The decision to apply to graduate school is one that requires careful thought about your career goals, awareness of the different paths to reach your goals, and understanding the job market and prospects. Some careers require a master’s degree or PhD for a candidate to be considered. Graduate school programs come in many shapes and sizes, therefore, you should focus your attention and apply to carefully chosen schools.
You should begin the application process the summer before your senior year of college or at least a year before you plan to start graduate school. Study deadlines for specific programs carefully since they may vary significantly depending on the institutions to which you apply.
The Career Center offers a library full of career, graduate school and professional development resources. Included in these books is the Peterson’s Guide, which lists all graduate programs, as well as test prep materials You can stop by the Career Center at any time to take practice exams or check out test prep books for the LSAT, GMAT, GRE, OAT, DAT, and more.
Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV is distinguished from a résumé not by its length but by its content. A CV is a comprehensive biographical statement (usually three pages or more) emphasizing professional qualifications and activities. There are numerous times when a CV may be better than a résumé. Some examples are when you need to:
- establish your professional image;
- apply for admission to graduate or professional school;
- apply for internships or employment in academic or some professional fields;
- introduce yourself when making presentations at professional conferences;
- and support your application(s) for fellowships, grants, or other contract funding proposals.
There are many different types of information you could include in your CV, and you should design your CV to emphasize your strengths and achievements. Sections include:
- identification information
- education
- relevant work experience
- presentations
- recent and current research
- grants received
- community involvement
- publications/presentations
- conferences
- special awards and honors
- current interests
- references
Workshops for Graduate/Professional School
The Career Center hosts personal/professional statement workshops as part of Career & Graduate School Week for students interested in attending graduate school. Sessions are also available throughout the semester. You can register for these sessions through this page.