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Getting In: Preparing for Grad School

Career Development Center Presentation: Kerri Quick | Kaplan Test Prep. Getting In: Preparing for Grad School. Session Agenda. Who Are We and What Are Our Services The Future. The Career Development Center. Individual appointments with Career Counselors Resumes Applications

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Getting In: Preparing for Grad School

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  1. Career Development Center Presentation: Kerri Quick | Kaplan Test Prep Getting In: Preparing for Grad School

  2. Session Agenda • Who Are We and What Are Our Services • The Future

  3. The Career Development Center • Individual appointments with Career Counselors • Resumes • Applications • Cover Letters • Interview Preparation • Internships • Graduate School • Targeting Your Dream Job • Monday – Friday • 8:00 – 4:30 • Drop in Hours no appointment necessary: • W-TH, 1:00-3:00 • Tuesday Evenings open until 6:30 • We are here to help – Top Floor University Center • 570-422-3219

  4. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and you’re entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks Brothers gift certificate!

  5. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and you’re entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks Brothers gift certificate!

  6. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and you’re entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks Brothers gift certificate!

  7. November 8th Seniors Only EVOLVE – College to Careers In order to help graduating seniors prepare for the next step, the Career Development Center invites all graduating seniors for a program designed to help them make the most of their spring term and prepare for life after college. Seniors will be informed of best practices on how to increase their chances of success during an interview, money management and transitioning to a new community. Become informed of what soon to expect in life after graduation.

  8. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  9. The Future • There will be 55 million job openings through 2020 24 million new jobs 31 million due to baby boom retirements • 35% of job openings will require a bachelor’s degree • Fastest growing industries - STEM, Healthcare Professions, Healthcare Support and Community Services Will require high levels of post-secondary education • The U.S. will fall short by 5 million workers with postsecondary educations by 2020 at the current production rate

  10. NACE Salary Outlook 2014/Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook

  11. Reasons to Go….. • Intellectual interest • Money • Vocational interest

  12. Free Money….. • Teaching Assistantships • Research/Graduate Assistantships • Fellowships • Grants • LOANS

  13. Application Checklist • Take appropriate standardized graduate admissions tests • Forwards scores to schools of interest • Obtain letters of recommendations • Obtain original transcripts • Draft, rewrite, polish statement of purpose • Send materials to schools

  14. Additional Requirements/Items • Writing Sample • Clinical Hours • International Applicants • Interviews

  15. GPA • Long-term indicator of your performance as a student • Reflects motivation & ability to do good or bad work • Masters program requires a GPA of 3.0 or 3.3 • Doctoral programs require minimum GPA’s 3.3 or 3.5 • Admission committees look at courses taken • Look at overall GPA and the relevant program courses • Standardized exams GRE, MCAT, LSAT & GMAT for comparisons

  16. GRADES • It is what it is!! • Obtain transcripts - learn your worst grade, worst semester, worst class • GPA in Major vs. GPA Overall

  17. What if I Have a Low GPA? • Take high quality courses • Take more classes • Take summer classes • Consider delaying graduation with an extra semester • After graduation take a few graduate courses to show aptitude

  18. Statement of Purpose • The most important document of your Graduate application • Can be 300, 500 or 750 words • The Statement of Purpose required by graduate schools is probably the hardest thing you will ever write • Through the essay you will speak to the committee and demonstrate your unique fit to the program • Incidentally, the statement of purpose may also be called an Application Essay, Objectives for Graduate Study, Personal Background, Cover Letter, or some comparable title

  19. Essay Do’s • Prepare an outline and create a draft • Answer all the questions being asked • Make sure your essay has a theme or a thesis • Provide evidence to support your claims • Speak in the first person (I) • Make your introduction unique • Write clearly and make sure it is easy to read • Be honest, confident, and be yourself • Be interesting and positive • Make sure your essay is organized, coherent, and concise • Write about yourself and use examples from your own life experiences

  20. Essay Do’s • Use a mixture of long and short sentences • Discuss your future goals • Mention any hobbies, past jobs, community service, or research experience • Mention weaknesses without making excuses • Discuss why you're interested in the school and/or program • Show, don’t tell (Use examples to demonstrate your abilities • Ask for help • Proofread and revise your statement at least 3 times • Have others proofread your essay

  21. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE-example- BORING Introduction • First Sentence is the most important. Be creative. • The following sentences should provide a brief explanation that supports the claim made in the first sentence. • I am applying to the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at the University of Utah because I believe my writing will blossom at your program since it is a place where I will be challenged and I can hone my writing skills.

  22. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE-example- HOOK! • I am honored to apply for the Master of Library Science program at the University of Utah because as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with books. Since I was eleven I have known I wanted to be a librarian. • When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed away and left me something that changed my life: a library of about five thousand books. Some of my best days were spent arranging and reading her books. Since then, I have wanted to be a librarian.

