Introduction to Graduate School
Graduate school is an opportunity to examine a field of your choice with more specificity and direction. It gives you the tools you need to succeed in the industry of your choice. Preparation for grad school can begin as early as your first year of college as you begin conversations with your College Career Mentor about how your values, interests, and strengths align with potential fields of study.
Writing a Personal Statement
A personal statement is a narrative essay that connects your background, experiences, and goals to the mission, requirements, and desired outcomes of the specific opportunity you are seeking. It is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program. It gives the selection committee the best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future.
Resources for LGBTQ+ Students
This document provides an overview for LGBTQ+ students of factors to consider during the job search and in the workplace, organizations and resources should you experience discrimination, professional organizations, and funding sources.
Resources for First Generation College Students
Navigating the college experience is complex affair, especially if it is a new context for you and your family. Below you will find resources that illuminate pathways to success during the college experiences, as well as some financial, networking, and career opportunities geared toward first generation college students.
Application Timelines for Graduate School
This resource provides a date-free timeline, to give you an idea of the order of events in an application process. Specific dates and timeframes/timelines can vary greatly by academic program and area of interest.
Think of your LinkedIn profile as a virtual “resume” that includes information about your education, experiences, skills, and much more. Keep in mind that your LinkedIn profile, similar to your resume, is an opportunity to brand yourself. So before you begin building your profile, you should think about how you want to communicate your brand. Ask yourself: What sets you apart from your peers? What unique contribution do you bring to the table?
Crafting Your Pitch
A pitch is brief — think 30 seconds — and gives a quick glimpse into your background, highlights your strengths and value, clearly outlines your goals and serves to develop a relationship with your audience. A pitch sums up your unique promise of value and gives the audience a clear understanding of your motivations and goals.
Standardized Tests for Graduate School Resource
Many, if not most, graduate school programs will require standardized test scores as part of the application for admission. Which test you will need to take will vary based on the institution and degree program. This resource will help you to research the programs to which you intend on applying to determine which test(s) will be required.
Introduction to Networking
For some, the idea of networking is exciting. For others, the mere mention of the word can be anxiety provoking. In either case, it is important to know:
- Why networking is important to your lifelong career success
- What networking actually is, and what it is not
- Where you can effectively network
- Skills and strategies for networking
The Role of the Essay in a Graduate School Application
The application essay is a critical component in the selection process, whether the essay is for a competitive internship, a graduate fellowship, or admittance to a graduate school program.
The essay or personal statement gives a selection committee its best opportunity to get to know you, how you think and make decisions, ways in which past experiences have been significant or formative, and how you envision your future.
Requesting Faculty References
This resource provides best practices for letters of reference — both for those requesting them and those writing them. Review the resources below to make sure your letters will be effective and on time, and that the process will run smoothly for all involved.