Transcript Identifying & Successfully Navigating Gradate School

Identifying & Successfully
Navigating Graduate School
Opportunities
by
TONDELAYA KATERI BAYLOR-AYEWOH, Ph.D.
SENIOR EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST
REMS ASSOCIATES
[email protected]
&
ISIMHEMEN XTOLON AYEWOH, MBA CANDIDATE
EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST
REMS ASSOCIATES
[email protected]
Identifying & Successfully Navigating
Graduate School Opportunities
Outline:
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Advisory Tips for Prospective Graduate Student
Graduate School Recommended Activities
Apprenticeship &/or Research Opportunities
Graduate Financial Assistance Overview
Professional School Examinations
Resume Tips
Cover Letter Tips
Closing Thought
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Advisory Tips for the prospective Graduate student
 Start your investigation of the graduate school process as early as your
sophomore undergraduate academic year. Know what possible major(s) you
would like to study.
 Select at least five (5) Universities that you’re interested in perusing. Purchase
a 5 star notebook and start recording all contact information about each
university (written/emails), graduate program/degree awarded, financial aid
offered through the University/Department, graduate student enrollment,
number of graduate minority faculty in your department, etc.
 Review each department faculty profile to identify research interests of faculty
members that align with your interests – to include their academic and
experiential interests. Based on your familiarity with their research interests,
initiate e-mail conversations with each of them to establish possible
professional relationship.
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© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Advisory Tips for the prospective Graduate student
Study for and take appropriate graduate professional examinations during
your junior year, so you can get a feel of what to expect also. Enrolling in the
standardized examinations will provide you with the opportunity to retake the
exam if your scores are not acceptable for admission into your selected graduate
program.
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Visit the Career Center at your College to speak with any of the Career
Counselor can be valuable experience on additional sources of information on
graduate school opportunities. The Center can assist you in many areas such as
professional exams, employment opportunities, graduate schools programs, etc.
If interested in employment after college so that you can gain practical
experiences before enrolling in graduate schools, your college Career Centers
have contacts with local, state and federal agencies. Many graduate/professional
schools and employment opportunity programs are sponsored through your
college Career Center.
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© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Graduate School Required Activities
 Early identification of your graduate school/program is essential. We very
strongly recommend that you review each institution’s graduate application
requirement clearly to ensure that you adhere to the published guidelines and
respond only to the requested information. If you need University financial
assistance in the form of research assistantship (RA) or teaching assistantships
(TA), we strongly encourage you to apply early as possible. The committees
responsible for reviewing your application package and making
recommendations regarding admission and/or financial assistance usually
make early decisions.
 Your graduate school application package – to include your personal statement
or letter of intent, will tell the graduate committee a lot about you as an
individual who is capable of independent learning. Basically, your personal
statement will present you to the graduate admission committee members as a
matured, credible, and qualified scholar who will achieve success in the
identified graduate degree program.
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Graduate School Required Activities
Please refer to the following sites for examples on best practices for developing
strong personal statements:
a) http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/graduate-schoolessay-mistakes.aspx
b) http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/
c) http://web.psych.washington.edu/writingcenter/
writingguides/pdf/personal.pdf
d) http://eportfolios.ithaca.edu/lbrenna2/gallery/5624/
?image_id=45858
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Apprenticeship & Research Opportunities
 Apprenticeship opportunities, during your undergraduate years, are relevant to
enhancing your off-classroom learning experiences and thereby provide a
value-added to success in graduate school or direct employment.
Apprenticeship programs, operated by public and/or governmental agencies,
were established for the purpose of stimulating United States’ economy and
sustain its competitive advantage in a global marketplace. The US Department
of Labor ensures that all legally established programs meet Federal
government requirements.
 In addition to apprenticeship programs, you can also participate in summer
research opportunities within and outside your university – with private and
governmental institutions and/or agencies. college or outside your college. For
specific ALANA student opportunities, please refer to the 2011 edition of the
Resource of Summer Opportunities for ALANA Students in the following site:
WWW.doorsofopportunity.org.
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Graduate Financial Assistance Overview
 When doing your internet research, know exactly what you
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want to explore.
Conduce a free scholarship search
Research your NYSED, other States, & Federal Dept. of Ed.
Some States have Aid for students affected by tragedies
Sources of funding are grants, loans, scholarships,
assistantship, and fellowships
On the graduate level, merit is more of a qualifier than need
TA/RA are the key university support areas - both prepare the
student professionally
Students must complete the FAFSA which determines
financial eligibility
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Professional School Examinations
 As indicated earlier in our presentation, prospective graduate students will be
required to take professional examinations for graduate school entry and
additional testing for certain graduate degree majors. The accepted standard
score varies with in each university and program. Basic academic program
generally require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
 Other specialized and standardized professional examinations:
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PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test)
MAT (Millers Analogy Test for Psychology)
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
OAT (Optometry Admission Test)
DAT (Dental Admission Test)
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test)
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Resume Tips
 Your Resume should present your strengths and qualification to the perspective
graduate school/department and/or employer. The resume is defined as your
personal marketing tool to showcase your career objectives, experiences and
accomplishments. Resumes basically fall in two categories: chronological or
skills. Although the content information is the same, the difference is how it is
formatted on paper.
 A chronological resume shows solid work history or background history,
your dependability and professional growth. The professional matured
scholar may find the chronological style a better fit.
 Skills resumes is usually a better fit for the traditional or college-level
scholar or student with a bachelor degree and without substantive
working experiences. The format targets the skills and the work history.
Students can use this format with work study/ volunteer and paid or
unpaid experiences.
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Cover Letter Tips
 A well written cover letter is very important and can assist you in securing that
interview. While a strong and purposeful cover letter will enhance your
chances of getting to the employment door, you must perform to the best of
your ability during the interview process.
 As you embark on creating a purposeful cover letter, please remember the
following points:
1. Customize the letter to the specific employment agency or company
2. State your interest in the company and the advertised position
3. State in two to three sentences what knowledge, affection, and/or skills
make you qualified. This strategy will increase based on your extensive work
experiences.
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012
Closing Thought
 You’re going to take the graduate school experience by storm. As you
navigate the academic terrain, remember to employ the lessons learned from
the contents of this presentation in your choices and decisions.
 May success continue to guide and strengthen you in your personal and
professional journey toward excellence.
Thank You
© T.K.Baylor Ayewoh & I.X. Ayewoh, REMS Associates, 2012