The closer undergraduates get to the big day, the stronger the senioritis they endure. It's only natural that as their motivation to attend class wanes, students begin to feel anxious about their post-grad plans.
There are a number of different directions students can choose after graduation, whether it is going on to receive an MBA, attend law school, medical school or graduate school. Students have a variety of choices, and making the right decisions involves engaging in suitable steps and asking the right questions.
According to Career Services advisor Karen Nemeth, there are "wrong" and "right" reasons to continue education after graduation.
For example, she said, wrong reasons include lack of motivation to start looking for a job, the career decisions of one's friends and the inability to choose a goal are all the wrong reasons to attend graduate school.
According to Nemeth, needing an advanced degree and wanting to get more in depth with a degree field are great reasons to continue on and attend graduate school.
"A passion for what you are learning is good. Passion will carry you through, allowing you to keep up," Nemeth said.
"I know exactly what I want to do, it is just a matter of getting there. It is confusing," said Alyssa Moran, a junior psychology major.
It is important for students to recognize their strengths and weaknesses when deciding whether or not to attend graduate school. Also deciding whether or not time off is needed before continuing on is an important step in the process.
"You know yourself better than anyone else - is it going to be hard to go back? Some people need to take a break because they are burnt out," Nemeth said.
Once students have decided to continue on with their education, the next step is researching the right graduate school for them.
Just like many did four years ago when applying as an undergraduate, Nemeth suggests going through that same process again. Gather transcripts - send in test scores with a personal statement, and recruit professors to write glowing letters of recommendation.
According to Nemeth, it is very important to have strong letters of recommendation attesting to your academic achievement and potential.
"An important question to ask potential recommenders is, 'do you feel that you can write me a strong letter of recommendation?'" Nemeth said.
One of the most difficult parts of the application process is completing the personal statement.
A personal statement is not only a place for students to articulate their career goals and reasons for wanting to be admitted, but it is also a very important writing sample.
Transcripts must be official and sent by your registrars' offices. According to Nemeth, the transcript may be viewed in several ways.
Most graduate programs require some form of standard testing. This is probably the biggest concern of students. According to Nemeth, the GRE is the most common test used for most graduate admissions. Some other common standardized test and their purposes are:
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): commonly used for admission to MBA programs of all types. The GMAT is computed based. The cost is $250.
PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test): pencil and paper admissions test for pharmacy schools. The cost is $125.
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): pencil and paper admissions test for medical schools. The cost is $120.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test): pencil and paper test taken by those who are applying to law school. The cost is $123.
MAT (Miller Analogy Test): sometimes accepted in place of the GRE by those programs that place a high level of emphasis on verbal ability and a lower level on quantitative ability. The cost is $70.
There are preparatory courses for many standardized tests offered by both on and off-campus offices.
"Not everyone with a 4.0 GPA gets admitted," Nemeth said. "There are other factors involved that are strongly considered. Showing that you do not only do what is expected in the classroom but are also actively involved outside of the classroom. A GPA is only one indicator of one's potential."
The process of continuing with an education makes many students nervous. It is a process that should be confronted step by step and with a substantial amount of time.
"Students should start (thinking about this process) their junior year. It takes a lot of time to prepare for tests and research schools, and some deadlines can be as early as November," Nemeth said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
