Looking BEYOND Undergraduate School WHAT EVER WILL I DO NEXT?

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1 Looking BEYOND Undergraduate School WHAT EVER WILL I DO NEXT? What do I really want to do with my life? Become a University Professor? Conduct Research? Can I afford to delay working for additional schooling/training?

2 Looking Beyond Undergraduate School: Preparing for Graduate/Professional School Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis Gwendolyn L. Johnson, MBA, Ph.D. Assistant Dean SROP Coordinator 620 Union Drive, UN 207 Indianapolis, IN Fax Presentation in partnership with IUPUI Career Center Monday, January 29, 2007

3 Graduate and Professional School Options at IUPUI? IUPUI confers both Indiana University and Purdue University graduate degrees. Many of the degrees can be obtained by taking classes in Indianapolis only. It may be necessary for some students to take classes in Bloomington or West Lafayette; check with your advisor or department chair about the degree requirements of your program of interest.

4 Graduate School Planning Can begin 1 ½ to 2 years before your planned attendance

5 Why go on to Graduate School? To become an academician, a PhD You love research The PhD will provide the necessary credentials Develop skills and interests into a career Enables career advancement Enhances job satisfaction Increases earning power

6 If you are trying to decide on GRADUATE SCHOOL? Ask yourself Am I willing to commit the time and effort to earn the degree? Will a graduate/professional degree help me to reach my long-term goals? Of Teaching vs. Business, Government, Health professions, etc. Which degree do I need? Do I enjoy this field of study so much that I can picture myself spending most of my time doing it for years? Do I want to work before graduate school? Am I willing to forego income from employment to pursue the degree? How will I finance graduate school? Can I defer my undergraduate student loans?

7 In order to answer the questions, you MUST find out who you are and what you LOVE? Knowing yourself is the key to making wise future academic and career decisions. Have you mastered your elevator speech? Can you identify those things that bring you passion, that truly interest you? What do other people think you do well? In what things do you excel? Take inventories/tests to discover your interests, skills, and abilities (May be available at the Career Center: ediscover, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory and the Self- Directed Search. )

8 What do faculty look for in potential graduate students? Academic Promise (eager to learn; willing to put the time into being a graduate student; wants to be in graduate school-not someone who just couldn t find a job, or someone who doesn t know what they want to do) Strong Work Ethic Is Teachable Highly [Self] Motivated Can Work Independently or in a Group Can Take Constructive Feedback Without Being Upset Or Overly Sensitive

9 What Type Of Degree Do I Need? Master s vs. Doctoral vs. Professional Master s (MS, MA, etc.) Acquisition of skills in a specific profession Generally terminal degree Usually about 2 years Usually involves an internship or field work Doctoral (Ph.D., DBA, Ed.D, etc.) Research (Ph.D.) Administrative (Ed.D.) Medical (MD, MD/PhD, DVM, DDS, etc.) Professional Law (JD, MBA/JD, MPA/JD, MD/JD, etc.) Business (MBA, DBA, Ph.D., etc.) Public Health (MPH, DPH) Physical Therapy (MPT, DPT) Dentistry (MS, Ph.D., DDS, etc.)

10 Not QUITE ready to go to Graduate School? Maybe the Graduate Non-Degree Option is for you? You are not quite sure you even want to go to graduate school. Are you unsure what you want to major in? Do you want to take courses for personal or professional development? Do you need to meet prerequisites for a degree program? Do you just want to sample available graduate programs? If you answered YES to any of these questions, you should consider the Graduate Non-Degree Program. NOTE: Often, Graduate Non-Degree students may not be permitted to take graduate level courses in Business, Informatics, Law, Library and Information Science, Medicine, Social Work, or other professional fields of study.

11 When choosing a Graduate School, you should consider Size Location Programs Offered School/Faculty Reputation Accreditations Program [pre]requisites Selectivity of the Program Available Funding Visit the campus

12 Learn about Specific Graduate Programs by Developing relationships with faculty. Consulting with your advisor Using the Internet; requesting information from Schools Attending seminars and symposia Visiting the your Career Center Attending Graduate Fairs Participating in Intern, Summer Research Programs, or other Co-operative Experiences

13 Learn even more by Researching more than one institution Visiting the campus(es) Considering the expenses Talking with/get to know faculty and students at the Institution you are most interested in Following up by making contact with faculty who share your research interests.

14 Graduate Application Components Application Form Application Fee Official Transcripts Official Test Scores Letters of Recommendation Personal Statement Supplemental material may include, but are not limited to: 1. Departmental Applications 2. Interviews 3. Writing Sample

15 ADMISSIONS PROCESS Find out about the admissions process for EACH program of interest. Apply to the program of interest EARLY!! If interested in more than one program, a separate application/application fee may be necessary Take admissions tests EARLY! Get the right recommendation letters ALWAYS seek an advisor, staff, or faculty member, particularly if you have any questions Provide all requested information; nothing extra Type the form Have STRONG Letters of Recommendation Follow up with referees Have a STRONG Personal Statement Check the completeness of your application ALWAYS CHECK FOR ERRORS!!

16 The Most Common Graduate Admissions Tests include GRE Graduate Record Examination MCAT Medical College Admissions Test DAT Dental Admission Test LSAT Law School Admission Test GMAT Graduate Management Admissions Test

17 The Personal Statement (Also called The Statement of Purpose) Should demonstrate: Your knowledge in the intended field of study; How that knowledge or experience can serve as a foundation for graduate study; Your ability to articulate how your graduate degree can prepare you for a post-graduate career; Discuss your undergraduate academic experience in the context of your plans for graduate study; Describe how the particular program fits with your preparation, goals, etc.; Describe and discuss your plan for graduate work, including post graduate objectives.

18 Preparing the Personal Statement Be neat and check for grammatical errors Type, Scan, etc. Allow someone to proof before you submit Follow all departmental guidelines for length and required content Only provide what is requested Keep copies of everything! Follow-Up

19 Follow Up Send thank you letters to referees; Review the financial aid package offered by each institution Notify them of your plan to attend Inform them of other sources of financial aid

20 To succeed in Graduate School, you must Remember that going to graduate school is a choice you make for various personal and professional reasons Stay focused on your goals and plans (short and long-term) Choose the right program, mentor, advisor, and committee Learn how to organize and prioritize your work and your time and by all means, avoid the procrastination game Learn how to study for graduate school vs. undergraduate school Maintain your confidence (avoid the imposter syndrome)

21 To succeed in Graduate School, you must Learn to handle feedback and/or criticism Maintain balance in you academic, professional, and personal lives Take advantage of all available campus, School, and departmental resources (faculty, staff, and colleagues) Successfully manage stress. Understand that peace is NOT the absence of stress. Graduate school is supposed to be hard, but it is also supposed to feel natural to you. Persist, persist, persist!!!

22 QUESTIONS?

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