Many students explore the possibility of attending graduate and professional school. If you are considering this option, begin your exploration early. Find out if you will be a competitive applicant and whether or not you have the commitment to follow through on the application and interview process.
Junior year is the ideal time to research schools, discuss programs with advisors, collect information from schools, take the required admissions tests and explore financial aid programs.
Senior year is the best time to visit schools, monitor the status of your applications, advise other schools after you have accepted an offer for admission, and complete necessary financial plans.
There are very good reasons for attending graduate school: because you need the advanced degree or training to begin the career of your choice (such as medicine or law), or because you love a certain field of study and wish to continue working toward mastery of that subject.
You do not want to go to graduate school if you are planning on continuing in school because you do not know what else to do. If postponing a career decision is your reason for considering graduate study, now is the time to schedule an appointment in the Career Development Center to explore options, identify your strengths and skills, and make informed decisions for your future.
Nor do you want to go to graduate school because you think you can not get a job with only a bachelor's degree. A quick review of the follow-up survey of the last five years' alumnae will prove that Hollins University graduates find jobs. It is not necessary to have a graduate degree in order to find satisfying work. In fact, increasingly, graduate programs are seeking candidates who have worked after receiving their Bachelor of Arts degrees rather than accepting a student who is a new graduate from an undergraduate institution. Many professional programs are recruiting focused, mature and experienced candidates.
HOLLINS ADVISORS:
Law School: Susan Thomas, Jong Ra
Medical School: Harriet Gray, Rebecca Beach, and Sandra Boatman
MBA School: Bernard Gauci, Linda Ferguson
MPA: Jong Ra
WHERE SHOULD YOU APPLY?
A wise and practical approach is to select a first-choice or "ideal" school where admission is highly selective, two or three where your qualifications closely match those preferred by the schools, and one where your qualifications may be below what is preferred, a "sure bet."
Research is very important when exploring your options. You will be investing time, money, and effort in preparation for your future career, so do not shortchange yourself. The following sources of information are recommended:
Career Center Library: You will find guides and directories of
graduate programs as well as limited recruiting materials from
individual colleges and universities.
CHOICES CT Computer Program: These programs can be great
time-savers in the search process. You are able to define the parameters
of your search and obtain a list of those schools that meet your needs
and requirements. You are also able to access detailed information about
individual institutions and graduate programs.
Hollinsnet: The CDC main menu page offers Internet sites for
exploring graduate schools and financial aid. Topics include Applicant
Support Network, College and University Home Pages, Graduate School
Guide, The Princeton Review, MBA College Edge, Peterson's Education and
Career Center, and other related subjects.
Personal Visits: It is very important to visit the schools you
are considering. The opportunity to speak with students, professors, and
other staff will be valuable as you narrow your choices.
Your Personal Network: Seek information from faculty, advisors,
administrators, and alumnae/i who may be familiar with the schools you
are exploring and who may recommend other institutions for you to
consider.
Faculty members whose academic work has been in the discipline that you are considering for continued study are your best source for advice and guidance. You should consult with your major professors about their graduate school experience and about the quality and variances among universities. They can also provide excellent guidance in terms of the overall graduate school experience and job seeking following graduation from a graduate program. Faculty can advise you about specific graduate programs, universities, and academic disciplines. The Career Development Center staff assists you with the mechanics of the application process.
Many students apply to as many graduate programs as possible with the hope that an admission committee at one graduate school will recommend them for admission. This mass mailing campaign produces the same ineffectual results as the "broadcast" approach in the employment process. It may result in an offer for admission; but most often you are rejected because your application is too general and too hurriedly prepared to be given serious consideration by any graduate or professional school.
The best graduate and professional school applications are the result of careful thought, planning, and scheduling. A research plan designed to identify schools and programs that will meet your current needs and future goals and who are seeking candidates with backgrounds similar to yours is the necessary first step in the process.
Factors to Consider for Research
Areas of specialization available in the discipline.Admission requirements: residency, grade point average or class rank, academic major and classes completed, references, deadlines, Graduate School Admission test(s).
Once you have compiled your initial list of choices, you will want to compare the schools until you have a manageable number of programs that are appropriate for your needs. Now you are ready to prioritize your list based on the factors that are most important to you. At this point, it is advisable to prepare a chart or checklist for each school. The chart should include all deadlines, admission requirements, references, graduate school admission tests, transcripts, and other supplemental information required for the application process. This technique for simplifying the task of applying to graduate or professional school may seem tedious at first; but if followed, it may ensure that you are not rejected because you missed a deadline or your admission folder lacked vital information.
