• Career Planning Guide
• Career Library
• Career Inventories
• Graduate School Preparation
• Career Services FAQs

New Student  Programs Academic Advising
Study Abroad
Registrar Forms
Internships
Employment
   Preparation
Student Employment    Resources
Student
   Experiences
Workshops and
   Seminars
Mission
Staff Directory
A & CC Evaluation Form
About Us

• The two reasons most frequently offered by students who have withdrawn from graduate programs are a dislike of concentrated academic work and a realization that they had not adequately defined their career goals. Begin now to evaluate the "fit" between your career goals and the appropriateness of further graduate study.

• You will need to consider the following:
  1. Departmental courses and offerings
  2. Specialization within field
  3. Theoretical or pragmatic approach to the subject matter
  4. Philosophical and professional attitudes of the faculty members and the department
  5. Specific specialties and interest of the faculty
  6. Current research, publications, and professional involvement of the faculty
  7. Flexibility of the curriculum and length of program
  8. Prominence and/or accreditation
  9. Availability of placement services and placement outlook
  10. Size, geographic location, type and availability of housing, community environment
  11. Application requirements (test scores, essays, interview) and academic pre-requisites
  12. Financial Aid opportunities, cost and residency requirements

• Contact schools that you feel may be options. Request catalogs, program materials and financial aid information. Review program requirements. This will allow you adequate time to build courses into your undergraduate program. Two excellent on-line resources are gradschools.com and petersons.com .

• Research interests, institutions and programs.
• Get to know your professors and take advantage of their expertise.
• Talk with advisors about application requirements.
• Receive information about appropriate graduate admission tests. Register and prepare if appropriate. You hvae a choice of taking exams either spring or summer of your junior year or fall of your senior year.

• Write for current year application materials, school catalogs and financial aid information.
• Visit institutions of interest if possible.
• Confirm application deadlines with institutions.
• For medical, dental, osteopathy, optometry, podiatry, or law school you may need to register for the national application or data assembly service used by your program.

• Request letters of recommendation in a timely manner in the format required by each of your programs.
• Register for fall graduate admission tests.
• Apply for assistantships, fellowships, grants, etc.
• Photo copy blank application forms, as well as your final submission package pre-mailing.
• Mail completed applications.
• Register for Graduate and Prof. School Financial Aid Service if required.
• Have official transcripts and letters of recommendation mailed directly to your programs.
• Check to see that materials have been received by institutions.
• Make plans to visit selected institutions during winter break.

• Check with institutions before the deadline to ensure that your file is complete.
• Evaluate offers of admission and make your decision.
• Send a deposit to the institution of choice.
• Notify other institutions of your decision to attend another school.
• Send thank you letters and follow-up letters to people who wrote your recommendations, informing them of your success.
• Upon graduation, forward an updated transcript to the institution you will attend.