  23. The Body • Usually 3 paragraphs providing detailed evidence supporting the intro statement • Each paragraph should have a transition statement to start & a resolution statement to end • Include experiences, accomplishments or other evidence to support claims • Short summary of educational background is appropriate in first paragraph • Do not repeat application information • Last paragraph should explain why you should be accepted

  24. The Conclusion • Last paragraph of your personal statement • State why you are interested in studying the subject of interest • State key points mentioned in the body in a conclusive & brief manner (accomplishments, experiences) • End on a positive note with 1-2 attention grabbing sentences

  25. Essay’s Don’ts • Be defensive or arrogant • Complain • Preach • Have your essay focus too much on other individuals • Discuss politics or religion • Give excuses for a low GPA • Make lists of accomplishments, awards, skills, or personal qualities (Show, don’t tell) • Write a term paper or an autobiography • Summarize your resume • Include information already cited on the application

  26. Essay’s Don’ts • Becoming increasingly popular/preferred • Replacing objective statement • Replaces the “this is what I want” objective statement with a “this is the value that I offer” branding statement Have any grammar or spelling errors. (Proofread!) • Be wordy or use jargon (don’t try to impress the readers by using big words) • Swear or use slang • Digress or be repetitive • Be boring • Generalize • Include clichés • Use gimmicks • Be comical (a little humor is okay but remember it can be misconstrued)

  27. How To Get The Best Letters Of Recommendation • Build relationships over time • Be nice! • Start in SEPTEMEBER • Have your transcripts/resume ready to familiarize them with your performance • The reference may take it upon themselves to call the person directly • KEEP IN TOUCH…don’t burn your bridges!

  28. Deadlines • Apply for acceptance in SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER • DEADLINES fall around DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY… • Be sure to check for open or “rolling” admissions

  29. GRE Test Breakdown There is a 10-minute break following the third section and a 1-minute break between other sections.

  30. The GRE Multi-Stage Test (MST): Adapts at Section Level • Verbal Section 2a • 20 Questions • 6 Text Completion • 4 Sentence Equivalence • 10 Reading Comprehension Highest potential score range • Verbal Section 1 • 20 Questions • 6 Text Completion • 4 Sentence Equivalence • 10 Reading Comprehension • Verbal Section 2b • 20 Questions • 6 Text Completion • 4 Sentence Equivalence • 10 Reading Comprehension Middle potential score range • Verbal Section 2c • 20 Questions • 6 Text Completion • 4 Sentence Equivalence • 10 Reading Comprehension Lowest potential score range

  31. The GRE Multi-Stage Test (MST): Adapts at Section Level • Quantitative Section 2a • 20 Questions • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison • 9-10 Problem Solving • 3 Data Interpretation Highest potential score range • Quantitative Section 1 • 20 Questions • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison • 9-10 Problem Solving • 3 Data Interpretation • Quantitative Section 2b • 20 Questions • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison • 9-10 Problem Solving • 3 Data Interpretation Middle potential score range • Quantitative Section 2c • 20 Questions • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison • 9-10 Problem Solving • 3 Data Interpretation Lowest potential score range

  32. GRE Score Distribution 162-164 130 151 151 162 159 153 164 159 154

  33. GRE Scoring and Other Details • Scoring for Verbal and Quantitative Sections: 130-170 in one point increments and 150 will be the mean; AWA has a 0-6 scoring scale in half-point increments • Unofficial Quant and Verbal scores are available right after you finish the test with a 130-170 score; official scores, including writing score are mailed to you and the schools you select 10-15 days later • Must wait 30 days to retest • The test is offered every day of the year except Sundays and major holidays. Register at www.gre.org • The cost of the test is $185 • Test scores are good for 5 years

  34. What the GMAT Covers Analytical Writing Assessment Questions: One essay Time: 30 minutes Question Types: Analysis of an Argument Verbal Section Questions: 41 multiple choice questions Time: 75 minutes Question Types: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Critical Reasoning Integrated Reasoning Questions: 12 multi-part questions Time: 30 minutes Question Types: Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two-part analysis, Multi-source reasoning Quantitative Section Questions: 37 multiple choice questions Time: 75 minutes Question Types: Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency VERBAL Length: 4 hours

  35. Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) Scoring

  36. GMAT Scoring Scale 90th 7700 80th 660 60th 590 550

  37. GMAT Scoring and Other Details • Total GMAT score ranges from 200 – 800, AWA has a 0-6 scoring scale in half-point increments • Integrated Reasoning scores range from 1 to 8 in single-digit intervals. Like the AWA, the IR scores are computed separately from the Quantitative and Verbal sections and have no effect on the Total score. • Unofficial scores will be available immediately, official scores will be sent in approximately 20 calendar days • Must wait 30 days to retest • The test is offered every day of the year except Sundays and major holidays. Register at mba.com • The cost of the test is $250 • Scores are good for 5 years

  38. LSAT Test Breakdown

  39. LSAT Scoring Scale

  40. LSAT Scoring and Other Details • The LSAT is a paper and pencil test offer 4 times per year: June, September/October, December, and February • Scored by raw score (number of questions correct), scaled score (120-180) and percentile score (you score compared to other test takers) • Can be taken 3 times in 2 years, scores good for 5 years • Cost of test is $160, register at lsac.org

  41. MCAT 2015 Test Breakdown

  42. MCAT 2015 Test Cost Offered Retaking Validity Avg Prep Time Application Deadlines Where to register $275 Approx. 28 times/year in Jan, Mar – Sep No lifetime limit; can only take 3x/year 3 years 300+ hours Accepted on a rolling basis starting in June www.aamc.org

  43. MCAT Scoring and Other Details • Registration opens up in February 2015 with a registration cost of $300. A $150 Amazon gift card will be given to April 2015 examinees. Test dates run April through September of 2015. • Each of the four sections on MCAT 2015 will be scored 118-132, for a total possible score of 528.  The mean is expected to be 125 per section for a total mean score of 500.

  44. Take a Free Practice Test • Experience the exam under proctored conditions • Receive a detailed score analysis • Learn strategies to prepare Choose your date and register: http://bit.ly/EastStroudsburg

  45. Thank You Kerri Quick Market Manager Kaplan Test Prep 570-225-8648 kerri.quick@kaplan.com www.kaptest.com

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