Tips for Students Headed to Grad School

As a recent Master's Degree graduate, I'd like to share some tips for students headed off to graduate school or even just considering it.

1. Be prepared to not have a free moment. Working and going to graduate school part-time evenings and weekends is nothing like your undergraduate experience. You have to really want this and be truly dedicated. It's incredibly hard to manage your work life, school work, and personal life. Know what you're getting yourself into and make sure that this is 100% what you want to do.

2.  Join professional associations and organizations within your field (student rates are much cheaper!). They will provide you with great resources and professional development opportunities to get involved. In addition, go to professional conferences in your field to learn more and more importantly to network. You WILL graduate before you know it and you need to be active in your field and show your colleagues how good you are at what you do.

3.  Make friends in your program – these are your future colleagues and professionals in the field.  Once you’re employed after you graduate, it’s also great to have someone to bounce ideas off of other than a supervisor or boss – get their contact information and stay connected after graduation.  Also, depending on your field of study, some programs are more project based with more group work than others.  It can be difficult to engage in group work now that you’re probably not living on campus or connected with many other students.

4.  Be involved in class and develop positive relationships with your professors.  Your professors, much like your classmates, are your future colleagues and you’ll probably be asking them for letters of reference upon graduation.  They may also have an in somewhere once you’re looking for jobs.

5.  Complete an internship.  Many Master’s level programs require it.  If they don’t, make sure you are either working in your field already or have some kind of internship experience, whether it’s paid or unpaid (paid is preferred but be prepared for something unpaid, as most are).  You’ll need to get your foot in the door somewhere and have some kind of experience on your resume.

6.  Make sure that this is what you truly want to do.  This is a huge commitment, so make sure you at least work in the field first and understand what being a professional in this specific industry means.  Don’t invest all the time, money, and energy into something unless you really know this is for you.

7.  Choose a college for the quality of the program, not for brand name.  You are most likely paying for this college experience on your own with no help from your parents.  Now is not the time to acquire tens of thousands of dollars of debt.  Even better, try to find a job in your field of study where your employer has tuition reimbursement options available and will help you pay for your schooling.

8.  Understand that it may take more than 1-2 years to complete your program. Some programs will advertise that they are 1 or 2 year programs, but be careful. They are probably assuming you will go full-time (including summers) and are not including any kind of internship or practicum requirements in that time frame. For example, I was told my program was a 2 year program and it ended up taking me 4 years to complete it. If you are working full-time and only taking classes part-time in the evenings and weekends, it will take you longer than someone who can take 3-4 classes at a time because they are only working part-time or are unemployed.

Ultimately, graduate school is a huge investment of time, money, and energy.  Be well informed and do your research!  Please share any additional tips you have!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a degree in Human Development from Boston College and recently received her Master’s degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

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Vermont Colleges Trip Part VI

Friday, April 27, 2012

Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT

Middlebury was another one of my favorite schools simply because it was SO beautiful. Middlebury is a very highly selective liberal arts college with an international and global scope.  Middlebury was larger than we’ve seen at a nice size of 2,450 students, although just by walking across the campus you may think that more students attend due to the size of the space that the campus sits on.  The campus is stunning, the buildings are beautiful and the overall space is just very attractive.

Middlebury is renowned for its leadership in language instruction and international studies and is also nationally known for its programs in environmental studies.  As I mentioned, Middlebury is very selective.  Out of 8,533 applications that were received in the 2010-2011 year, only 1,500 were admitted for September and another 156 for February.  Students who are admitted to Middlebury are usually in the top 5-10% of their class with straight A’s in high level rigorous courses.  Even so, Middlebury simply only has so much space and will still reject some top students.  So, what do you need to get in (besides high GPA, SAT/ACT, etc)?  They said that they are impressed by candidates that show “passionate engagement” – not students who are involved in 15 different clubs and organizations, but are involved in a few things and are truly engaged and show leadership in those.  A remarkable essay can certainly help and they look for students who distinguish themselves by thinking outside the box and showing entrepreneurial thinking and leadership skills.

