By Meghan Mathias, Staff Writer
Graduation day is rapidly approaching and for the majority, if not all of the seniors, this means that they are overjoyed with the completion of their four-year degree and have a decision to make. The decision consists of two choices of what they have the ability to do after they finish their time at Saint Leo. The first choice is that they can immediately try to go into the workforce and find a job that is compatible with their degree, which is a great option to choose. The second choice consists of two words that are ominous: “graduate school,” or grad school as it is most commonly referred to. Grad school can be an overwhelming process, but it is one that is manageable with the correct information and guidance from an advisor and the Career Planning Center.
Cathy Wise, Assistant Director of the Career Planning Center, says that grad school is “a process that should really begin in your sophomore year,” but that doesn’t mean that you cannot start later. Once one declares their major, they should begin to explore the career options that they have and see if the goals that they have require a Master’s Degree. If the goals that they have do require having a Master’s Degree, then the process begins.
Research is the first step in the process. It consists of narrowing down the type of Master’s degree that wants to be obtained and looking at the variety of schools where it is offered. Wise says, “looking at data is instrumental in making the decision” and will help immensely when trying to make final decisions about earning a Master’s Degree. Once the research is complete, then testing has to commence. The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, is the general test that students will take but there are specific subject tests such as the MCAT (Medical College Administration Test) for those that are interested in medical school and also the LSAT (Law School Administration Test) for those that want to go to law school. The tests costs $160 and there are a multitude of dates that it is scheduled for which can be found at www.ets.org,where all of the general information about the test can also be found.
The application for grad school requires your resume and a personal statement. The resume that admissions are looking for is a student who is well rounded, meaning that they have both the academic portion as well as extracurricular activities that showcase leadership skills. The personal statement is the most appealing to the admissions committee since it gives insight into why someone want to be accepted into their program and also highlights personal experiences in a person’s life that make them a unique individual who will make their program improve by their participation. Getting into a specific program, one must remember that it is “not about you, but about the university and how you can enhance their program and provide something unique” according to Cathy Wise.
For more information about the process that grad school entails, contact your advisor or Cathy Wise at the Career Planning Center.