THE APPLICATION
Preparing a professional school application is a challenge. You can improve your chances of successfully entering the school of your choice if you are informed and if you have allowed enough time to thoughtfully and thoroughly prepare your application.
Some admissions committees report that among candidates who meet minimum admissions criteria, factors other than grade point average and graduate admissions test scores are more important than those numbers combined. If a substantial part of the selection for admission is based on information other than quantitative measures, serious consideration should be given to the other areas that will be evaluated.
The ability to write clearly can be one of the most crucial skills needed in developing and describing the other factors reviewed by the admission committee. The application is often your first contact with a school, so make the best impression possible.
Organize. Keep all of your application materials in one place. (An
accordion file works well for this purpose).
Consider the readers of your application. They are usually the "gatekeepers"
of the profession. Do not be too creative, unusual, or "cutesy." The best
approach is always conservative.
PERSONAL COMMENTS OR PERSONAL STATEMENT
You should be aware that many admissions committees place significant weight on this portion of the application. Your personal statement should never exceed the space provided. While it is clear that you may not extend the limits of the page, there is no recommendation for how much to write. Nor are you given much direction about what to say in your statement.
Most applicants use the space to describe their motivation for study or preparation for a career in the particular discipline, their experiences that have contributed to their decision and their goals for the future. Before you begin writing, create an outline that lists the main topics you want to discuss. The outline will permit you to develop paragraphs that are organized and succinct.
You should prepare several drafts, refining and editing each version with every rewrite. Allow some time to lapse before reading your first draft, then read it aloud to yourself and listen carefully to what you hear. You need to be sure that you have said what you mean. If you stumble over your reading or a sentence or a phrase sounds awkward, that's a clue that you may need to revise your statements.
You may choose to have someone else read your essay and give you feed back. Some of the most valuable assessments of your essay come from questions that are raised when another person reads your essay. If your writing is not clear, you are not communicating effectively.
What You Can Write About
First, think carefully about what you want to say. Then put something down on paper. Often the hardest part is getting started; but if you remember that what you write will be rewritten or revised, it might make it easier to begin.
Suggestions and samples:
Why do you want to be a counselor? On a sheet of paper write your response. Once you have drafted a response to the questions, consider what other occupation or profession can provide what you want from the profession of counseling. For example, if you responded that you enjoy people and like helping them, you need to realize that a shoe salesman in a department store could make the same statement.
If you find this question too difficult to answer, think through the following questions as a means of focusing your thoughts:
Why don't you want to be a teacher?
Why don't you want to be a research scientist?
Why don't you want to be an accountant?
Why don't you want to be a sales representative?
Why don't you want to be a politician?
If you find that you still cannot define why you want to be a counselor, that is an indication that you need to re-examine your choice of counselor as a career. Now is definitely the time to schedule an appointment with a counselor in the Career Development Center to review your decision and to investigate other options.
It is possible that you still may choose a career as a counselor; but when the choice is made again, it will be with a clearer understanding of the demands, rewards, and functions of the profession and of your personal goals and values.
Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience
You have probably listed honors/awards, extracurricular activities and work history elsewhere on the application. It is not necessary for you to repeat the details of these experiences in the personal statement section. Your reader has this information elsewhere, if he/she wants it.
To develop your statement about your background and experience, think about the following questions:
What did you learn from extracurricular activities, internships, or work experience?If you have worked as an intern or volunteer in a setting related to the profession or discipline for which you are seeking admission, indicate how the experience have given you a practical way to investigate the field. Avoid over-stating your participation and the temptation to say that because of the exposure, you know what it means to be a counselor, etc. You will appear naive.
Your Academic Record
Academic irregularities may be described as withdrawals, incompletes, repeated courses, or below average grades. You may want to address these issues in your personal statement. You will want to provide an explanation of these aberrations, not an excuse. You should acknowledge the condition and provide a statement of cause and, in the case of below average grades or failure in a course, give some indication of what you are doing to remedy the situation.