Middlebury actually encourages students to do a half year or full year off between high school and college to do some type of gap year program and they have recently begun a new initiative to encourage transfers from community colleges.  They accept students into both the traditional fall term, and also into the college at the start of their February term.  They believe that students who take the half year off and enroll in February typically bring more to their college experience and, as a result, derive more from it.  These students also hold a higher number of leadership positions on campus and, on average, perform better academically.  Middlebury believes that students benefit greatly from the opportunity to travel, work, or pursue other interests, and all of those options can help contribute to an even more enriching college experience.  Students who enter their freshman year in February are called “Febs.”  While Middlebury encourages this gap period, they do also recommend that students go through the college admissions process during the normal time their senior year and once admitted, then consider gap year options that are available.

www.middlebury.edu

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

UVM was by far the largest school we saw at about 10,000 undergraduates.  At over 100 majors, they have a wide variety of programs to choose from.  They are split into 7 different colleges – Arts & Sciences, Agriculture and Life Sciences, Engineering and Math, Education and Social Services, Business Administration, Nursing and Health Sciences, Environment and Natural Resources.  Like many colleges we visited, they have a hands-on, experiential learning style and are committed to the environment and social justice.  They were actually one of the first colleges to ban plastic water bottles on campus! 

Because UVM is the largest school we saw, naturally class size is going to be larger – at about 31 and student/faculty ratio a little higher, at 17:1.  The most popular programs are business administration, biology/biological sciences, psychology, English, nursing, animal science, political science, environmental sciences, history, and mechanical engineering. 

A great part of UVM is that it offers undergraduate research opportunities for students.  Students assist faculty in research in a wide range of fields.  Several programs even provide research grants for undergrads.  UVM was one of the few colleges we saw that had Greek life – there are 16 fraternities/sororities (about 8% of students are involved).  Also maybe the only school to have Division I sports – 18 of them.  Housing is available at UVM all four years and about a little over half of students are residential. 

Because UVM is located in Burlington, students have the opportunity to be in a city-like atmosphere, with options for shopping, dining, museums, outdoor activities, etc.  While some of these other campuses are located in such rural areas, it is difficult to get that same college town feel that Burlington gives.

http://www.uvm.edu/

Overall Impressions

While Vermont has the highest number of colleges and universities per capita in the US, there is very little competition among the schools.  The admissions staff of the colleges works more on a collegial basis, making sure that each student has a good fit with the college.  For example, if a student applies to one college and the admissions counselor realizes it’s just not a good fit, he may call up an admissions rep at another college in VT and speak to why this particular student might be a great fit for another college.

Overall, Vermont is a gorgeous area.  There is a beautiful view from almost anywhere you are in the state.  At almost every college the landscape was just stunning.  It’s a completely different feel than being in a major city.  Most of the colleges, with the exception of UVM are small – fewer than 3,000 students and most are very small – under 1,000 students.  If you are looking for a small college where there is a small average class size, small student/faculty ratio and where professors know your name, provide support, and are accessible, Vermont may be perfect for you.  Many students at various schools told us that they “didn’t want to be just a number” and got the personal attention they needed and didn’t feel lost in the crowd.  Another thing I picked up was that almost every school had a very hands-on, experiential style of learning – the students learn most by doing and there was an emphasis on internships, community service, social justice, and an active student body.

There’s a different culture in Vermont.  People seem to be more laid back and friendly.  At many of the schools we saw students were just walking around campus barefoot – it is just a way of being that embodies many of the schools.  Because it’s Vermont and Vermont lacks diversity in general, many of these schools lack diversity, although they all seem to be trying very hard.  So, if you are looking for diversity among the student population, make sure you know what you are getting at the schools you choose to apply.

There is a huge outdoor culture in Vermont.  If you don’t like the outdoors, snow, and being active outside… you should probably re-think Vermont.  There is a huge ski / snowboard culture and many of the colleges give discounted rates and passes to the local mountains – of which there are many – Sugarbush, Stowe, Bolton Valley, Smugglers’ Notch, Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow, Stratton… etc.

http://vtcolleges.org/why-vermont/ski-areas.htm

You’ve really got to love the outdoors if you decide to go to Vermont.  There are so many different activities that you can be involved in and many students are – hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, bicycling, climbing, whitewater boating, snow shoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, fly-fishing, canoeing, camping, swimming….

Ultimately, YOU NEED TO VISIT (and spend the night if you can) to really understand what these colleges and communities are all about.  I had an idea of what I thought a few of these colleges were about, and you just can’t get a good picture from reading the website and brochure.  Even the virtual tours, while they do provide a good place to start, you need to actually step foot on campus and talk to real students to see what the college is all about.  This was such a fantastic experience, I am so grateful for everything I learned and all the wonderful people I met!

Any additional information to share about these colleges?  Leave your comments!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Boston College and a Master’s Degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege

Vermont Colleges Trip Part V

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT

Green Mountain College is a small (750 students) environmentally based college with a strong focus on affordability.  In terms of the actual campus, there is a nice balance between the typical esthetically pleasing college buildings and the farm.  Green Mountain also has a satellite campus in Killington, VT for a 3-year Resort and Hospitality Management program where students work at the resort as part of their program (very cool!). 

