Illinois State University’s Career Center is hosting several programs to assist students and alumni who are considering or planning on attending graduate school.
Workshops
The Graduate School Series will be held at 4 p.m. every Wednesday from January 21 to March 4 at 110P Student Services Building. The workshops cover topics essential to those considering graduate school:
- Considering graduate school and financing your graduate education
- Graduate school admission secrets
- Introduction to the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
- GRE math boot camp and quantitative problem solving with The Princeton Review
- GRE verbal and analytical writing exam with The Princeton Review
- How to write a personal statement
The series is free and participants may choose to attend an individual session or all six. Preregistration is required.
“One of the goals of the Career Center is to assist students with their career and educational goals,” said Maureen Roach, the Career Center’s senior assistant director. “The Graduate School Series is a resource to educate students about graduate school, so they have what they need to make a good decision.”
Additional help
The Career Center also offers a full-time professional career advisor for students who seek additional advice, support, and application critiques anytime during their decision process.
“When students consider graduate school they’re not just making an educational choice, they’re making a significant investment in their future. And we’re here to help,” Roach said.
Roach provided the following questions to help students make a decision regarding whether or not to attend graduate school:
- Can I obtain a job in my field without an advanced degree? Many positions in the fields of psychology, speech and hearing, and social work require advanced degrees.
- Would some on-the-job experience be useful in completing my advanced degree? Many times graduate school projects and papers are easier to complete if you have work experiences from which to draw. Some of the most prestigious business programs accept only work-experienced applicants. Advanced degrees in education often should be postponed until you have real classroom experience.
- How do I pay for graduate school expenses? Many businesses and school districts provide tuition assistance for employees. Some graduate programs also offer graduate assistantships, which may come with a stipend and a tuition waiver.
For more information about the Graduate School Series or graduate school considerations, contact the Career Center.