Remember it's okay to make mistakes. It is reasonable to expect that you can acknowledge having made them and describe what you are doing as a result of having learned from them. An explanation reveals maturity and realistic self-appraisal; an excuse can give an entirely different impression. An excuse tends to place the responsibility for poor performance on something or someone other than the applicant and indicates that the student is unrealistic - not a desirable candidate for graduate or professional school.
Non-traditional Background
An applicant may be non-traditional by virtue of race, sex, academic background, or life experiences. Students who may be considered non-traditional may try to represent their candidacy in a manner that will make them seem as if they are traditional counterparts, when often the very fact that their background differs from the usual student may provide them with the competitive edge for admission to graduate school.
Non-traditional aged students often bring maturity and experience in the field that may be very useful in graduate study. An art history major that has gained valuable work experience in finance through work experiences, internships, and additional courses in business and finance should expand upon these areas if applicable to the graduate program sought.
It is almost impossible to define or describe the various types of experiences and backgrounds that could be considered non-traditional. If you think that this category applies to you, you should seek the advice of someone in the field. You can also speak with a staff member in the Career Development Center or a faculty advisor to assist you in defining and describing this criteria for your application or to discuss whether this status should be included as a part of your personal statement.
Future Plans
Long-term plans may be included as a part of your personal statement. You can devote a portion of your essay to future goals if you can say something definite that has a solid basis. However, you should not write something just because you think the Admissions Committee wants to read it. If it is insincere, it will show; and no one wants to recommend admission for an insincere candidate. You will not be penalized for not having definitive long-range plans at this juncture in your life.
Why Have You Selected This School?
A typical question that is asked of candidates for admission to graduate school is: Why have you selected University XYZ?
This is an area where your research will be useful. You should know what the school has to offer and how your goals match the specific program of study. Carefully describe why you can benefit from the program and also include what contributions you will bring to the field or school.
IMPORTANT FACTORS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION AND ADMISSION
Grade Point Average
Your performance at the undergraduate level is the best predictor of how you will perform academically in graduate school. Some graduate programs have a minimum required GPA while others are more flexible.
Standardized Test Scores
You will probably need to take one or more standardized exams before being admitted to a graduate school. Your scores are viewed as another valuable predictor of your ability to successfully complete a graduate course of study.
Once you have selected the programs that are appropriate for you, make a list of the standardized test(s) required for admission to each school. For most arts and science graduate programs, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) will be required. Many schools require only the general GRE test and not the subject test. You will want to register for only the test that you need.
Some graduate programs, especially education and religion, require the Miller Analogies Test. You can take the MAT through the Psychology Departments at either Radford University or Virginia Tech.
There are specific tests for professional schools: The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the Veterinary Admission Test (VAT), the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and the National Teacher Examination (NTE), among others. The MCAT is offered only twice a year; all of the others are offered four or five times a year at university campuses. Remember that all registration is centralized in Princeton, New Jersey, and not at the test sites. The Career Development Center has the registration materials for GREs, LSATs, GMATs, and NTEs. All registration materials for any of the medical tests can be acquired from the science faculty in Dana Science Building.
Computer-based Testing
Only the GMAT and GRE are available through computer-based testing at this time. This service is provided by Sylvan Learning Centers throughout the country. The number to call in Roanoke is 344-3688. There are several paper-based GRE subject-only tests offered during the academic year.
Test Preparation
It is important to prepare for the test(s) for which you have registered. How do you test? If you tested poorly on SAT or on the ACT, was your performance due to fear of tests or lack of preparation?
If you have a problem with test anxiety, you should consider learning relaxation techniques. The results will be worth the time whether for graduate school testing or for your efforts at Hollins.
If you previously tested poorly due to lack of preparation, you can significantly improve your scores with study and practice. Preparation booklets for each test are available in bookstores and in the Career Development Center. In order to prepare thoroughly, we suggest that you purchase a workbook for your own use.
A variety of "prep" courses are offered throughout the country. The most popular and successful program is the Kaplan Course that is offered in cities throughout the U.S. Check with the Career Development Center for information on dates and locations. Hollins University now offers the Kaplan GRE Prep class on campus!
Many students ask if they should take a test more than once in order to improve their scores. If your performance on the first test is in accord with your scores on the SATs, it is unlikely that your scores will significantly improve if you retake the test. However, if you were ill, tired, or had not prepared at all, you may raise your scores as a retake.
