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

15. Additional Requirements/Items • Writing Sample • Clinical Hours • International Applicants • Interviews

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

17. 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 GPA’s 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

18. 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

19. How To Get The Best Letters Of Recommendation • Build relationships over time • Be nice! • Start in SEPTMEBER • 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 TOUCH…don’t burn your bridges!

20. 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

21. Essay Do’s • 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

22. Essay Do’s • 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, don’t tell (Use examples to demonstrate your abilities • Ask for help • Proofread and revise your statement at least 3 times • Have others proofread your essay

23. Essay’s Don’ts • 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 (don’t 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)

24. Essay’s Don’ts • 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, don’t tell) • Write a term paper or an autobiography • Summarize your resume • Include information already cited on the application

25. 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. • 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.

26. 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.

27. 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

28. 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

30. Deadlines • Apply for acceptance in SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER • DEADLINES fall around DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY… • Be sure to check for open or “rolling” admissions

32. Thank You Kevin F. Quintero Graduate College 154 Zimbar-Liljenstein Hall kquintero@esu.edu