By The Career Center Staff
When you think about your future do you imagine yourself as the CEO of a successful and profitable company? Or as an esteemed professor teaching your favorite subject at a well-respected university? How about as the prosecuting attorney on a high profile case? If any of these scenarios sound like you, then there is an excellent chance that graduate school is in your future.
Applying for graduate school is an exciting, challenging and time-consuming process with many steps. And it is never too early to begin preparing to apply to graduate school. But preparation is key.
Start now. Begin researching the schools that specialize in your areas of interest now. When considering graduate or professional school, don’t be afraid to ask your professors for suggestions. Visit the Web sites of these colleges and universities to learn their requirements for entrance into the Master’s and Ph.D. degree programs. Learn what these graduate schools are looking for so you can spend the next several semesters building your academic and experiential resume that will make you an attractive candidate. Many of the qualities, skills and the knowledge set graduate schools are looking for take time to acquire.
Testing, testing, 1,2,3. You will also need to find out what admissions tests are necessary. Most tests are taken late in the junior year, or in the early Fall of the senior year. Get samples of the test from the testing services. Start studying well in advance — buy a book or take a prep course. Typically, 20 to 30 minutes of study three or four days a week for several months prior to the test date can raise your scores considerably. The higher your test scores and the higher your GPA, the better your financial package — whether it’s scholarships and grants, a graduate or teaching assistantship, or stipend — will be.
Make the cut. Be aware of application deadlines. The earlier you get your application in, the greater your chance to secure funding.
In addition, it is important that you work closely with your academic advisor and/or the Career Center staff to choose classes and co-curricular activities that will help make you a competitive applicant. Find out what research or special projects are going on in your department and join in. This demonstrates your ability to apply the knowledge and understanding that you are developing in you undergraduate studies. Finally, concentrate on your school work and keep your GPA up.
— Need help making post-college plans? E-mail the career center at SeaverCareerCenter@pepperdine.edu.
January 16, 2003
