Www.uc.edu



Preparing Students for What’s Next – Guide for the Advising/Coaching ConversationConversationsAsk critical, reflective questions about what the student wants to do after graduation. Encourage students to dig deeply into who they are, their ultimate life goals (recognizing that careers can change over time), and why they want to pursue these goals. What do they want to do after graduation? Why? What are their personal and professional goals? If graduate school is a consideration, what do they hope to get out of it? Why? What goal(s) will graduate school help them reach? Ultimately, it’s about guiding the student to dig deeply into the why of graduate school. Many students who pursue graduate school do it because it is seen to be the next step or they don’t know what else to do. Many end up unsatisfied in graduate school because they didn’t ask these questions or they did not answer them honestly in the process. Here are some questions to continue the conversation, if graduate school is a serious consideration. These can help to further articulate why graduate school is appropriate and how it fits into their life plan. Why do I want to go to graduate school? Answering this honestly is just as important to your success as are the fit of the institution and program that you select. Why do I want to go to graduate school right now? Timing is important, especially since graduate school is a major investment – of time, energy and financial resources. Are you able to commit these resources at this time?What type of academic or professional degree do I want to pursue? Understanding your own motivations for pursuing the degree and aligning with your interests and passions is key. What am I looking for in a graduate program? What type of learning? What do I expect from the faculty? What will the student experience be like? Doing your research and understanding what programs offer and how they differ is critical. Finding the right fit is key to your success as a graduate student. What geographic region(s) do I want to be in? Are there other factors in my life that need to be considered? For example, what is the impact on my significant other if applicable? Are there other family considerations?Do I want to go full-time or part-time? This choice will define your experience in many ways, including how long it will take you to complete, income, social networks with peers, and more. How is graduate school funded and what will work for me? While graduate school is a major financial investment regardless of how it is funded, you can often secure assistantships that will cover the cost of tuition and also provide a stipend. Be sure to research opportunities for graduate, teaching and research assistantships. Also research opportunities for scholarships and fellowships (such as nationally competitive awards). Talk with faculty and others familiar with graduate school in your discipline to learn as much as you can about how funding typically works within that discipline. Questions above adapted from . Graduate School Basics Understanding the processFunding - many programs offer fully funded positions with stipend (TA, GA, RA), tuition waiverAcademic discipline (doesn’t necessarily have to be what you studied as an undergraduate) Types of degrees:Doctorate – 4-6 years (can go directly from bachelors to doctorate in some disciplines)Masters – 2-3 years (but may be combined with bachelors, such as in 4+1 programs)BUT…students need to have the correct degree for what they want to do!Identifying programs and potential faculty mentors Students should ask instructors for suggestions, read current literature, browse websitesRed Flags: No current publications listed on website, no current students (unless the faculty member is new)Google yourself to see what a potential advisor would seeContact the advisor (or program) directly by email – THIS IS KEY!!Preparing a competitive application – components:GPAGRE (or potentially other exams like the GMAT) $205, can take it once every 21 days, up to 5 times per yearUC is a testing center siteGRE is now being used in place of the GMAT for 80% of business schoolsAccommodations for students with disabilities or health-related needsLots of free preparatory resources for students at !Letters of recommendation – students need to ask for STRONG letters 2-4 weeks before deadline.Personal Statement – contact UC Academic Writing Center for additional helpVisit the institution or program, if at all possible – this is where students will be for 2-6 years!Some programs offer fully paid recruitment visitsSome programs ask potential students to come to campus to interviewResources at UC UC Graduate School Conference – March 2, 2018, 4th floor TUC; designed for anyone interested in graduate school, to learn about graduate education and resources. UC Graduate Student Expo – Feb. 15, 2018, TUC Great Hall; learn about current UC graduate students’ research and scholarly work.Office of Nationally Competitive Awards ()UC Academic Writing Center – assistance with personal statements, CVs/resumes ()University Honors Program – information sessions on graduate schoolTips for Advisors Advisors don’t need to know it all! You should be prepared to:Ask questions to help the student critically reflect on what’s next and why graduate school Share basic information to help the student get started Refer to experts in that academic field (faculty in that academic department at UC, for example) ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download