At the heart of Green Mountain College’s environmental mission is a 37-credit Environmental Liberal Arts General Education Program, which all students complete.  The program combines the skills and content of a strong liberal arts course of study with a focus on the environment.  Like most other colleges, experiential learning is also central to education at GMC.  Students are encouraged to gain hands-on experiences through internships, service-learning opportunities and study abroad programs.

The college participates in NCAA Division III sports with 6 men’s and 6 women’s teams, including basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

A very cool thing about Green Mountain was their Green Mountain College Adventure Programming or GreenMAP.  GreenMAP provides low cost equipment rentals, recreational and instructional adventure programs, and the Wilderness Challenge, GMC’s wilderness orientation program for new students.  Within GreenMAP is the Trip Leader program, a leadership commitment combining structured experience development, activity specific training, wilderness medicine, mentoring, reflection, and evaluation.

Green Mountain College sits on a 123-acre campus on the Poultney River – divided into 3 regions – 39 acres of natural areas including the Poultney River buffer zone, 40 acres on Cerridwen Farm, and 44 acres of designed buildings, landscapes, and athletic fields.  This green space on the campus provides ecosystem services and is vital to education, research, and recreation.  The campus lands are essentially outdoor classrooms and field sites for projects for students and faculty.  They are used in practical application of skills learned in courses, and provide a healthy and attractive living area for the community.

http://www.greenmtn.edu

  

College of St. Joseph, Rutland, VT

St. Joseph’s is a small (400 students) Catholic career-focused liberal arts college located in the Green Mountains.  The college offers 30 career oriented majors, with most popular majors being Psychology & Human Services, Business, and Criminal Justice.  There is a focus on programs that yield licensure as well as a focus on internship and hands-on learning programs.  Their goal is for students to get the field experience they need to land a great job post-graduation.

While we were there, they highlighted the STEPS program (Students Taking an Effective Path to Success), which is a program for Vermont youth transitioning out of foster care.  The program runs through a partnership between the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation and the Vermont Department of Children and Families.  The college provides a supportive campus environment for these students so that they are able to earn a college degree, develop work skills, experience counseling and guidance, and become effective members of society.  Students accepted into the STEPS program will be provided with important services such as year-round housing and meal service as well as access to career and personal counseling.  These students must meet the usual academic requirements, including the submission of SAT or ACT scores.  STEPS students’ tuition and fees are covered by federal and state financial aid packages so the financial aid office works very closely with these students to make sure that college remains affordable.

http://www.csj.edu/

Castleton State College, Castleton, VT

Castleton State reminded me more of a typical college campus.  It’s a bit larger than what we’ve seen, at 1,900 undergraduates and houses 30 academic programs and majors, 20 intercollegiate sports (Div III) and many different clubs and activities.  The nursing program at Castleton is more selective and requires an additional review.  While the average GPA of admitted students is a 3.0, it is the minimum required to be considered for the nursing program (the only program with additional standards).  Castleton is also a leader in teacher education, where students become involved in fieldwork during their very first year.

In addition to nursing, some special programs Castleton offers are a 4+2 Occupational Therapy program and a 4+3 Physical Therapy program, in which students typically major in Health Science and then go on to a Doctoral Program.  Castleton also has a Communication program with focuses in Digital Media, Journalism, Mass Media, and Public Relations and has a pretty cool TV studio that we saw.

Like some of the other colleges have a focus on green energy and sustainability, Castleton State also has a Green Campus Initiative to improve the environment and work toward a sustainable future.  Initiatives include using “green” construction in new buildings, purchasing hybrid vehicles for the college fleet, reducing electric use by installing energy-efficient lights, and making recycling a way of life.

http://www.castleton.edu

Stay tuned for the FINAL leg of the trip!!

Coming up next... Middlebury College & University of Vermont and then an overview of the entire trip...

Any additional information to share about these colleges?  Leave your comments!

About Smart Track™ Toolkit: The toolkit is a web based service that assists families with everything from admissions and test prep, to student athletics and financial aid. Our intuitive software and on-demand workshops are key components to making sure students find their top choice colleges, and families can afford to send them there.

About the author: Laura Guarino is the Student Services Coordinator with the College Resource Center, LLC. Laura has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Boston College and recently received her Master's Degree in School Guidance Counseling.  She is also enrolled in a certificate program in College Admissions Counseling.  Laura is at the forefront of the college admissions process for the families of The Smart Track™ Toolkit.

Connect with us

http://www.facebook.com/smarttracktoolkit

http://twitter.com/uchoosecollege