Considering Grad School? Plan Ahead say Elon Alums
By Hannah Williams
Sept. 23, 2008
Elon alums stress the importance of starting early and strategizing to undergraduates considering graduate school in a career services seminar Tuesday.
“It’s an alphabet soup of graduate school,” Art Fadde, director of graduate admissions at Elon University, joked with students considering a variety of graduate programs. His advice: be strategic in the preparation and application processes.
“Believe it or not, it is almost an 18-month cycle,” Art Fadde, director of graduate admissions at Elon University, said.
Fadde reassured the seniors in the audience: ”Don’t panic. Still got plenty of time. It’s late September.”
Most deadlines will be late fall or early spring for competitive graduate programs, but its never to early to start planning.
Fadde encouraged students to investigate their graduate program options with the same rigor they employed in their college search.
He recommended students begin their search at www.GradSchool.About.com and refine their search geographically and disciplinarily at www.GradSchools.com.
Kathryn Wheet, ‘04, completed her master’s in business at University of North Carolina – Greensboro this past spring. She recommended that undergrads hone in on four key factors when selecting a program:
1. Location. Where do you want to study? Is the campus safe?
2. Program design. When are courses offered? Day or Night? Full- or part-time? Is work experience required? Is funding available?
3. Specializations. What concentrations are offered?
4. Faculty and Alumni. What are their specialties? Where are they now? What is their opinion of the program?
After selecting the program that’s right for you, planning is essential.
Eric Chaiken, ’03 music performance graduate, said that he initially rushed into the graduate school application process, which led to rejection.
After several years, Chaiken reevaluated and applied to the career counseling graduate program at North Carolina Central University.
“You don’t have to get your master’s degree in something that you got your undergraduate degree in,” Chaiken told students; however, it is necessary to have a strategy.
A checklist of activities students considering graduate school should pursue.
Fadde gave students the inside scoop on selection criteria on which graduate admissions committees base decisions.
The criteria break down into two categories: objective and subjective. The objective criteria, Fadde said, is more important.
Students will be judged on their undergraduate academic records and standardized test scores.
Committees will consider the undergraduate institution attended, academic rigor, GPA and program-specific curriculum. The average minimum GPA for consideration is a 3.0, Fadde said.
Standardized tests are the only available method of objective cross-institutional comparison.
Fadde told students, “The standardized test is either going to be a door-opener or a door-closer for a lot of people.”
Magic numbers most programs look for, he said, are 500 plus on the GMAT and 1,000 plus on the GRE.
“It is a test, so you can study for it,” Wheet said. She claimed that test prep and practice tests familiarized her with the test format, which meant she could focus on content on test day.
Elon offers a free practice GRE Sunday, Oct. 12. Students must register in advance. Visit www.Elon.edu/Careers for more information.
Subjectively, applicants will be evaluated on their personal statement, letters of recommendation and interactions with directors and faculty, Fadde said.
He told students to use their statement as the opportunity to tell their story and then relate it to their desired program.
He suggested that students build rapport with their professors through face-to-face interactions. When seeking letters from professors, he said, qualify that you seek a favorable recommendation.
Finally, show initiative in meeting with program directors. Even though it may merely be information, Fadde said, admissions directors will be evaluating an applicant’s interest and preparedness.
Success in identifying and gaining admittance to your dream graduate program requires self-initiative. Furthermore, the program itself will not be a cakewalk.
Chaiken warned students to expect heavy workloads: “When you’re in graduate school, your social life diminishes quite a bit.”
