Thank You to IECA Webinar s Sponsoring Partners

Transcription

1 Understanding the Graduate School Application Process David Thomas, IECA (New York) To access the education center, please visit Thank You to IECA Webinar s Sponsoring Partners 1

2 October s Featured Sponsor SourcebooksEDU is a division of Sourcebooks Inc., the leading publisher of resources for the college bound student. We are really proud to be a partner of IECA. We value, immensely, the opportunity to work with this community, to listen to your needs and to help build a better future for IECA members and the communities they help! Come visit us at the IECA National Conference in November, check out our IECA landing page and ask about our discounts for IECA members! Our award winning products include The Fiske Guide to Colleges Financial Fit Program My Max Score Diagnostic The Naked Roommate AdMission Possible IECA s 2012Fall Conference November 7-10 Register for the Atlanta 2012 IECA Conference at ml 2

3 Upcoming Webinar Topics and Dates Don t forget to add these webinars to your calendar! November 13: The 13 th Year: It s Time to Grow Up With Jeremy McGeorge, IECA Associate member (CT), Holly McGlennon Treat, IECA (CT) December 9: Tequila or Tea?: Cultural Awareness and Exploring New International Markets, Kristina Dooley, IECA (MX) All webinars will run live at noon, eastern time - 2 nd Tuesday of the month and be available for a year in the IECA Education Center. For more information, visit the IECA webinar page at Today s Presenter David Thomas, IECA (NY) 3

4 THE GRAD SCHOOL REALITY CHECK presented by DAVID THOMAS, NYC forsterthomas.com * POLL QUESTION Grad school types: What types of grad schools are your candidate interested in: 1. academic programs 2. professional programs 3. arts programs Your experience: How many grad students have you consulted:

5 GRAD SCHOOL OVERVIEW Three main types of grad school: 1.academic programs 2.professional programs 3.arts programs Career Consulting: Is your candidate seeking: 1.advanced degree 2.terminal degree GRAD VS. COLLEGE ADVISING 1. Plan A or Plan B the law school dilemma 5

6 GRAD VS. COLLEGE ADVISING 1. Plan A or Plan B the law school dilemma 2. Career-Counseling Element must know what they want GRAD VS. COLLEGE ADVISING 1. Plan A or Plan B the law school dilemma 2. Career-Counseling Element must know what they want 3. Parents applicants must drive candidacy 6

7 GRAD VS. COLLEGE ADVISING 1. Plan A or Plan B the law school dilemma 2. Career-Counseling Element must know what they want 3. Parents applicants must drive candidacy 4. Academic Advisers very different from dealing with high school guidance counselors GRAD VS. COLLEGE ADVISING 1. Plan A or Plan B the law school dilemma 2. Career-Counseling Element must know what they want 3. Parents applicants must drive candidacy 4. Academic Advisers very different from dealing with high school guidance counselors 5. Research students must drive the research themselves 7

8 GRAD VS. COLLEGE ADVISING 1. Plan A or Plan B the law school dilemma 2. Career-Counseling Element must know what they want 3. Parents applicants must drive candidacy 4. Academic Advisers very different from dealing with high school guidance counselors 5. Research students must drive the research themselves 6. Your Network get to know professors THREE ASPECTS OF A CANDIDACY Stats GPA, coursework, standardized tests Story goals, motivation, personal (essays) Experience extracurriculars, background in the field (resume or CV) 8

9 PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS E.G. BUSINESS, LAW, MEDICINE, JOURNALISM, EDUCATION, ARCHITECTURE STATS DETAILS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS Specialized tests: GMAT, LSAT, MCAT Be careful of prerequisites (formal or informal); GPA is important, but can be mitigated by experience PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS E.G. BUSINESS, LAW, MEDICINE, JOURNALISM, EDUCATION, ARCHITECTURE STORY DETAILS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS Admissions often not faculty-driven, meaning candidates are viewed holistically; background counts PS focuses on desired professional impact & vision PS/essays can get highly specific about program 9

10 PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS E.G. BUSINESS, LAW, MEDICINE, JOURNALISM, EDUCATION, ARCHITECTURE EXPERIENCE DETAILS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS Applicants not expected to apply straight from college Experience shows exposure to field Leadership & initiative highly valued Professional recommenders (one or all, depending) ACADEMIC PROGRAMS E.G. ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, POLITICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, RELIGION STATS DETAILS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS GRE is standard; Verbal/Math balance not critical GPA: Course of study is often continuation of college education, so transcript details important 10

11 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS E.G. ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, POLITICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, RELIGION STORY DETAILS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Faculty-driven admissions creates specific pitfalls, i.e. mentioning specific professors or career goals Jargon is expected and required PS focuses on academic trajectory, background, goals ACADEMIC PROGRAMS E.G. ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, POLITICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, RELIGION EXPERIENCE DETAILS ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Applicants usually apply directly from college Research, papers, thesis, lab work (within academia) Writing sample often required (thesis, etc.) Academic recommenders only 11

12 ARTS PROGRAMS (MFA) E.G. FILM, PERFORMANCE, PHOTOGRAPHY, STUDIO ARTS, WRITING STATS DETAILS ARTS PROGRAMS Specialized test (GRE) not always required Often no formal prerequisites, but GPA does show discipline & intellectual capacity ARTS PROGRAMS (MFA) E.G. FILM, PERFORMANCE, PHOTOGRAPHY, STUDIO ARTS, WRITING STORY DETAILS ARTS PROGRAMS Faculty-driven admissions creates specific pitfalls, i.e. mentioning specific professors or career goals PS focuses on desired professional impact & vision Portfolio requirements can be very intense 12

13 ARTS PROGRAMS (MFA) E.G. FILM, PERFORMANCE, PHOTOGRAPHY, STUDIO ARTS, WRITING EXPERIENCE DETAILS ARTS PROGRAMS Applicants not expected to apply straight from college Product can be more important than academics Passion, commitment, and execution matters Recommenders can vary greatly (academic, mentors) THE MBA REALITY CHECK Available in the IECA Bookstore DAVID THOMAS, Forster-Thomas Inc Focuses on MBA admissions, but is an excellent roadmap for all professional school admissions 2. Includes chapter on learning differences 3. Real how-to focus on developing leadership and service orientation 4. How you can help your candidates discover their passions 5. Tips on interview skills, recommendations 13

14 IECA s Education Center IECA s Education Center is your one-stop shop to professional development opportunities that help you do YOUR job better. Check out the Resource Library to view white papers, podcasts, research, and much more. Register for upcoming Webinars Submit your Conference Proposal and view educational updates Determine what workshops and seminars you would like to attend throughout the year. Webinar Survey Link Click here to fill out survey Available to live viewers only 14

15 Thank You to IECA Webinar s Sponsoring Partners 15