University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign



Job/Career/Graduate School Planning Guide for HDFS Undergraduates (2/2/16)Freshman and Sophomore YearsTake core human development and family studies courses—Human development, family studies. Find out about faculty interests and research. preliminary contact with faculty members whose research interests you.Explore volunteer opportunities in Child Development Lab, The Autism Program & through the HIP club. Investigate educational requirements for career choices—see if an advanced or professional degree is required. Join a student organization and become an active memberHDFS AmbassadorsHuman Interest Professions (HIP) Club.Illinois Student Council on Family Relations (ISCFR)Child Life Interest Club.Enroll in General Education courses helpful for professional career, including computer science, library science, mathematics, writing and public speaking.Learn to use library and electronic resources, such as scholarly journals and PsychInfo.Library tours/tutorials: participating in the James Scholar’s honors program, if you qualify.More here: a career folder and place activities, honors and other valuable reminders in it.Discuss your career interests with faculty members and other mentors.After your sophomore year, the recommendations for your planning depend on whether you are planning for graduate school immediately following undergraduate school or plan on working after undergraduate school. Below are two different paths. Job Planning Path Junior Year (Fall)Take advanced Human Development and Family Studies courses.Begin practical or applied work, either volunteer and practicum.Continue contact with faculty, upperclassmen, and graduate students.Join a national professional organization as a student member, for example, student affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations (ISCFR), Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), or Society for Research in Adolescence (SRA). Visit the career services office on campus and determine how the staff can assist you in applying for internships and jobs.Draft a resume to determine your strengths and weaknesses.Junior Year (Spring) Attend the Illinois Council on Family Relations (spring semester). Explore potential educational or human service organizations that match your professional interests. Make an appointment at an agency/organizations about the work they do and the types of people they hire. Search for summer job in a program that connects to your career goals. Summer between Junior and Senior YearContinue to acquire practical experiences.Gather information from potential employers’ websites.Begin to narrow down potential employers to 15-20 possibilities to explore further. Senior Year (Fall) Identify possible list of faculty who could write letters of recommendation. Continue to acquire research competencies and practical experiences.Explore internship opportunities (October) for spring internships in HDFS 450.Download information and applications from employer websites. Review information about each potential employer. Prepare summary of information about key facts—available jobs, application dates, number of letters of recommendation, other information needed, also include important facts about the employer (location, opportunities, contact people, etc.) Update your resume.Request a copy of your own transcript and inspect it for any errors or omissions. Begin first drafts of your personal statement and get feedback on it. (November)Begin first drafts of letter of application to employers and get feedback on it. (November)Finalize your list of references and request letters of recommendation. (November)Formulate your Plan B if you don’t get an immediate job offer Senior Year (Spring) Finalize your personal statements & letters of application (during break between Fall & Spring semester—get feedback from parents, parents’ friends, past employers, advisors, faculty, etc. )Participate in practical experiences through volunteer or internship opportunities.Refine and/or develop any additional personal skills Create a short list of possible employers. Submit applications. Contact employers to ask about potential openings. Review and update your resume.Review your Plan B & consider alternative career paths (use campus advising resources).Continue to explore potential employers and make personal connections. Stay in contact with faculty/others who wrote letters of recommendation and provide a progress update. Summer after Senior Year & Beyond (keeping further school options open)Remember there is no right path to further school optionsGet engaged in some type of practical experiences even if it is only volunteering.Refine and/or develop any additional personal skills Submit applications; Contact employers to ask about potential openings. Stay in contact with faculty, advisers, graduate student, employers (send monthly updates?)Create a Linked In account and make new connections. Graduate School PathJunior YearTake advanced Human Development and Family Studies courses.Begin practical or applied work, either volunteer or practicum.Volunteer for research with faculty and explore a potential honors thesis/independent project.Continue contact with faculty, upperclassmen, and graduate students.Join a national professional organization as a student member, for example, student affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations (ISCFR), Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), or Society for Research in Adolescence (SRA). Visit the career services office on campus and determine how the staff can assist