The MCAT is content rather than an aptitude test, so you may be able to raise your scores with additional study. You should plan to take this examination during your junior year in order to evaluate your performance and also in order to have your scores recorded as you begin to select medical schools. This examination is also given at foreign test centers; so if you are studying abroad during your junior year, you can register to take the test at a foreign test center.
The instruction packet for each examination will tell you how to have your scores recorded and sent to the institutions you select. Read and follow directions carefully. On several tests, if you know that you have not done well, you can request as you leave the testing
room to have your scores removed from the scoring process immediately. It is a good idea to investigate this option before you take any test.
Transcripts
Official transcripts must be obtained for a fee through the Registrar's Office. If you wish, an "unofficial" copy can be placed in your Credentials File in the Career Center.
Letters of Recommendation
Your credentials file is very important in the graduate school application process. Admissions packets may have specific forms for you to use or may require that recommendations be on college stationery. Choose individuals who are best qualified to provide an evaluation of your ability to perform and succeed at the graduate level. Faculty and professional staff, both inside and outside your major department, should be included. Employers also make good references. See page 80 for details on use of a credentials file.
Essays and Personal Statements
Graduate programs take these seriously. It is important to spend a sufficient amount of time to prepare thoughtful and well-researched responses. How To Write A Winning Personal Statement, available in the CDC Library, offers examples of successful personal statements along with helpful strategies for developing your own.
Interviews
Graduate school admission may require a personal interview. In fact, if you are a borderline student, you may want to request an interview to strengthen your position as an applicant. An interview provides an opportunity for you to visit the school and interact with staff and students to see if the school feels right for you. Prepare for this type of interview as you would for a job interview.
Financial Aid
Financial aid for graduate students falls into two categories: federal aid and institutional aid. Institutional aid can come in many forms such as graduate, research and teaching assistantships. Assistantships for the most part require that some type of work be done in exchange for full or partial tuition coverage and a possible stipend. Some universities and colleges will also offer fellowships. Fellowships are financial awards that entail no obligation or work responsibilities. They are simply financial grants that usually cover all or part of the tuition costs and possibly provide a small living allowance. Some institutions are not able to provide full fellowships and/or assistantships throughout the entire graduate degree program and will therefore offer a combination of the two.
Federal aid available for graduate students primarily falls under the Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP). Graduate students may also be considered for the Federal Perkins Loan and/or Federal Work-Study positions. The Perkins loan program is a low-interest need-based loan that is offered by the Federal government through the institution. Work-study is also through the institution. The most common type of federal aid that graduate students are eligible for is the Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized). Depending on a student's eligibility for need based aid, all or part of this can be under the subsidized Stafford program (i.e. no interest will accumulate on the loan amount while the student is attending school at least half-time). If the student can only borrow part of the amount under the subsidized program, then the remainder up to the institution's cost of attendance can be borrowed under the unsubsidized Stafford program (i.e. interest will begin accumulating once the loan is disbursed). One other FFELP loan available to graduate students is the Federal Supplemental Loan for Students (SLS). This is a non-need based loan (like the unsubsidized Stafford). The interest rate on this loan tends to be less favorable than the Stafford, and interest will be accumulating within 60 days of the first disbursement.
HOW TO APPLY: For all federal aid and for much of the institutional aid, a student MUST complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many institutions will also require additional applications be completed such as the Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service Application (GAPSFAS) and/or an institutional application. The Financial Aid Office at each of the institutions where the student is applying should be consulted for specific application procedures. No matter what applications the school(s) require, it is important to complete these applications and requirements early. The FAFSA for the following school year can be submitted anytime after the first of the year. Outside sources for financial aid, such as organizational and corporate fellowships, grants and scholarships, usually have very early deadlines, sometimes even making it necessary to take graduate admission tests and obtain recommendation letters in a student's junior year.
SREB Academic Common Market: The Academic Common Market is a cooperative tuition-reduction agreement among many Southern Regional Education Board states. If the public institutions in your home state do not offer degree programs in your field of study, it may be possible to arrange a waiver of out-of-state tuition to attend a cooperating public institution of higher education in another participating state. For further information, see the Academic Common Market folder in the Financial Aid section in the Career Center library.
Other sources of financial aid information that may be found in the Career Center include:
Internet sites include:
OBSERVATION: There has been a significant increase in the number of graduate school applications. Institutions can now be very selective about whom they choose. If graduate school is a priority for you, you might want to have a backup plan in case you are not accepted. The wise career planner knows the value of options!