you in applying to graduate school.Draft a resume to determine your strengths and weaknesses.Attend the Illinois Council on Family Relations (spring semester). Review graduate school descriptions online to acquaint yourself with typical requirements, offerings, and policies. (Learn to use this website to compare doctoral programs )Explore the graduate school admissions websites at various universities. Access the GRE bulletin and information online. Begin preparation for the GRE by purchasing a study guide, attending a preparation course and taking practice tests. See the U of Illinois Testing Center for taking the GRE-- your folder by putting your resume and reminders of your activities and accomplishments in it.Try to focus your interests in particular research areas, theoretical orientations, or specific age groups, families, etc. Consider serving as an officer in one of the student organizations on campus.Meet with your advisor or mentor before summer to review your plan for graduate applications.Application Year/Senior YearJune-AugustContinue to acquire research competencies and practical experiences.Gather information from graduate program Web sites.Begin to narrow down potential schools to 20-25.Prepare intensively for the GREs.Consider taking the GRE General Test if you are prepared; this will afford ample time to retake them in the fall if necessary.Investigate financial aid opportunities for graduate students.Set aside money for the cost of the GREs and applications.August-SeptemberDownload program information and applications from program Web sites and/or write to schools for applications. (Most of these are done online.) Review information about each potential program. Prepare summary of information about key facts—application due date, number of letters of recommendation, other information needed, also include important facts about the program such as average GRE scores, typical financial aid.Consult with advisors regarding graduate programs, application procedures, faculty of interest, etc.Continue to study diligently for the GREs.Update your resume.Investigate possible financial aid opportunities.Gather applications for salient fellowships and scholarships.Identify possible list of faculty who could write letters of recommendation. September-OctoberTake the GRE Test (for the first or second time)Register for any additional tests that may be necessary for applying (for example, the GRE Psychology Subject Test administered in November and December).Create a short list of schools using the worksheetsRecord the deadlines for submitting each application.Choose the faculty at each school that most interest you.Research your area of interest, focusing on the work of faculty with whom you would like to work.Write to graduate faculty expressing interest in their work (if appropriate).Request a copy of your own transcript and inspect it for any errors or omissions. Begin first drafts of your personal statement and get feedback on it.Update your resume.Calculate costs of applications and admission interviews and acquire money for them.Finalize the decision on who you will ask for letters of recommendation.Formulate your Plan B (i.e., what will you do if you are not accepted into a graduate program).October-NovemberTake any additional tests (GRE Psychology Subject Test, Miller Analogies, etc.).Prepare packets to distribute to your recommenders, including complete resume.Request letters of recommendation.Arrange for the registrar to send your transcripts to schools.Gather information on financial aid and loans available to graduate students.Finalize your personal statements.November-DecemberComplete applicationsMaintain an electronic or photocopy of each application for your records.If the opportunity arises, visit professors with whom you have been in contact.Submit applications.Verify that the applications and all necessary materials have been received.Request ETS forward your GRE scores to the appropriate institutions.January-MarchWait patiently.Insure that all your letters of recommendation have been plete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa. to determine what federal loans you can count on.Be prepared for surprise telephone interviews.Practice and prepare for admission interviews.Travel to interviews as invited.Develop contingency plans if not accepted into any programs.April-MayIf other programs make early offers, contact your top choices to determine the current status of your application.Accept an offer of admission and promptly turn down less-preferred offers.Finalize financial aid arrangements for next year.Send official transcripts with Spring term grades to the program you plan to attend.Celebrate (if accepted) or regroup (if not accepted).Inform people who wrote you letters of recommendation of the outcome.Summer After Senior Year/Gap Year(s)/Plan BConvert your personal statements and resume into a Job Application format. Get feedback from parents, parents’ friends, past employers, advisors, faculty, etc. )Get engaged in some type of practical experiences even if it is only volunteering.Refine and/or develop any additional personal skills Create a short list of possible employers. Submit applications. Contact employers to ask about potential openings. Review your Plan B & consider alternative career paths (use campus advising resources).Continue to explore potential employers and make personal connections. Stay in contact with faculty, advisers, graduate student, employers (send monthly updates?)Create a Linked In account and make new connections. ................
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